Author: Suzanne Ashton

Horse owner and enthusiast specialising in horse racing articles, news and gossip. Reporting on trends and emerging topics within the horse racing industry. Suzanne Ashton BA Hons (Marketing Management) has a wealth of knowledge not only working in the field, but boasts over a decades worth of business development, marketing, social media, content and website development experience.

Back to Back Wins for Al-Hatab

Suzanne Ashton
Al-Hatab and Mohammed Tabti win the www.wathbastallions.com (0-55) handicap at Lingfield Park © John Hoy

Al-Hatab made it back-to-back wins this afternoon at Lingfield Park when winning the £4,000 www.wathbastallions.com (0-55) handicap over a mile and five furlongs, ridden by Mohammed Tabti. The pair pulled clear to win by a decisive four lengths, from Aloof ridden by amateur Lewis Saunders, who finished six lengths ahead of Heritage Valentino and fellow amateur, Jamie Gambin. This was also the second win on the five-year-old for Tabti who commented, “He jumped well from the stalls, we had a good lead. He was nice and settled, going really well and when…

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Frankie Dettori presented with giant retirement card

Suzanne Ashton
Frankie Dettori with giant farewell card

Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori was presented with a giant retirement card at Doncaster Racecourse following his final UK Classic race, the Betfred St Leger. Dettori, who rode 23 wins in UK Classic’s, finished second on 11/4 favourite Arrest in the Betfred St Leger before receiving his farewell card. Arrest would have cost the bookies a pretty penny if he’d won the St Leger as sponsors Betfred have worked out that the jockey has cost the bookmaking industry as a whole over £400 million in pay-outs across his previous 23 Classic…

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Willie Mullins Prepares for National Hunt Season

Suzanne Ashton
Willie Mullins prepares for national hunt. Image of a horse in race training

Despite the 2024 Cheltenham Festival still being some way off, preparations at the powerhouse yard of Willie Mullins are well underway ahead of the new National Hunt season.  The campaign doesn’t really come into the racing public consciousness until November with the Charlie Hall Steeplechase at Wetherby on the 4th, a race won last year by Cheltenham Gold Cup second Bravemansgame.  But the eyes are never far away from the Prestbury Park showpiece meeting next March, where tour de force Mullins is set to have another big say in proceedings. …

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Racing Fans Flock to Malton Open Day for Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Suzanne Ashton
Racing Welfare was the official charity for the Malton Open Day last weekend. Image of horse racing enthusiasts attending one of the stable yards in Newmarket

Over 1,000 racing fans attended ‘behind the scenes’ tours during the annual Malton Open Day on Sunday, September 10th 2023. The day saw 11 racehorse trainers open their yards to help raise funds for charity, Racing Welfare. Those trainers participating in the annual event included Richard Fahey, John Quinn and Tim Easterb. The star of the day was undoubtedly Julie Camacho’s dual Group 1-winner, Shaquille, who, despite performing unexpectedly below par at Haydock the day before, attracted a constant stream of visitors throughout the morning.  Speaking on the day, Julie…

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Queen Elizabeth II Exhibition Now Available Online

Suzanne Ashton
queen elizabeth II Royal Ascot images presented at Ascot Racecourse

Howden and Ascot racecourse has announced a Getty-curated online presentation using carefully selected images of Queen Elizabeth II as a way to mark the one-year anniversary of her death (Friday, September 8th 2023). Previously available to those who attended Royal Ascot in June this year, the now virtual exhibition completes a year-long commemoration dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II who demonstrated an enduring commitment to horse racing throughout her lifetime. The virtual exhibition will be available from September 8th to December 8th, 2023. This provides a chance for those who couldn’t view…

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Thaydah Athbah Maintains Her Unbeaten Record at Haydock

Suzanne Ashton
Haydock Racing Course - Thaydah Athbah

Thaydah Athbah maintained her unbeaten record when winning the £20,000 Group 3PA HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup at Haydock Park on Saturday. The Athbah Racing homebred came home four and a quarter lengths ahead of Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett, with Mayfair and Marco Ghiani a further four lengths back in third. Watch win Thaydah Athbah and Tadhg O’Shea win the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr3PA) at Haydock Park below Ridden by ten times UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, Thaydah Athbah was the pick of three…

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A Competitive Arabian Field Head to Haydock on Saturday

Suzanne Ashton
Completing the field is the Delyth Thomas owned and trained Paramer Angel. Racing haydock news piece

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) have announced a competitive field ahead of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Group 3PA to be run over a mile at Haydock Park on Saturday 9 September. Thaydah Athbah and Upstart Crow, who are both unbeaten this season, will put their spotless records on the line in the £20,000 race, both are trained in Newmarket by trainers with several ARO titles under their belts. Thaydah Athbah was the pick of three entries from current leading ARO owner, Athbah Racing and is trained by two-time ARO leading trainer and…

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QIPCO British Champions Day to host new horses-in-training sale

Suzanne Ashton
QIPCO British Champions Day. Image copyright Ascot Racecourse

QIPCO British Champions Day is set to host a new boutique horse-in-training sale on Saturday 21st October 2023, Ascot Racecourse, Goffs and British Champions Series Limited have announced. The Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale at Ascot will offer approximately 12 elite horses in training, with the auction conducted from the Ascot winner’s podium. QIPCO British Champions Day is Britain’s richest race day with a prize fund of over £4 million. It is a thrilling finale to the Flat racing season that features four Group 1 races and is attended…

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Goodwood Called Off after Jockeys Raise Concern

Suzanne Ashton
Goodwood racetrack

Following concerns raised by Jockeys, and officials re-evaluating the going, Goodwood was called off on Saturday due to the complications ongoing rain was causing. With the cancellation at Goodwood, coming only three races short of conclusion on the final day, Ed Arkell, Goodwood’s Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course, told Racing TV: The jockeys expressed their concern after the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes that there were some areas on the bends that they weren’t happy about. They were happy to race on the straight course for the Coral…

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Paddington produces faultless run at Goodwood

Suzanne Ashton
Paddington running at Goodwood 2023 on grass with other horses in race

Paddington (4/9F) continued his faultless season for Aidan O’Brien with another dominant display in the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood today. Having started the season in a handicap, Paddington has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting horses in training, with today’s success coming on the back of G1 victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Coral-Eclipse.  Dropping back to a mile, Ryan Moore decided to make his own running on Paddington. Inspiral’s rider Frankie Dettori put it up to him early in…

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