Tony Wells - Racegoers Club column August 2024
I’ve often said, “If ever I go racing at Carlisle, I’d love to go on Carlisle Bell day.” So, when our three-year-old filly Tayala was declared in the fillies’ handicap, it was just the excuse I needed to head to the Cumbrian course on its marquee day of the year.
The bells date back to 1599, the oldest bell has the inscription: ‘The sweftes horse this bel to tak for mi lade Daker sake’ (The swiftest horse this bell to take for my lady Dacre’s sake), making it the oldest sporting trophy in the world.
I travelled from the largest city in England (by population) to the largest city in England (by area) with fellow owners Ian and Mike, but we very nearly didn’t get to the course. As we joined the back of a very long queue for taxis near Carlisle station, a taxi pulled up next to us. One of us opened the door to tell the driver we were at the back of the queue. There was an immediate and angry response from the front of the queue, thinking we were going to get into the taxi. The driver told us we were at the front of the queue, but we wisely declined the taxi, ushering the driver further up the road. Our actions were accepted by the locals, and we immediately got chatting to the guys behind us, who told us what a big day it was for Carlisle. They also told us Tayala was unlikely to beat the Sir Michael Stoute trained Juddmonte filly in the last!
We arrived at the course just minutes before the first race and the guys from the taxi queue were correct. It was indeed a big day for the city. The course was extremely busy, as Cumbria enjoyed its hottest day of the year so far. The crowd may also have been swelled by the first visit from the three times champion jockey, William Buick.
The welcome we received at the course was extremely warm. I can honestly say that every member of staff we met had a smile on their face and looked genuinely pleased to see us. The food was excellent in the owners’ and trainers’ restaurant, the racing was competitive, with over £188,000 in prize-money on offer, and the facilities were some of the best I’ve experienced at what is considered one of the smaller racecourses.
The Bell was won by Danny Tudhope on the David O’Meara-trained Orbaan and the oldest sporting trophy was being presented as we entered the paddock ahead of Tayala’s race. Tom Marquand was greeted by 11 enthusiastic owners as he entered the paddock and he continued to keep smiling as he listened to our well intentioned, but over enthusiastic ideas on how to get the best out of Tayala. Fortunately, Ed Walker had briefed Tom and he knew exactly how to get the best out of our girl.
In the race, Tayala was smartly away and led the field. She settled nicely in front and led the field into the straight, but the Juddmonte filly, Red Pixie, was moving ominously well stalking our girl on her outside. Approaching the final furlong, William Buick hit the front on the favourite, but our game girl responded and battled back, only to go down by a neck. It was a career best by Tayala and we cheered her back as though she was the winner. In our eyes she is, as she is so tough and genuine and really enjoys her racing.
Losing to a Juddmonte horse can have its advantages, though. Red Pixie wasn’t represented, so we were invited into the winning connections area to enjoy a glass of champagne and watch a re-run of the race. It was a fitting way to end a most enjoyable day.
We headed back to Euston, tired but happy. Racing gets plenty of bad press, some of it self-inflicted. But days like this make you appreciate all that’s good in our sport. The Carlisle Bell & Plate Day proves that if you put on good quality racing with decent prize-money during the week, the people will come.