Mill Reef

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Introduction

 

Known for being exceptionally competitive and capable of handling even the most challenging of circumstances, Mill Reef is a shining example of what hard work can achieve on the racecourse. With incredible wins in the early 70s, Mill Reef set a standard that is still exceptionally hard to live up to in this day and age. Before his career was cut short as a four year old, Mill Reef was one of the most respectable and consistent racehorses on the circuit.

 

With wins at major events such as the Epsom Derby and the Eclipse Stakes, Mill Reef managed a glut of major, big-time wins that others wouldn’t get near.

 

Career Summary

 

The famed contemporary of Brigadier Gerard, whom it lost to at the 2000 Guineas, Mill Reef ran 14 races, winning a whopping 12 of them. A successful career at two, three and four years old seen it win a glut of trophies in England and France, with the Coronation Cup its last recorded success.

 

This win was when the major problem with Mill Reef was discovered: suffering from a major viral infection, the horse took a long time to recover. Once it did, it took part in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the October of ’72. Sadl, it stumbled and heavily damaged a foreleg – difficult surgery took place, taking six hours, and the horse was saved. However, Mill Reef’ racing career was over and it instead became a popular stud.

 

It died in 1986, and is buried at the National Stud alongside a statue that showcases its incredible qualities on the course.

 

Achievements & Highlights

 

Wins – Coventry Stakes (1970), Gimcrack Stakes (1970), Dewhurst Stakes (1970), Greenham Stakes (1971), Epsom Derby (1971), Eclipse Stakes (1971), K. George VI & Q. Elizabeth Stakes (1971), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (1971), Prix Ganay (1972), Coronation Cup (1972).

 

Associations – Paul Mellon, Ian Balding.

 

Earnings – £300k+.

 

 

 

Lingfield Park Racecourse

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Lingfield Park Racecourse is part of the group of racecourses run by ARC Racing Group. The racecourse is situated in Lingfield, United Kingdom. The course is one of the most versatile around as it is a winter all-weather racetrack.
Lingfield is known for hosting some of the most thrilling National Hunt and flat races in UK. The racecourse is part of the Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club, which offers top class hospitality with all the amenities for a comfortable stay.

Visitors are often treated to races as the track has a racing calendar that spans the whole year. The rooms overlook the track thus guests can enjoy races from the comfort of their room. The country club also has a golf course where
guests can spend their time enjoying the lush green and practicing their drive.

The track at Lingfield is a Polytrack. The track is one among the six all-weather tracks in UK though flat racing and National Hunt racing are run on turf. Some of the major race meetings held here include; Cleves Stakes, the
Spring Cup, Hever Sprint Stakes and Churchill Stakes.

The racecourse has a long history dating back to 1890 when it was first opened. Since the racetrack opened up,it has always sported the Prince’s feathers in its emblem.

Lingfield racing track started out as a track used only for jump racing until 1894 when it got the go ahead to host flat racing from the Jockey Club. Since then, the track only halted racing during WWII. The course was managed by Ladbrokes who later sold it to Arena Leisure. The new owner saw to it that the all-weather track was changed from Equitrack to Polytrack all-weather surface. A modern grandstand worth £5.5 million was also built as part of efforts to bring the course up to speed with current developments.

The Fugue

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Introduction

 

An impressive racehorse in its own right, The Fugue became a mild national treasure for some when it won various awards and races across a short career. While injury at the Eclipse Stakes brought to the end a strong and promising career, The Fugue successfully managed to win a whopping six of its seventeen races, with four of them coming at Group One level.

 

With her rich brown with a white star and stripe design, this was a horse that stood out a mile away. The fact it was associated with Andrew Lloyd Webber’ Watership Down Stud also helped to draw attention to the horse before it had even taken to the course.

 

Career Summary

 

With her only race as a two year old being won with ease, The Fugue had a fleeting run at the top of the table, winning the Musidora Stakes and then the Nassau Stakes in quick succession. In 2013, she won the Irish Champion Stakes alongside the Yorkshire Oaks, also getting success in the Breeders’ Cup at the second time of asking, coming second this time.

 

At five, she was a victor at the Prince of Wales’ Stakes, before seeing her career cut short after the aforementioned injury when preparing for the Eclipse Stakes. The injury to its left foreleg left it unable to race, and it retired within a week of the injury.

 

Coming home as a stud, there’s not a huge deal of information about how this has gone so far. It’s good, though, to see that it managed to stay the pace and find a successful second career after racing.

 

Achievements & Highlights

 

 

Wins – Musidora Stakes (2012), Nassau Stakes (2012), Yorkshire Oaks (2013), Irish Champion Stakes (2013), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (2014)

 

Associations – Watership Down Stud, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

 

Earnings – £1.9m+

 

 

 

Richard Johnson

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Introduction

 

Known as one of the more impressive jockeys of his era, Richard Johnson is an impressive name within the British National Hunt scene. With a racing family around him – his father an amateur jockey himself, and his mother a trainer of horses – Johnson was always destined for a career in the sport. At the age of 18, he was crowned the Champion Conditional Jockey, aged just 18. His first win then came at Rusty Bridge in his local Hereford, in 1994.

 

From there, he’s gone on to establish himself as a popular part of the racing circuit for various reasons.

 

Career Summary

 

For one, he’s known for having an excellent temperament and performance level for the Cheltenham Festival. With wins at the 1999 Stayers’ Hurdle, the 2000 Gold Cup, the 2002 Queen Mother Chase and the Smurfit Kappa Group Champion Hurdle, he’s picked up a fine collection of medals over an impressive career.

 

More impressively, though, he became just the eighth National Hunt jockey to win an impressive 1,000 rides. By 2016, he had achieved an incredible 3000 wins. He also won the Champion Jockey title after more than 16 runner-up occasions, lifting it for the first time in his professional career in 2016.

 

Sadly, though, Johnson holds the record for the most Grand National rides without ever finding a winner! Despite that, he’s a well-recognized name on the circuit who is respected by many. In another era, he might have a much busier trophy cabinet.

 

Achievements & Highlights

 

Major Wins – Stayers Hurdle (1999), Cheltenham Gold Cup (2000), Queen Mother Championship Chase (2002), Smurfit Kappa Group Champion Hurdle (2003), Champion Jockey (2016).

 

Associations – Sue Johnson, David Nicholson.