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- Total Posts 158
More & more interest and horses – good crowds at Langholm CR. Where is next meeting to be?
flapping finished for the season, starts again arround may2010.
langholm common riding was good especially since mine were 1st and 3rd.
garnock venture and sambuca used to race under whozart. just bought him in june from alan dickman but had garnock venture for 4 years which i bought from alan berry.I have just found this forum. I was at Hawick for the Tradesman in 1972 , i was 14 at the time,and my dad won it with Susans Girl , malcom thomas rode her,she beat the all powerfull Glasgow Alhambra, Jed Huggan, and went on the next day to win the Buccelugh Handicap. Susansgirl was the first welsh horse to win the trademan and she also won at langholm and Irvine and i think selkirk. Flapping in wales was huge back in those days and the classic meeting were at Penybont, llandridnod wells and monmouth show. Some fantastic memories. The top jockies were Malcom Thomas and Harry Lewis . Harry actually won two years ago !!! Anyway many good trainers and jockies started off flaping and went on to greater things I have had mant winners under rules.Grand National winning trainers and an actual Epsom Derby winning jockey once rode at the long defunct Glasbury
I have just found this forum. I was at Hawick for the Tradesman in 1972 , i was 14 at the time,and my dad won it with Susans Girl , malcom thomas rode her,she beat the all powerfull Glasgow Alhambra, Jed Huggan, and went on the next day to win the Buccelugh Handicap. Susansgirl was the first welsh horse to win the trademan and she also won at langholm and Irvine and i think selkirk. Flapping in wales was huge back in those days and the classic meeting were at Penybont, llandridnod wells and monmouth show. Some fantastic memories. The top jockies were Malcom Thomas and Harry Lewis . Harry actually won two years ago !!! Anyway many good trainers and jockies started off flaping and went on to greater things I have had mant winners under rules.Grand National winning trainers and an actual Epsom Derby winning jockey once rode at the long defunct Glasbury
We must have met up as I was the same age and went to Hawick every year and 1972 was one of the four years I rode Langholm common Riding (though never rode racing) and knew the flappers from the town well.
I have just found this forum. I was at Hawick for the Tradesman in 1972 , i was 14 at the time,and my dad won it with Susans Girl , malcom thomas rode her,she beat the all powerfull Glasgow Alhambra, Jed Huggan, and went on the next day to win the Buccelugh Handicap. Susansgirl was the first welsh horse to win the trademan and she also won at langholm and Irvine and i think selkirk. Flapping in wales was huge back in those days and the classic meeting were at Penybont, llandridnod wells and monmouth show. Some fantastic memories. The top jockies were Malcom Thomas and Harry Lewis . Harry actually won two years ago !!! Anyway many good trainers and jockies started off flaping and went on to greater things I have had mant winners under rules.Grand National winning trainers and an actual Epsom Derby winning jockey once rode at the long defunct Glasbury
Fantastic memories of flapping in Wales,Christ ,you had to be sharp then. I have special memories of a course near Cowbridge,I think it was? As you say many went on to better things.
I’ve just found film on Youtube of a race on the Castleholm at this year’s Common Riding meeting, probably on the Saturday not the big day itself which is the Friday
Just type in Langholm Horse Racing (flapping) if you are interested. It is a tight wee track the Castleholm.
- Total Posts 158
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsX76l0Qop8
copy and paste the link and you will see a flapping race at langholm.
sambuca is my horse in the race, used to race under whozart when under jockey club rules..i bought him from alan dickman
- Total Posts 158
first flapping meeting to take place in scotland is at scottish track castleholm Langholm Dumfriesshire on the 2nd of may Bank holiday week end. i will update time of first race soon as i hear.
with a number of good horses been bought over the winter months looks sure to be another competative years racing.
- Total Posts 158
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsX76l0Qop8
copy and paste the link and you will see a flapping race at langholm.
sambuca is my horse in the race, used to race under whozart when under jockey club rules..i bought him from alan dickman
tyrone williams is on Abey stepps bought out of tim easterby yard and liam berridge is on shameless, both ex jockeys,
- Total Posts 158
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUheEjoTMO0
dingle derby flapping meeting
- Total Posts 158
- Total Posts 158
Byline: COLIN RUSSELL
YOU may never have heard of Keith Donoghue, but you will. He’s an Irishman who rides very much in the Paul Carberry style – long rein, bum in air, giving his mount plenty of confidence, and he’s strong in a finish. He’s ridden more than 20 winners and has lost his 7lb claim, but the most surprising thing is that he is only 16.
That’s too young to drive, to drink or even buy a packet of cigarettes. He is some talent.
But there is more to him than those bare statistics, for, like many before him, he has come up through the Irish pony racing circuit or as we call it in Britain, flapping. Whatever the terminology, he has cut his teeth in unlicensed racing, riding more than 100 winners, and is following the same path as Richard Hughes, Jamie Spencer, Jason Maguire and Tony Dobbin to name just a few.
If a rider has ridden in 400 races before turning 16 it is a massive advantage, like a greyhound being given a 50-yard start. Others may catch up, but it will take a while.
Compared to other sports, racing has been slow to grasp the nettle when it comes to nurturing young talent. In rugby, football, cricket, golf and tennis, and even equine sports such as eventing and showjumping, youngsters with potential are spotted at an early age, given extensive coaching and, just as importantly, experience match practice, so by the time they are in their late teens they are prepared for open competition.
In racing, kids could learn the basics in riding schools or the pony club but there was nothing with a racing bias. That was up to trainers who youngsters would join as apprentices, many with no riding experience, and it was up to their masters to coach them. If they were lucky and showed aptitude they would be given experience of riding in races.
Over the years considerable improvements have been made. With the advent of racing schools, youngsters are taught how to ride and perform general stable duties, so when they come to enter employment in racing they at least have a knowledge of the basics. What they lack, though, is race-riding practice.
Nowadays in Britain we have pony racing, and it is what it implies – kids racing ponies. Unlike its Irish equivalent, though, it’s fairly sanitised stuff. Racing is often hell-for-leather from the start, frequently with small fields and, with different rules and qualification imposed by two governing bodies – the Pony Club and the Pony Racing Authority – it is somewhat fragmented. I’m not knocking it, as I wish they’d had it in my day, and it’s where the likes of Sam Twiston-Davies, Rhys Flint, Giles Hawkins and Hadden Frost began their careers, but it’s a far cry from the hurly-burly of the Irish circuit.
Another form of racing for British youngsters to gain experience is flapping, but that’s a side of racing that has acquired a bad image. Perhaps there is a preconception that it is a sport for vagabonds, armed with long sticks, beating up horses to make them gallop down Appleby High Street.
Forget that idea. In my experience it is a well-run sport, with veterinary and medical cover, stewards, ID checks and races run on a perfectly acceptable, railed-in circuit.
But it’s not something that seems to be encouraged by the BHA, in fact it seems a thorn in its side, which is a shame because it has benefits. Firstly to give young riders experience of race-riding, and secondly as a second career for racehorses. A third advantage is that it makes no pull on racing’s limited purse strings.
THERE have been plenty of successful rules riders who began their careers flapping, the latest being Greg Fairley. Weight allowances are given for age, not numbers of winners ridden, so it encourages owners to give youngsters a chance.
Equally important is that is gives a home and a purpose for ex-racehorses.
Great strides have been made in recent years regarding the re-training, re-housing and rehabilitation of horses that have raced. One of the best ideas are the showing classes in which former racehorses are judged not on their speed but on their manners and conformation, and in classes that involve jumping, on their style and athleticism. Thanks to the efforts of Di Arbuthnot, more and more shows now feature these classes and they act as a great incentive for those who enjoy showing (there are plenty of them), to acquire horses that have raced.
There are of course all the other sports for them, hunting, eventing, showjumping, point-to-pointing and dressage, as well as the four rehabilitation and retirement homes.
But flapping is rarely considered.
It’s ideal. For example, this year a group from the Scottish borders, including one of our press corps, bought a horse for reasonable money because it had developed an aversion to the stalls. He wasn’t going to be a jumper but what a hit he has been flapping, providing his owners with four wins and a great deal of fun.
His participation means that he, like every other flapping horse on both sides of the Irish Sea who has crossed the great divide, can never go back to rules racing, but he is a fine example of what the sport offers. Rather than be outlawed, it should be encouraged.
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Borders in a flap – by fiona scott
IF HORSE racing is the sport of kings then flapping must certainly be the sport of the people. In the Borders anyway.
Throughout the summer local race goers flock to meetings at Langholm, Hawick Moor, Selkirk (Gala Rig) and even further afield to Irvine and Aberdeen.
Over 2000 of them gathered round the track at the Hawick Common Riding meeting this year to watch former pro jockey Tyrone Williams steer Taff Trail to victory in the Tradesman’s handicap. The following week hundreds arrived at Gala Rig to watch Highfield Prince win the prestigious Golden Mile under the guidance of Hawick jockey Bruce Gibson.
So why wont the Jockey Club of Great Britain recognise and encourage the sport which has been alive and kicking in this area as far back as the days of the Border Reivers?
That is the question on the lips of the local horse racing associations and one they are more keen than ever to get answered.
Stevie Ellwood has been commentating on flapping races over the last two decades and is vice president of Langholm Horse Racing Association (LHRA). He told The Southern: “We don’t get any coverage/exposure from the proper racing authorities and that’s unfortunate because really we’re not doing anything wrong.
“We have a handicapping system, horse passports, registered jockeys, insurance, a code of conduct, a clerk of course even a clerk of scales.
“The horses that come flapping do so mostly because they just don’t make the grade under rules and because of that these horses are treated with great respect and tlc. They are far better off with us than boxed up in a racing yard.
“It would be nice if the Jockey Club would come and see exactly what we do here. We would certainly welcome them with open arms at Langholm.
So why to the Borders people love the sport of flapping so much. Stevie has the answer: “It’s very expensive to keep a horse under rules and flapping provides a way for people to get the massive enjoyment horse racing provides without the cost endured by more serious race horse owners.
“The buzz at some of our meetings is far greater than you would ever get at some of the bigger race tracks. It’s like this big pie and open to all to have a slice of it. Everyone knows everyone else and the banter is second to none, it’s pure magic. And most of all everyone has great fun.
Border Horse Racing Association was formed in the 1970’s before Langholm, Hawick and Selkirk branched off into three separate bodies. In the early days flapping meetings were only ran at Common Ridings but such was the popularity of the sport that individual meetings began to spring up throughout the flat racing season (spring to autumn).
Feelings run strong on the local circuit with people like Ronnie Frost and Lyndsay Nichol (Hawick Horse Racing Association) Gordon Newlands (Selkirk) and Langholm’s Colin Barnfeather among the many who are vocal in their support of flapping. Barnfeather added: “If you just look at the number of jockeys that have came on through pony racing and flapping and then went on to be a success under rules it just shows you what an integral part it has to play in horse racing as a whole.
“Ian Jardine, Bruce Gibson, the Berridge brothers and Keith Dalgleish to name but a few all rode flappers in their youth. Keith went on to ride 19 group winners on the flat before retiring because of weight problems. A good part of their success can be put down to experience they gained through flapping.
“Certainly away back in the past flapping was bandit country but to an extent so was racing under rules and we have progressed from that as have they.
“You see so many riders on the point to point circuit, which is recognised, and they are no where near as good as the riders we have here. Everyone should be treated the same.”
Gala Rig at Selkirk is rumoured to be the oldest race course in the country and although they currently only run a meeting once a year at the Common Riding the Rig committee are also looking to add to their fixtures. Newlands explained: “Three years ago we had four race horses turn up for four races.
We cancelled all but one that year, the Golden Mile was still run. A new committee was formed and specific job titles was given to members, mine was to try and get the number of horses coming increased. The next year we had 23 horses entered and had a great meeting.
“This year we had one of biggest crowds on recent records. The enthusiasm for the Rig by the racehorse trainers and owners is there, we just need to capture that enthusiasm every year.
“We have a great meeting with some great support from outwith and in the area, the committee are grateful for this support and will try to build on this for next year. Three days have been added into the Smedheugh tenancy agreement with a view to possibly hold another meeting in August 2010.
“All in all the future looks rosy for the Rig and we as a committee are determined to succeed.”
Even the bookies join in the banter on the flapping circuit. Archie Scott has had his pitch at all the local courses since 1975. He told us: “There’s such a great camaraderie and friendship at the flapping. I’ve made a lot of friends and I suppose I’ve made some money as well along the way.
“It’s a lot stricter now than it used to be and these guys running it now keep a very close eye on things so it’s all good for the sport, long may it go on.”- Total Posts 158
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cheers for the help and info
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- Total Posts 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsX76l0Qop8
copy and paste the link and you will see a flapping race at langholm.
sambuca is my horse in the race, used to race under whozart when under jockey club rules..i bought him from alan dickman
hi ive just bought this horse and looking for some info on him and his past if any1 can help.
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