LANGHOLM GALLOPS UNDERWAY!!!

As you can see from the photograph above the gallops are underway, this will be a state of the art 5 furlong circuit on deep sand that is the first of its kind in the British Isles.  It is an exact replica of 1st and 2nd leading trainers in France and will have jumping lanes and galloping tracks and a grass gallop.  The project will be called The Langholm Gallops and will be open to the public all year round.  Colin Barnfather will be taking bookings as well as us here at The Craig once the gallop is opened officially in the Spring 2008 and we will be holding an opening day later on towards the end of the season to give you a chance to see the gallops in action. James has designed his own portable jumps that are also under construction which can be jumped in both directions and can be wheeled on and off the sand when harrowing.

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The gallops are really taking shape now with the drainage having been dug out and completed, flood barriers on the river side banked up and a great deal of time has been made in ensuring an entirely flat surface before the membrane and finally the sand is laid down.  We are also laying out a grass gallop on the inside of the sand track and turn out paddocks in the centre and the portable all-weather fences are now being built to roll onto and off the sand tracks.  Although taking longer than anticipated it is vital that the project is right first time with the high rainfall in this valley and we hope to be using the facility by the Spring 08.  Horses have been working on the 7 furlong grass gallops and schooling weekly.  The ‘newer’ youngsters Quick Will, Classic Cut, Amber May all had their first schooling sessions over the larger tyres in the ménage and were all very pleasing.  Some of the older horses completed racecourse gallops with two trailer loads off one week and a box and trailer off the next – thank you to all of you who helped galloping, transporting and horse holding -these educational trips make all the difference to the good preparation of the horses before they get onto the track for the first time.  The Langholm Young Riders visited whilst on their school holidays and watched the schooling and horse care and completed a quiz compiled by Ruth – looks like we may have the odd budding jockey/stable lass amongst the bunch.  Some of the youngsters are into barns and 4 new stalls are under construction.

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Sunday 29th April 2007

Over 80 guests attended our end of season stable tour and BBQ. There was an example of a morning schooling in the menage, followed by a parade of some of the winners from this season and youngsters to follow for the future and a BBQ lunch. Over £100 was raised for The Injured Jockeys Fund - thank you for all donations.

Numero Un De Solzen runs 2nd at Carlisle 18th 2007 March in a Novice's Chase

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2007 New Horse Box Arrives - see Scrapbook Page.

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Our first double at Newcastle on 5th January to start 2007 courtesy of Numero Un De Solzen in the 3m Novice Chase and Raining Horse in the Maiden Hurdle and a 25% winning strike rate so far this season with 24 runners and 6 winners from 10 horses running and £29,486 in prize money won.

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A Hat Trick in 9 days and 60% Winners to Runners ratio to end 2006.

Super Baby - 1st Catterick - 19th December 2006 2m3 Novice Hurdle.

Orang Outan - 1st Southwell - 8th December 2006 2m Beginners Chase.

Open De L'Isle - 1st Hexham - 6th December 2006 2m Novice Hurdle.

Raining Horse - 3rd Kelso - 17th Novmber 2006 2m Novice Hurdle.

Orang Outan - 4th Kelso - 17th Novmber 2006 2m Beginners Chase.

Super Baby - 3rd Hexham - 15th November 2006 2m Novice Hurdle.

Open De L'Isle - 1st Carlisle - 12th November 2006, 2m The Book Your Conference Here Novices' Hurdle Race.

Orang Outan - 3rd Kelso - 4th November 2006, 2m 2f Haggerston CDL Hurdle

Yard Sponsor"G J Reid Quantum Ltd"www.graemejreid.co.uk

Open day success (click on latest news)

Numero Un De Solzen wins first time out over the hurdles.