Kevin’s Owners’ Day

Hambleton’s Kevin Ryan’s Owners’ Day is always a highlight of our ever-expanding social calendar and Sunday’s event once again proved a huge success.

Having held the day for more than ten years in a row, we know how popular the stable visit is with our owners and the team once again put all their efforts into ensuring owners had a most enjoyable day.

Owners initially gathered on the gallops where they were met by the Hambleton team and Rosie from the The Drink Stop, who as usual produced a fine array of home baking for owners to enjoy, to complement their lattes, hot chocolates or cappuccinos.

As owners enjoyed the complimentary catering and talked horses Caroline took to the microphone to offer everyone the usual warm Hambleton welcome before the Hambleton horses cantered on the gallops in front of their owners and watching trainer Kevin Ryan.

The equine stars of the morning looked in fine condition as they exercised up Kevin’s woodchip gallop, with the majority of the Hambleton horses out exercising and led by progressive three-year-old Magical Spirit with his usual exuberant style.

As the string made their way back down the gallops, they were going a more gentle canter speed so owners could get a closer look at the horses and take as many pictures as they liked.

After the gallops action owners moved down into Kevin’s yard to see their horses’ parade.

Simon took to the microphone for the parade to give owners an update on each horse and highlight some likely winners in the coming weeks whilst also discussing the many wins the team have already secured this year.

With the horses who had been on the gallops safely back in their boxes Kevin then proceeded to introduce the latest recruit to the Hambleton team, a strong, sharp-looking yearling colt by Buratino.

The colt, recruited from the Goffs Premier Sales earlier in the week, behaved impeccably as he walked calmly in front of an impressed audience, looking every inch a ready-made two-year-old for next year. He earned himself many an admirer on the day and such was his popularity he became the latest recruit for this horse racing syndicate to sell out without going on open sale.

After the parade owners enjoyed a relaxed tour of the yard whilst Rosie kept the drinks flowing and offered cold drinks and refreshments as well for everyone.

From the yard it was off to the Carpenters Arms, described by the Michelin Restaurant Guide as “A proper village pub with 18C origins”, which proved the perfect venue for owners to enjoy a delicious lunch, with a selection of complimentary dishes on offer for owners to enjoy before a choice of delicious desserts.

The Hambleton team joined owners at the Carpenters Arms for the afternoon and, as you’d expect at such an excellent venue, the food was of a fine standard and owners enjoyed the catering and atmosphere for the rest of the afternoon in an idyllic setting as they looked back on a good season to date and forward to the winners to come.

With the weather fine, the horses in great form and the standard of the catering excellent this year’s Owners’ Day at Kevin’s proved the usual great occasion.

As ever, much of the following day was spent reviewing the day in the hope we can make 2020 even more enjoyable for our owners.

We’d like to take this chance to thank all owners who joined us on Sunday and helped contribute to make the day the great success it was and to duly thank everyone who has been in touch with such kind comments since Sunday.

It’s been very rewarding to hear so much positive feedback about the day. Thinking caps are now firmly on to try and ensure next year’s event is even better!