Richard Johnson back in Newbury's winner's enclosure - and with an OBE Newbury Racecourse's final final fixture of 2018 (December 29) saw a classy Betway Challow Hurdle and two tight finishes. But the day was as much about the people who make horseracing such a popular sport, as about the card of seven races.
Images from ITV RacingMarlboroughequestrian.news used to have a Horse in the Spotlight feature. Then we changed it to a Horse Profile feature - currently featuring Paisley Park on the strength of his amazing recent victory at Haydock.
The trademark trilby: Richard Osgood on duty at Newbury's pre-Christmas meeting - 19 December 2018It will truly be the end of an era at Newbury on Saturday, December 29, Betway Challow Hurdle Day, when Clerk of the Course Richard Osgood officiates at the track for the final time - 99 years after the first member of the Osgood family joined the racecourse staff.
Sonneofpresenting (right) leads Beau Phil who was to fall heavily at the third third last fenceSarah Rippon was full of praise for Sonneofpresenting after her new charge upset odds-on favourite Cousin Pete it the Barbury International Racing Club meeting at Barbury Racecourse (December 16) - a new pre-Christmas date for this innovative fixture.
Laura Thomas with CashAt present, Barbury trainer Laura Thomas has twenty horses at her yard, but she is standing back from training pointers to concentrate on pre-training, rehabilitation and box rest for racehorses - mainly for Alan King whose yard is just over the hill.
Barbury International in January 2018 - when the clouds came downThe Barbury International Racing Club's point-to-point on Sunday (December 16) is its second 2018 appearance. This is because it has moved the fixture from a January to December - to follow on from Cheltenham's two-day International Meeting.
Tom Scudamore, Colin Tizzard & the TrophyIt may have rained for much of the afternoon on day two of Newbury's 2018 Ladbrokes Winter Carnival (Saturday, December 1), but the feature race - the £250,000 G3 Ladbrokes Trophy - turned into a Tizzard blizzard - led by Sizing Tennessee.
Wayne Hutchinson takes Dingo Dollar to the start at Newbury (November 8)Ante-post favourite Elegant Escape headlines the 23 five-day acceptors for the £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury (Saturday, December 1) - the highlight of day two of the Ladbrokes Winter Carnival.
