The beautiful Spigot Lodge powers Karl Burke’s ferocious pursuit for quality winners and it was great to spend a morning in the company of the great man recently, on our Owners’ Day with Karl Burke’s.
Summer weather greeted our owners despite it being just April, and the warm weather set the tone for a really enjoyable day within the walls of one of Britain’s most successful training establishments.
Inside Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge training operation
Owners entered Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge base looking forward to seeing their horses who were all set to exercise for them under Karl’s watchful eye.
As everyone settled in for the morning and enjoyed a tasty treat and quality coffee, they had chance to look over Spigot Lodge and the workings of the hugely successful training operation that Karl has in place.
Sending out close to 40 Stakes winners last year was a phenomenal effort from Karl and spending a morning in his company it was clear to see his drive to maintain the incredible success that has made him one of the standout trainers in Britain is very much in place.
As owners observed the inner workings of Karl’s well oiled training machine they headed off to one of the key parts of Karl’s facilities, a circular ride where the young horses learn the ropes.
Owners watch horses exercise and parade in Middleham
Exercising here allows owners to see much more of the horses than just a simple canter past, and it was enjoyable for all to watch their horses going through their paces in the morning sunshine.
After the exercise the horses returned to the main part of the yard in front of Karl’s house where each horse was paraded for owners to get a much closer look at them and find out the latest about their progression.
Strength Of Spirit and stable stars catch the eye
Strength Of Spirit, a recent winner of his first start of the season in a valuable Saturday handicap Musselburgh, looked very well in himself, as did all the horses in general as they took their turn in the limelight.
Following the parade owners then had the chance to have a closer look around Karl’s enviable facilities and look over some of the stable stars who’ll doubtless be featuring in some of this season’s big races as they continue to develop under Karl’s care.
The chance for an unhurried morning at Spigot Lodge proved understandably popular with our owners and as we edged closer to lunch time the Hambleton team and our assembled owners made their way to the nearby Saddle Room, where lunch awaited our owners.
A few pints hit the spot after a morning in the summer-like conditions in Middleham before a lovely lunch in a venue steeped in horse racing that always draws a comment or three about the racing paraphernalia on show, not least the working pair of weighing room scales!
Anyone jumping aboard the scales would doubtless have been a little heavier after lunch but fairly relaxed about the fact they were weighing out a pound or two heavier than when they arrived.
Mornings in the sun with owners looking over quality horses and some nice refreshments thrown in – we can think or worse ways to spend a morning!
Thank you to all of our owners who joined us at Spigot Lodge with Karl Burke and made the day so enjoyable for the Hambleton team.
