New Horse - Already Basking

I am delighted to welcome a new horse ‘Already Basking’ (aka Biscuit) to the yard.  Biscuit is owned by Gillian Goldsmith, whose husband John is Managing Director of the well-known Aston Martin Classic Car Racing and Restoration Company Goldsmith and Young Ltd (www.goldsmithandyoung.com) based in Mere, Wiltshire.

Gillian Goldsmith was the first ladies National Hunt Champion jockey in 1976 riding Bill Counsell's ‘Stanhope Street’, having previously had a very successful point to point season riding Tim Frost’s ‘Prince Rock’.  In the early 70s she was also a works race driver for the Ford Motor Company and is currently a race car instructor teaching up and coming racing drivers at circuits such as Thruxton & Goodwood.  Occasionally John allows her to co drive one of his racing Astons!  You can see Gillian in action on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrzjTQQObk with her single seater 1968 Cooper Daimler at Shelsley Walsh.

Gillian bought ‘Already Basking’ as a two year old colt off the flat.  He was not enjoying life and was not trying very hard in his races.  Gillian and her daughter Samantha have done an impressive job  by hacking and hunting the horse around the local countryside and the horses’ response encouraged them to enter Biscuit in a local charity race with Sam on board which she won. 

The current plan is for Sam to ride the horse in an amateur hurdle race after an initial race somewhere very soon.  Whilst he has not been with us long because Gillian and Sam have done most of the build-up work, we are pleased with him so far and cautiously optimistic.  The intention is to see how things go without putting him under too much pressure too soon.

We wish the Goldsmiths the very best of luck with Biscuit.  In the meantime here is a video of him schooling with Red Not Blue supplied courtesy of Clemency Dent.

Already Basking schooling with Red Not Blue and being ridden by Miss Alice Mills

Already Basking