I was invited with Edwina Cooper to attend the Sunday meeting of the Hennessy winter festival weekend and as we had been before, we were delighted to attend. We arrived at the Royal Box at 11.30 a.m. where we met Mark Kershaw and his staff and other guests. The racing began at 12.30 and there were seven races in the afternoon and Edwina was quick to get her programme, to look at the runners and riders while I was busy talking to the other guests. I was taken aback at how far people travelled to the races; there were some from Ireland, Newmarket, Dubai and Wales but they certainly knew a great deal about horse racing. I also met Frank Osgood who was the earlier Manager of the Course and I guess that he was in his early 90s and he has been responsible for many of the improvements to the racecourse in his time. He handed over the reins as it were to his son, Richard and between them, there was not much anyone else knew about Newbury Racecourse than they did.
After the delicious brunch which was served, we got down to the difficult task of selecting the winners. Of the seven races, I got not one winner but Edwina picked up five and when I asked how she did it, she replied that she had been talking to an Irishman who gave her the tips. I know who to find and talk to next time.
Nevertheless it was an excellent afternoon and we were very grateful to our hosts for their kind hospitality.
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