Ara

Goodbye to a Grand Dam!

The co-founder of the Aramis dynasty has sadly passed away at the age of 29. Ara, a chestnut mare, was bought when a three-year-old for £1000 and for a while was Isobel's riding companion around North London before she was moved to Gloucestershire, where she eventually became a champion broodmare. Ara came from good racing stock but had not raced. The other half of the partnership was provided by Kayf Tara, winner of the Ascot Gold Cup (twice), the Irish St Leger (twice), the Goodwood Cup and the Yorkshire Cup. The recurrence of an old injury, however, brought Kayf Tara's racing career to an end. That's where Isobel got lucky. She found out that Kayf Tara was standing for his first year in retirement at the Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, just a few miles away. An assignation was duly arranged and the rest, as they say, is history. The first of the new Aramis dynasty was born in April 2002 - Kayf Aramis (Kayf from his Sire, Ara from his Dam and Mis from Misty (the pony stabled in the back garden of a house in North London) – who went on to win four races on the flat, including three at the York Dante Festival and three over jumps, including the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham Festival in 2009. In 2005 the next addition to the Aramis family was Kaylifa, who sadly never raced, due to a throat problem. In 2007 the dynasty was increased by the arrival of the exciting Kaylif, who sadly met his death in a training yard accident before he could reach his full potential. The last of the 'Kayfs' is Kaylina. When she was born the vet said Ara had "saved her best till last!” Unfortunately it has not been possible to find out whether that is true as there has been no opportunity to put Kaylina into training. Kaylifa provided two 'grandchildren' for Ara - Zayfire Aramis who has already proved himself a winner, worthy of his sire, Zafeen and Berlief Aramis, a Bertolini colt, who started to make hs mark in the racing world but then had to retire due to an inoperable throat problem.

What a tremendous achievement for a mare who came from humble beginnings to produce such a marvellous family. Ara is already greatly missed by her offspring in the field.

25 March 2020

All Racing Off

There will be no more horse racing in Britain until May at the earliest. The BHA produced this dramatic response to the coronavirus pandemic and gave no indication when tracks will be open again. This reaction follows wholesale cancellations and postponements that have have been taking place across the world of sport since last week due to the impact of Covid-19. No sector of racing has been unaffected by Covid-19. All racing personnel are worried about whether their businesses will survive. Bookmaking companies have even called for government help. Bloodstock auctions have been postponed and charity events called off or put back until the situation becomes clearer.

It won't be Grand!

Jockey Club Racecourses have also issued a statement, backed by bookmakers, that they have decided to cancel this year's Grand National because of the ongoing worldwide crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet, said: "In terms of betting turnover the Grand National is by far the biggest race of the year but we fully support the decision to cancel it this year. It was the right one given the threat posed by the coronavirus and the evolving measures being announced by the government."

Kentucky Derby Off

The Kentucky Derby, scheduled for May, has been postponed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time since World War II, the Derby will not take place on the first Saturday in May. September 5 is the revised date. The Kentucky Derby, the first jewel of American horse racing’s Triple Crown, became the latest sporting event to be postpone because of coronavirus fears. The world-famous event usually attracts as many as 150,000 spectators.