Aintree People's Race
Devoted hunting man Simon Latchford competes in the Aintree People’s Race on Grand National Day
So here I am. I have just finished writing an article for The Master's Voice and final selection is two weeks away. Midge did ask me to write a weekly account, but all that would have consisted of would be “got up at 5am, rode, ate fruit, went to bed, got up at 5am…ect”.
Simon riding Henry
So lets skip that bit. The riding was going relatively well and my mucking out is now second to none! The running and fitness also continued on the basis that our fitness instructor at Doncaster said he was going to get everyone to do a run.
I returned home from work one night to find one of those big brown envelopes waiting for me. It could only mean one thing, selection is close and the details have arrived. I read very carefully, not wanting to make the same mistake I had with the weight on the first letter.
They had decided to bring the fitness assessment forward to the Saturday evening so they could concentrate on the riding on the Sunday. Fitness would not be just a run. It was going to be the bleep test, sergeant jumps, sit ups, press ups and leg stretches. Oh, and a weigh in…
The closer that selection got the more nervous I became. It got to the point where I struggled to think about anything else. I kept running through in my mind what they would say to me and how much I wished it would be “you’re in”.
Finally, the Saturday arrived. I had a very quite morning and after mucking out my equine money pit I pottered around at home. Kate (my better other half) made porridge for lunch as planned. Nothing would be left to chance. I packed my gear and set off to Doncaster.
I arrived early. 4 hours early to be exact but I had wanted to get there. I went to Asda and bought the worlds supply of painkillers and blister plasters.
The hotel was the same one that we had stayed in before so I got checked in and started to unpack. The first horror of the day struck, I had forgotten the scales. This was a major blow to me. It was like losing a security blanket (Kate has since hidden them to break my addiction!). I considered going to get some from Asda but decided against. I would just have to be a man and live without. I had a fair idea what I was before I left home. That would have to do.
I had a shower and watched Garfield 2 in an attempt to distract myself but my mind kept returning to what the panel would say on the Sunday. The details of the assessment were not important. Just the end result.
Time ticked away slowly but eventually it managed to get to the time to take the painkillers, change and leave for the Racing College. When I arrived at the visitors centre (our base for selection) I was the last (as per usual).
Back row (l-r) - Sam Daniels, Craig Brown, David Griffiths, Harry Marriott, Simon Latchford
Front row (l-r) - Cerys Davis-Whitehouse, Holly Brown, Amy Shaw, Rosanagh Robertson, Michelle Baldwin
The first test was the bleep test. I wasn’t looking forward to this but thought that I should be able to do it as I had done so much running. Because they didn’t want us to be too tired we would not be allowed to go past level 8. I elected to go in the second group. One girl dropped out because she pulled a muscle in her leg and another wasn’t fit enough. Then it was my turn and to my surprise I breezed it. I remembered the first bleep test I had done on the first selection and I have struggled to reach level 7. Now level 8 was almost nothing!
Next came sergeant jumps. To do this you basically stand next to a wall and put ink on your fingertips. You then put your arm up and touch the wall to mark it. Then you have to jump as high as you can and touch the wall again. They then measure the distance between the 2 marks. Whilst the first jump was good, my second was better. I had got the second highest score. I was happy about that but feared what was to come.
We were taken inside and one at a time into another room to do our press ups. Normally I cannot do more than about three, so I was really dreading this. I started and gave it everything I had. I lost count and figured that I was on about 13/14 when I gave up. I really was shocked to find out that I did in fact do 20!
Next came sit-ups. We did this in pairs with one sitting on the others feet. I did 30 and was again quite impressed with myself. The lady who I was paired with went nuts and started throwing herself at the floor and then at me. She was going that fast that she was shaking the floor. I was quite worried that she would give herself brain damage because of how hard she was hitting the floor. The instructor and I exchanged rather shocked glances and let her get on with it. She had done quite badly at the beep test and I’m sure she felt that she had something to prove.
The next test was the leg extension test. Basically, you sit on the floor with your feet against a board and then you have the lean forward as far as possible. This is measured in centimetres. Most of the girls managed 20 to 30 cm. I got -5! Things were not looking good.
The last test was the simulator test. We had to get on the simulator and it was switched on to its fastest setting. Then we had to balance in a jockey position and put our arms out to the side or behind our backs. We would be timed on how long we could hold the balance and the position before we put our hands down or fell off. One of the other lads went first and managed about a minute before he had to grab the simulator. My turn. I got into a fairly comfy position and let go. It’s not as easy as it looks. Before long I was starting to ache. I got into the rhythm of the simulator but every now and again I would lose it and that could have spelt the end but every time I managed somehow to get it back. Suddenly the simulator started to slow down. I was really confused, had I done something wrong? I was told that the instructors were limiting us to 2 minutes on the basis that if they didn’t we would be there all night. If I could manage 2 they were happy.
I cannot claim to have slept much that night. I had weird dreams of being in the parade ring with horses with no feet. I ended up getting up really early. One thing I have learnt from hunting is that preparation is the key to everything. I had already organised all my gear and sorted out all my clothes. I had my morning’s routine set out in my head so it was almost mechanical to get up, shower and dress. I loaded my truck and went for breakfast. I didn’t really eat because I had that riding feeling. It’s the same one I get before I go hunting on a new horse or ride a cross-country course.
Firstly we were told the order for the day. Each person would be given a horse by being drawn out a hat. There would be a weigh-in in full riding kit and then we would be riding.
Simon getting ready with Dynamid
The horse draw was a very simple affair. There were 3 bags. One with our names, one with the horses and one with numbers. I was drawn as Number 20 and riding a horse called Dynamid. Things weren’t looking good. Holly had ridden him on one of the selection days and he wasn’t one of the better horses. After we had been up the gallops he just stopped dead and started to dig with great fury. Poor Holly could not get him to move and he still carried on digging when the instructors started throwing things at him. I was not looking forward to this! I just prayed that this brute of a horse was not going to make me look stupid.
I put my gear on and formed an orderly queue by the scales. I was worrying slightly. As I didn’t have my scales, I had no idea what weight I was with or without gear. I kept reminding myself that I now had about 5 pounds of gear on. I stepped on the scales, 10st-11lbs; I had done it. The Instructors seemed impressed.
So all we had left to do now was ride. We headed up to the stables to collect tack. The Doncaster lot knew were everything was and we spent a lot of time getting stuff for and helping the Newmarket lot. Claire Balding still hadn’t turned up but we were told to go and tack up and be ready to go.
By the time we were ready Claire had arrived so we pulled out and circled in the yard. Like all other selections there was a lady with a camera but we were so used to this we just ignored her. We headed up to the indoor school to warm up. Claire and the instructors stood in the middle and watched. It was horrid. You never quite know whether or not they are looking at you. I just tried to ride the best I could manage. This was quite difficult because my saddle had brand new stirrup leathers and they seemed to be missing a few holes, so I was riding much shorter than I wanted to. I asked Paul (one of the instructors) to get me the hole punch.
As there were 16 of us we were to go out in 2 lots of 8. I managed to get in the first lot which presented stirrup issues as there were no holes where I needed them. Paul came to my rescue with the hole punch but didn’t get it quite right and I could tell that one was one was shorter than the other.
We went onto the sand gallop first and did 2 laps there. I am only really used to riding 7 furlongs and suddenly we were doing 12! I was going to be exhausted. Dynamid was playing up slightly and I had to keep him really bottled up at the back to stay in control. I didn’t hear much on the radios directed at me so I figured I wasn’t doing that badly. As soon as we had set off I was praying for the end. Dynamid was strong and pulling. The end couldn’t come soon enough.
Next we moved onto a simulated race on the grass. We would be doing a flag start and then 2 laps of the grass inside the sand gallops. I was advised to keep out of everyone’s way, as Dynamid might be a little stupid when we set off. The flag went down, Dynamid went sideways and bucked and as a result Holly fell off. I’m still not sure exactly how I managed to cause it as Holly was on the other side of the bunch but I’m told it was all my fault. We tried again and this time I kept well away from everyone else. Dynamid set off bucking but we were far enough away to not cause any trouble. Once he was settled I started to move up the pack and ended up at the front leading.
On our second lap I saw Sara also begin to move up the bunch but as she came alongside Holly her horse kicked out and even with all the noise from the galloping horses you could hear it connect with a horse. The horse had been hit and had a big egg coming up on its shoulder. Holly had a bruise/graze running nearly the length of he forearm. It looked really bad but she said it didn’t hurt. It really wasn’t her day!
There was lots of talk coming over the radio. I didn’t really listen to it unless I heard my name. I settled into the riding and prayed for the end. My arms, back, and leg hurt in a variety of new and interesting ways. Finally, we came round what was to be our last bend, and we pulled up.
Our selection was over. We were to go back to the indoor school. We were asked not to say anything to the eight waiting to go, as the instructors wanted it to be a surprise. I pointed out that they also had radios on and therefore had heard everything we had heard. The instructors hadn’t thought of that!
The remaining eight went off to repeat what we had done. I kept my radio in and caught snippets of what was happening but it didn’t mean much as we couldn’t see what was happening. As far as I was concerned selection was over. There wasn’t anything else I could do. More importantly I could now eat!
We trooped back up to the top yard and had loads of photos taken. We were told that we would receive our instructions for the race through the post. Keep up the fitness. Keep up the riding. Keep up the diet. We were interviewed and I was asked several times how I felt. The simple answer was “empty”. Everything for the last two months had been about selection. I had not really given the race much thought. Now that selection was over, I didn’t know how to feel.
The next week was exactly the same as before. I didn’t spend much time at work and was riding most mornings.
There was the small issue of the horse I would be riding. Aintree had said that if we could find our own then so be it. Most people would be getting one from the yard they had been riding for. Sadly, all the horses at James' yard were flat horses and so didn’t qualify. I called my brother and he said he would speak to a Donald Summersgill (huntsman for the Devon and Somerset Staghounds) and that Donald might ask his friend to speak to Philip Hobbs in Minehead as he had good horses.
Aintree phoned and asked what I was going to do. I explained what was happening and asked if they could give me a few days. Fine, they said but did I want them to intervene as they knew Philip very well. In the end they decide to intervene anyway and Mr Hobbs had a horse he wanted to put in the race. The only problem is that it will start favourite and all I need to do is steer and it will win. Personally, I failed to see the problem! All they needed was for the owners to agree that the horse could run.
They didn’t! Sorry and back to the drawing board. As there was a lack of trainers locally would I mind not riding the horse before the race? It wasn’t a problem. I had had loads of days hunting on horses that I had never ridden before. In the end I was told I was to ride “Bright Sparky”. He was in training at Mick Easterby’s near York. He’s better than he looks on paper I was assured.
So on the Saturday, Kate and I headed up to Yorkshire to meet Sparky. The word on the yard was that he was a real gentleman and he would look after me. Sod that, I thought. I don’t care if he bucks all the way to start and tried to bury me 10 times on the way round. I want mean with a fighting spirit. Sparky was a gent and very sweet. Be grateful your riding at all, Kate reminded me.
The week after (the final week before Aintree), I had to contend with a TV crew at the yard one morning. They were brilliant and fortunately managed to miss the horse that tried to put me on the floor. They even ending up coming to work and filming in the office.
Over that week, my hunting mind kicked in and I spent ages making sure that all the kit was clean and ready. Clothes and kit were packed and I was ready. I spent hours on the Internet looking up Sparky’s form, reading reports of his races and watching any video I could find. By the end of that week I felt as though I knew the horse backwards. I was surprised to find that when the odds were published I was considered to be the outsider at 25/1. I had no idea how that had happened and I was sure that Sparky was in with a chance.
(l-r) Michelle Baldwin, Simon Latchford, Holly Brown, Craig Brown, Amy Shaw, David Griffiths, Cerys Davis-Whitehouse, Harry Marriott
On arrival we were allowed through the VIP entrance so we felt very special. We were even allowed to sit on the Red Rum statue for a photo. We were taken and shown the paddock and the track. Suddenly it all seemed very real. We had an explore and watched some racing.
Amy and I were watching a race from one of the main stands and as we watched the finish the roar of the crowd really hit us. We both stared at each other and ended up hugging. Tomorrow that would be us!
We were bussed back to our hotel. Compared to one they made us stay in at Doncaster this was five-star. We were told we had the rest of the night off to chill out and prepare. Go and enjoy dinner and relax. I was just about to join everyone when I got a tap on my shoulder. “Would I mind doing some publicity that evening?” they asked. Great be ready to go in 10 minuets. So dinner was wolfed down and I was shoved into a taxi.
First stop was the famous Cavern Club. We hung around with AP McCoy, Tom Scudamore, Mick Fitzgerald and Mark Pitman. Kate got over excited because Jenny pitman was there too. This was just a staging post. Some of us were doing Radio 5 interviews. Mick Fitzgerald told everyone to back Mon Mome and AP said the only way to make sure you were going to win a race was to be on the fastest horse. Eventually we were ushered out and I was left standing in the centre of Liverpool with Mick Fitzgerald. Mick was great and we chatted about the race tomorrow and how training had been going.
We were ushered into a taxi and taken to the top hotel in Liverpool. It’s really easy I was told. I was to go to the front of the room with Mick and just talk to the interviewer. Fine, I think I can manage that.
I wasn’t nervous looking out into that see of faces and I had done quite a few radio and even TV interviews, but when that chap shoved the microphone in my face I was for once a little lost for words. Mick and I chatted the race and what I had been through to secure my place. For the thousandth time I was asked if I was nervous about riding the next day in front of 70,000 people. No, still not nervous. Maybe there was something wrong with me. Maybe it would hit me tomorrow. I felt like I had a job to do and I was just going to shut everything out and do it.
It was only afterwards that I found out the audience that night had been the top corporate guests of John Smiths. For some reason I was really glad that no one told me that before hand.
Kate and I went back to the hotel and managed about 20 minutes of chilling out with the others in the bar before it really felt like bedtime. Tomorrow I was going ride in my first race, in front of 70,000 people, and on the TV. Why wasn’t I nervous?
I slept quite well and got up early for a bath and to get on the scales (yes I had brought them). During the whole thing I had always wanted to hit 10st 7 and had never quite made it. I had hit 10st 8 a few times but never the magical 10st 7. So I was really disappointed to find that I was now 10st 6! Oh well better than nothing. I had lost over 2 and half stone.
According to the timetable we had loads of time for breakfast and to relax. So I was not surprised to get another tap on the shoulder. Would I mind doing a live interview? No, great be ready to go in about 2 minutes. Once again I wolfed my food and was bundled into a taxi and whisked off to the racecourse. Turned out I wasn’t needed!
I did a quick radio interview and watched the seconds tick by waiting for time to start getting ready. Still not nervous. I decided there must be something wrong with me. We went out onto the track with the instructors and walked the course. I listened to everything they were saying and worked out exactly what I was going to do and where. I had the race in my head and knew exactly how I was going to ride it!
At last we were called into the weighing room to get sorted out. Paul became my personal valet and helped me get sorted. I got changed and had to try really hard not to stare at AP getting changed next to me. I got on the scales and was over the moon to find that I would have to carry lead! I weighed out and handed my saddle over to Mr Easterby’s travelling head lad, and waited. Nothing to do but wait.
Suddenly we were called through. We were assembled at the top of the steps and told (once again) to wait. It was a bit like you see in the army films when they jump out the planes. Suddenly people were shouting go, go, go and we were off down the steps. There was a crowd right in front of us and they started to cheer and clap. We got to the bottom and had to wait while we had a photo taken. Then it was into the parade ring. I was introduced to Sparky’s owner and told to give him his head, get crowd side ASAP and scream at him. Sparky only had one speed. He couldn’t stretch for a finish so don’t expect him to. The only way to do any good was to try and get out front and hope on one could catch me. Pretty much everything I had already worked out.
Sparky looked stunning walking around the parade ring and his girl had really done an amazing job. “Feel free to pull some of the plaits out”, she advised, “it will give you something to hold to.”
And with that I was off out onto the course. We walked to the start and circled while girths were checked. We had been told that there would be no false starts. Once we were gone that would be it. I still wasn’t nervous. I had a job to do and that was my sole focus.
We lined out and one of the other guys suddenly turned and walked in front of me. I yelled at him and when I looked up the flag was down and everyone behind us was yelling GO!
I kicked off and got Sparky settled. I had a quick look round and found I was in fourth. This was not the plan. I gently moved up and ended up in second. As we came round the first bend Sparky went hard left and hit the rails. We were galloping with the rail bouncing off my leg and I didn’t care.
Suddenly, we were coming round the second bend and I could see the finish. David was in front of me and he suddenly started to push on. So I copied and did the same. I was shouting at Sparky for all I was worth. After I had been pushing for some time I saw the 2 furlong marker go past. “Oh dear” I thought (not what I actually thought), in my race plan I was supposed to push from the 2 marker. It seemed that I had managed to get lost while going in a straight line! Oh well, nothing for it now but to push for home and see how we get on. By now I had hit the crowd side rail and was still screaming at poor Sparky.
About half way down the rail I wondered if there were any children next to the rail who would hear the blue air coming out of me. Then I thought I didn’t really care. David was now so far in front that I knew I had no hope of catching him. I could see that Craig was coming up on my left and we battled it out for second. It was a battle that Sparky tried to win but he just couldn’t. He had given it everything he had and I couldn’t ask anymore of him. We had got third!
I pulled up and hit the saddle. I couldn’t feel anything from my bottom down. I wasn’t sure my legs were even still there. It suddenly dawned on me that because I was placed third I would get to ride up to the parade ring and get off there. That was a relief because I wasn’t sure my legs would work at the moment.
Simon in the Parade Ring
We went up to the parade ring and I had to grab my right stirrup leather as I got off just in case my legs didn’t work. Luckily they did. There was lots of cheering and shouting but I didn’t really notice it. I was on cloud nine.
Much later as I was stood on the balcony watching the National, I noticed the crowd. Aintree was packed. I asked Kate how many had been there to watch my race. She replied all of them, hadn’t I noticed? All I noticed was me and Sparky. Nothing else…
So that’s where this story ends. Since Aintree I have returned to a normal life as a hard working trainee solicitor. I have taken my mother’s hunter round a few cross-countries and I love it. But Racing is different and I want to do it again.
I was due to go back to the Racing College for some jumping lessons but have somehow managed to trap a nerve in my leg so the doctor has told me not to ride for a few weeks. Well he asked if there was any point in telling me not to ride and when I said no he advised that I steer clear of the more exciting stuff. Kate has made me promise I won’t jump or get back on a racehorse until at least I’ve seen the physio.
This has been a wonderful experience and I have made some great new friends and got some really good photos for the wall. Most importantly, I really want to carry on racing. I did ring up for the forms for an amateur licence but I think that given I’m a hunter at heart point to point might be more my thing.
So I’m looking for a very safe pointer (going cheap as I’m only a trainee) who knows the ropes and will look after me. If anyone has one or is in need of a jockey for next season please, please, please let me know!
Simon Latchford