News
Staff Profile - Sebastian Woods
- Thursday, 30 June 2016
Name: Sebastian Woods
Job Title: Work Rider
When did you start work at Chestnut Tree Stables: July 2014
Favourite racehorse of all time: Shergar
Favourite horse that has been in the yard: Archduchess
Favourite Racecourse: Epsom
What would you be doing if you weren’t working here: I would hopefully be at University, studying Biology.
Which Superhero would you be: Flash
Hobbies outside of work: I do a lot of sports outside of work, including: football, tennis, hockey and golf
Favourite Food: Chinese
Favourite Film: Saving Private Ryan
Which three items would you take to a desert island: A fishing rod, a boat and a pack of cards.
Dream holiday destination: India
Interesting Fact/Quote: 'You are either first or last!'
Ambitions: To be Champion Jockey in the future.
Staff Profile - Steve Davis
- Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Name: Steve Davis
Job Title: Assistant Head Lad
When did you start work at Chestnut Tree Stables: 1999 - 2003 and 2009 - present
Favourite racehorse of all time: Desert Orchid
Favourite horse that’s been in the yard: I love all the horses, but it was a great opportunity to look after California Chrome when he was with us.
Favourite Racecourse: Ascot
What would you be doing if you weren’t working here: I don't know - I wouldn't swap what I'm doing now for anything.
Which Superhero would you be: Superman
Hobbies outside of work: I like to go out for dinner with my wife and also to see friends.
Favourite Food: Chinese
Favourite Film: Indiana Jones (all of them)
Which three things would you take to a desert island: My wife, horse and dog.
Dream holiday destination: Mauritius
Interesting Fact/Quote: 'Enjoy what you are doing and enjoy life!'
Ambitions: I have achieved everything I have wanted to in life and am very happy with what I have.
Stable Staff Week 2016
- Monday, 27 June 2016
The inaugural Stable Staff Week gets underway today; the initiative aims to bring the racing industry together to inform and engage horseracing supporters about the passion, skill and dedication required to work with racehorses.
The week will incorporate a range of PR initiatives to celebrate the vital part that stable staff play in the production of British horseracing and generate awareness about Racing Welfare’s role in supporting racing’s workforce.
The pinnacle of the week will be the Betfair Clock Tower Cup on Racing Welfare’s Raceday at Doncaster on Friday 1st July, a charity race which sees stable staff switching saddles to become jockeys and riding horses trained by their bosses.
We are extremely proud of our staff at Chestnut Tree Stables and work with them to encourage progression and development in their racing careers - we were the first yard to be awarded the Investors In People accolade for our continued efforts in this area.
Throughout the week we will be uploading 'Staff Profiles' to the website which will allow you to get to know the team at Chestnut Tree Stables on a more personal level - they may also prove quite entertaining!
In support of this well-deserved initiative, please show your gratitude by using the hashtag #StableStaffWeek on social media.
Rachel dusts off her boots again…
- Thursday, 16 June 2016
On 7 July 2016, the first day of the July meeting, Rae’s wife Rachel will be riding in the 350th Newmarket Town Plate in aid of the Animal Health Trust, a local charity that does great work – largely unseen and uncelebrated – that enables racing and breeding to flourish.
The plan is to ride Opera Buff over the 3 mile 6 course in the oldest recorded horserace in Newmarket, founded by Charles II who won the first running and apparently declared that it should be run ‘forever’.
The race is part of the history of horseracing’s HQ and (strange but true) the first four home get a box of Powters Newmarket sausages.
Rachel is grateful for any support that you can give to https://www.justgiving.com/Rachel-Flynn7. Please give generously to this worthwhile cause, wish Rachel luck and do come and support on the day!
RIP Present Generation
- Tuesday, 14 June 2016
Last week, we unfortunately had to bid farewell to the yard’s oldest resident; twenty-three-year-old Present Generation.
PG, as he was fondly known, had been with Rae since he was a yearling and started his racing career in 1996; he ran in a total of 23 races under Rules resulting in two wins and six places, with his final race coming in the summer of 1999.
He then filled the role of yard hack at Chestnut Tree Stables for a number of years, helping to bring on the youngsters (both human and equine) – before the frailties of old-aged meant that he lived out his later years as a companion to some of our more nervous residents.