10th August 2009

I am very sorry to have to report that Blackheath passed away yesterday following a bad bout of colic.

Blackheath was a handsome and talented racehorse. He gave us a lot of fun and leaves many happy memories. He raced 133 times, winning thirteen races, twelve of them for us including a Heritage Handicap. We were privileged to share in his racing career from the age of six until he retired at twelve years old.


Blackie in the winner’s enclosure after his last win.




19th June

Blacky in full flow on the occasion of his final win by four lengths at Wolverhampton on March 22nd.



It looks like Blackheath has run his last race. The syndicate seem to be unanimous that he should now enjoy what will hopefully be a long and happy retirement. Blacky’s future will be as a show horse, with possibly a go at show jumping if he proves to be any good at it.


16th June

He runs in the 5f Claimer at 4.00pm Hamilton on Wednesday. On official ratings Lethal is rated 17lb higher and has to give Blackheath 14lb. No doubt Lethal will start favourite. The rest of the field look to be fairly weak. Rain is forecast, so fingers crossed that not too much of it falls on Hamilton. Currently the going is described as Good/Firm.

13th June

Two entries next week. On Tuesday 17th at Thirsk he is in a 5f Class 6 Handicap. On Wednesday he is in a 5f Claimer at
Hamilton. Hopefully he will be in the Thirsk race with a nice high draw.

4th June

Blackheath takes his chance in the 4.45 at Catterick on Friday. He has been drawn out in the car park, 12 of 12. The going is presently described as Good/Soft (Soft in places) and should dry out a bit before possible rain again on Friday.

3rd June

Lots of rain at Ripon today means lots of rain and soft ground at Catterick. Not good.

1st June

Blackheath is entered in the 4.45 at Catterick on Friday 6th June. It is a 6f Class 6 Handicap. This is more suitable than the sharp 5f races he has been in recently, but a straight track would be better. The Catterick 6f is a draw dependant track which tends to impose the tactics on the jockey. Blacky is not too good around sharp bends and is best allowed to bowl along in his own time, he doesn’t respond well to bustling and manoeuvring to take a position. So a flat straight 6f would be better. Redcar is calling “race here”. But no-one is listening.

28th May

He is not running at Musselburgh on Friday.

25th May

Blackheath is entered in a 5f Seller at Musselburgh on Friday evening. He is set to carry topweight 9st 9lb, and give weight to horses rated in the 60s, 70s and 80s, which makes no sense at all.

19th May

A week ago Blackheath lost on the nod at Redcar. Today he lost on the nod at Musselburgh. This time he was close to flat out all the way, in close touch with the leader Funfare Wane. When that one started to fade Blacky edged ahead but he couldn’t muster the pace to keep his nose in front, even against weak opposition.

As ever a sharp 5f does not suit him.

14th May

Blackheath is entered in a 5f Claimer at Musselburgh on Monday 19th. There are a few in it with higher ratings, notably Fire Up The Band (rated 82). As an exercise in getting the handicap mark down quickly it would make sense. The handicapper seems to take pity on the also runs in Claimers rather quicker than those in handicaps. The track is on the sharp side for Blacky, with its dogleg and low draw bias. His handicap mark has gone down to 60 on the turf. He could win off of that mark in the right conditions.

13th May

An excellent effort at Redcar yesterday. As he and Kenmore flashed passed the post together the result could have gone either way. Alas Blacky lost it on the nod.

There is no reason why Blackheath should not continue to run well in these conditions - 5f or 6f, flat straight track and fast going. The last time he was at Redcar was four years ago. Then he travelled strongly tracking the pace over 6f, went for home a furlong out and was unlucky to be caught, racing off a mark of 79 on going a little softer than ideal. Since that race and the previous run at York it has been clear that a patient ride in those conditions was his optimum. It is a crying shame that he hasn’t had these conditions more often.

7th May

Blacky ran OK yesterday. Although he finished in mid div he wasn’t far off the heels of the placed horses, beaten only three lengths. A typical 5f at Catterick effort. Kelly rode him with patience and got as good a result as his level of fitness allowed. I think he probably started to tire just as the leaders began to come back to him. The ground dried up and was OK.

Two entries at Redcar on Monday. The going is presently described as Good (Good/Soft in places) but it should dry out nicely by Monday. He will have his ideal conditions, i.e. fast going and a flat straight track, for the first time since his win at York nearly two years and 35 races ago !!

He is entered in a 5f Seller in which only Kenmore and Funfair Wane (a neck ahead of Blacky last night giving 3lb) are rated higher. And entered in a 6f Claimer in which two horses rated in the 80s and three in the 70s appear in the entry list.

5th May

Blackheath runs in the 8.05 at Catterick tomorrow. He is drawn 4 and Kelly Harrison rides as usual. The going is presently described as Good/Soft (Soft in places) with no Going Stick reading given. It should have dried out a bit more by tomorrow evening, but it still will not be ideal. As you would expect at Catterick there are some quick front runners in the race (Brut, Toy Top, Signor Panettiere, Whinhill House, Strensall etc) and Blacky will probably be covered up and outpaced early. Hopefully Kelly will just let it happen rather than fighting for her position, and then ride a patient race. Blacky may well need the race after six weeks off.

1st May

After his rest he is ready to run at anytime. Unfortunately the going has gone very soft in the North.
Blacky is entered at Catterick on Tuesday 6th May in the 8.05. It is a Class 5 0-70 handicap over 5f.
A sharp downhill 5f on soft ground is definitely not Blacky’s thing.

4th April

Apparently there is a virus in the yard and that is the reason for him not running. The next race is expected to be on turf.

2nd April

Thankfully he has not been declared for Friday’s race. Two horses rated in the 80s are in it, and even without them it would have been a tough ask.

27th March

Yesterday I almost described his Saturday run as his optimum. However as an owner of a racehorse you always hope there is something extra to come. On Saturday he hugged the rail, got a perfect tow, got the gap when he needed it and his main rivals either went too fast or raced wide. It looked so easy.

The race yesterday was altogether different. The 6lb penalty meant that Blacky was not particularly well in with the opposition. The draw resulted in him running four wide, whereas the three horses that beat him were drawn 1, 2 and 3 and hugged the rail around the bend. In addition young veteran, 10YO Taboor came back to form off a very low mark and would have been difficult to beat even without the poor draw.

So although Blackheath went off 7/4 favourite he really did not have a great chance in this race, and the initial feeling of disappointment at him finishing only 4th is not justified.

It is intended to entered him in a 5f Claimer at Wolverhampton on Friday 4th April. This is probably a mistake as he is likely to run into horses rated in the high 60s, 70s or 80s. He is in such good fettle at the moment that he might still win a handicap given reasonable luck with the draw etc. If I was entering him I would be looking for straight flat tracks which drain well and produce fast ground even in the Spring. Places like Redcar, Thirsk, Doncaster or places which have a stiff 5f eg Pontefract, Carlisle or Beverley. Going back to Claimers feels like it is just repeating the mistakes of 2007.

26th March

The handicapper has put Blackheath up by 8lb to 62. So today’s race may be the best chance he will have to win again for a while.

It had always been my opinion that he would improve some more when he gets back on a straight track and fast turf, and either a stiff 5f or an easy 6f. However looking at the video of Saturday’s race he was so well balanced around the bend and ran such an even pace that it would be asking a lot to expect him to improve on it. Though he was running on strongly in the last half furlong.

When he was with David Nicholls Blacky was often asked to race prominently regardless of the pace. He was always on his toes at the track and often “flustered” and unbalanced in his races, though not when Silvestre rode. What Scott and Kelly have achieved is based on settling him down and being patient, and learning what works best. Good for them.

25th March

Blackheath will probably start tomorrow’s race as favourite. He is drawn 7 of 9 which is not ideal. More of a worry is that the early pace may be modest with the runners getting in each others way and Blacky on the outside unable to cover one getting first run up the rail. In particular Adam Kirby rides Twinned who often races prominently and might hope to poach a lead off the bend and last home. Kelly may need to be more proactive in this race, than she has had to be lately.

24th March - The Easter Is Egg-Stra Special @ Pontin’s Handicap, Wolverhampton, 22nd March.

The last couple of months have certainly been Egg-Stra Special for Blackheath. Three wins in four outings and this the best of the them by some way. Beforehand it had looked a competitive little handicap. Blacky was not given much chance by punters, going off 15/2 fourth favourite of seven. In the event our boy turned it into a procession winning by four lengths. Kelly rode him to perfection allowing Blacky to take his time, ignoring the frantic early pace set by Dodaa, who was pressed by Town House and Lithaam, with Decider on the outside. Blacky made up ground all around the turn and by the time they entered the straight he was already challenging Dodaa and clearly going best.

The handicapper will have his evil way, and Blacky is likely to go up by at least 8lb or 9lb in the handicap. So he is due to race again at Wolverhampton on Wednesday in the 6.50 carrying a 6lb penalty. I imagine Blacky will be favourite at fairly cramped odds.

This is what the Racing Post had to say :-









Blackheath got a good round of applause when he came back into the winners enclosure and is surely on his way to joining that small but select band of old timers who the racing public have taken to their hearts. Proud, relieved and elated are just a few of the words that explain how I feel about the turn of events. Marvellous !!

20th March

Only seven runners in the Easter Is Eggstra Special Pontin’s Handicap, 6.50 Saturday. Unfortunately Decider and Dodaa are two of them. Blacky is drawn 1, which should be fine in such a small field as long as he gets a reasonable start. Dodaa and Town House are likely to set a strong pace, and Decider has raced front rank lately so they could cut each others throats and set it up for Blacky.

For those enthusiastic about racing at Wolverhampton, more good news. Blackheath is also entered in the 6.50 on Wednesday. This is another Class 6 0-55 Handicap over five furlongs. Kelly is booked for that one too.

19th March

Blackheath is entered in the 6.50 at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening. It is a 5f Class 6 (0-58) Handicap.
The entries include Decider who won last week’s Southwell race impressively, putting Alexander Huricane in his place. He has been raised 10lb and also has an entry at Kempton in the afternoon. Kelly Harrison is again down to ride Blacky. I am hoping for a good draw (2-5) and for Dodaa and Decider to get stinkers. Who says sportsmanship is dead?


10th March

Sarah visited Blacky at Scott Mason’s on the 2nd and sent me this photo of our boy in home surroundings



and here are some of her comments :-

Blacky demands to go out first everyday and has in his roped off area access to a stream. On the doorstep Scott also has access to a circular all weather gallop, indoor and outdoor school. Without having to go on any roads they can also get straight onto some tracks, which are pretty hilly. Monday's is trotting round the tracks day and unlike the rest of us Blacky loves Mondays. He had been joined by a few old friends, Tournedos, Lost Soldier Three and Largo D’Orta. Dandy has sent them up for a change of scenery and in Tournedos' case to try and get him to switch off. It certainly has a very peaceful feel about it & I am convinced Blacky has enjoyed the individual care Scott and his team have been able to lavish on him.

Whilst I am not expecting much from his run at Southwell tomorrow Sarah always reminds us that with Blacky you have to expect the unexpected. I expect Alexander Huricane to win comfortably.

9th March

Blackheath is in the 3.40 at Southwell on Tuesday. He is drawn 6 of 10. Kelly Harrison rides again.
It is a shame that a race on polytrack could not have been found. On fibresand I cannot see him getting in the first three. He will be surrounded by horses from the Alan McCabe stable. Four of them !

8th March

An entry has been made in a 5f Class 6 (0-60) Handicap at Southwell on Tuesday 11th. This is not a great idea imho.
I would much prefer him trying for his hattrick on a course and going that suits him. It will be difficult enough off a mark of 54 anyway. There are five other last time out winners in the race including Dodaa, and Alexander Huricane who looks like he is improving quickly judged by the very comfortable win at Wolves in the hands of Jamie Spencer. Alexander will be a warm favourite if he runs, despite some believing that he is less effective on fibresand.

1st March

Blackheath has not been declared for Monday’s race. He did not eat up, so is probably a little under the weather. Apparently there may not be a suitable race now until towards the end of March.

26th February

An entry has been made in a 5f Class 6 0-55 Handicap at Lingfield. It is the 3.10pm on Monday 3rd March. Blackheath’s reassessed rating is 54. An interesting aspect of the entries is that Kelly Harrison is shown to be riding two horses. The other is Thoughtsofstardom, an impressive looking winner of a 5f Handicap at Kempton. He is said to require a strong pace and certainly got one on Sunday. Dodaa, who made all in the race before Blacky’s on Thursday, is the other winner in the field.

Those who follow this blog will know that a sharp turning 5f is not ideal for Blackheath. 6f at Lingfield would give him a better chance. Unless Thoughtsofstardom and Dodaa drop out I think he will need a low draw and a fast break to have a chance of winning this. Otherwise he will not get a good early position and will be flat to the boards from the start.

None of the All Weather tracks really suit Blackheath that well. He is not at his best on a turning track and I am looking forward to him racing again on fast turf and straight tracks.

25th February

Blackheath has been taken out of the two races on Wednesday. It is the right decision though the 5f Seller has cut up with only six declared runners.

22nd February - The Bet Football - Betdaq Classified Stakes, Wolverhampton, 21st February.

So he did it. Blackheath won his twelth race on his 125th start. The first time he has won two races in succession. Now it is six wins over five furlongs and six wins over six furlongs.

Blacky is a calmer horse these days, and barely got on his toes going out onto the track. He got a good break from the stalls but was headed by two horses early. Temtation was bustled into the lead going plenty quick enough against a strong headwind. Kelly had Blackheath on his outside in a handy position to challenge when she chose. By halfway Blacky was clearly going best, and as they turned into the straight the rest of the field were being rowed along. Fully one furlong and a half out Kelly pushed Blacky into the lead and he was soon two lengths up. Bahamian Bay, who was flat to the boards by halfway, was the only one to threaten as she stayed on well down the outside. But Blacky lasted out the trip sufficiently to have 3/4 length in hand at the line. Kelly confirmed that he was running out of petrol in the last half furlong.

Punters showed plenty of faith in him again, sending Blackheath off the 11/10 favourite. However there are always the unbelievers and one Scot on the Betfair forum posted this as 7.20 approached “BLACKHEATH if this wins I will dance NAKED down Easter Road !” following up with “Wearing a Hearts scarf singing , "Oh the Hibbees are Gay!"
It is pleasing to know that Blacky is providing entertainment in all parts of the British Isles, and still proving a few people wrong.

This is the report of the Wolverhampton meeting on Page 80 of today’s Racing Post



Owner’s say some odd things in the euphoria following a win. :-(



Blackheath is entered in two more races at Wolverhampton on Wednesday 27th February. One is a 6f Class 6 Handicap and the other a 5f Seller. The Seller includes an in-form 68 rated horse, and others rated 58 and 60, and Blacky might have a double penalty to carry in that? In the Handicap he is now rated 52 and I would guess would carry a further 6lb penalty. Personally I would prefer that he has a rest now. He has travelled 1400 miles and raced three times in eleven days. Better to wait until he is reassessed, probably around the 53-54 mark.

20th February

Blackheath is due to run in the 7.20pm at Wolverhampton tomorrow. This is the 6 furlong Class 7 Classified Stakes.
There is a field of 13 runners and Blacky is drawn 7, which is OK. If Kelly can get him out of the stalls as quickly as on the last two occasions I think that there is a good chance that he could make all. Mind you I know next to nothing about the rest of the field and Timeform isn’t exactly overflowing with information about his opponents. There might be a speedy front runner in there somewhere. Blacky carries a 6lb penalty for last Thursday’s win. The rest of the field are on 9st.

It is hard to believe that there can still be debate about a racehorse’s distance requirements after he has run 124 races. But that is the case with Blackheath. I seem to find myself in a minority of one in thinking that he is probably still best over a stiff 5f or easy 6f, rather than a sharp 5f such as Wolverhampton. For one reason or another events have transpired against him over 6f in the last year. Tactics, jockeyship, bad luck in running, bad draw, soft ground, opposition far too good all appear in the excuses column. Admittedly Blackheath has got more tricky to ride as he has got older. He is best allowed to cruise along doing his own thing, and responds badly to a busy assertive ride. Also his run does not last long if the whip is used when he still has plenty of ground to make up. It is as if he knows that the effort is futile. He drops away as if stamina was an issue. A quiet patient jockey suits him best.

One race rarely proves anything but hopefully tomorrow there won’t be any excuses and he will prove the doubters wrong. That, or I will have more egg on my face.

Blackheath has never won two races back to back. Perhaps tomorrow can be another first.
Come on Blacky !!!

15th February

Two entries have been made for Wolverhampton on Thursday 21st. The 6.50 is a Class 6 5f 0-50 Handicap for 4YO+. The 7.20 is a Class 7 6f 0-45 Classified Stakes. Blackheath would carry a penalty in either race.

The time of yesterday’s race was good for the grade. So the timefigures calculated by the Racing Post and Timeform back up ratings at a similar level to last May’s course and distance win. That win was off an official rating of 55. So there are possibilities of winning again off 45 + 6lb penalty. The other good thing about this is that Blackheath has clearly lost little of his ability over the last year and in the switch to Scott’s stable. As he has always been ideally suited by fast turf and a straight track there may be opportunities to be had in the summer, particularly if his turf rating stays at 45 for now.

I am feeling happier about Blacky continuing racing than I have been for a year. As a popular ultra veteran he brings something extra to the races he is in and is clearly in good health. He has a good life walking and trotting in the Durham hills and woods, with spells out in a paddock, and he looks a happy horse. So why not. If his form deteriorates, in Scott’s words there will be a queue of people willing to take him for a well earned retirement.

14th February The Will You Marry Me Richard? Classified Stakes, Wolverhampton on Valentine’s Day

It was a St Valentine’s Day massacre at Wolverhampton as Blackheath slaughtered the otherwise modest field to win by four lengths. The win has been a while coming. Seventeen races, and several near misses, since he won over course and distance in May 2007. Blacky has now won at least once in each of the seven years we have had him. It was his 124th race and eleventh win.

Beforehand he seemed none the worst for the 700 miles he had travelled in a horsebox since Sunday. As usual he got on his toes going out of the paddock. The routine of walking him out onto the track and mounting him there worked well again and he cantered down with none of the drama which used to accompany pre-race formalities. He got a good break again but Maktavish soon cut across him entering the turn. That caused Kelly Harrison an anxious moment or two and Blacky a couple of cuts to a foreleg. As usual Maktavish edged right off the home turn and Blacky then had a clear run. Drawing level approaching the final furlong it looked like there was going to be a duel with Maktavish to the line. Kelly dropped her whip at this point. But Blacky continued to run on strongly and Maktavish fell away. With nothing making ground from the rear Blacky won comfortably by 4 lengths and 3 1/2 lengths. He finished so strongly that he went around again before returning to the winner’s enclosure to a rapturous reception.

The race’s sponsor Karen Bennett presented us with a prize clock and Richard was there on the podium too. So presumably he will!



Smiles all round. Well done Kelly Harrison, Scott Mason and his staff. Well done Blackheath.



13st February

Alexander Huricane ran again yesterday and was worn down in a prolonged duel with Soba Jones over 6f at Southwell. What possessed them to race him again on that testing surface within 24 hours I really do not know. He carried a 6lb penalty, and having gone to the front looking the likely winner was beaten a length.

Blackheath goes into tomorrow’s race with a very good chance if he can reproduce Monday’s run. The Racing Post have him 7/4 favourite in their betting forecast, with 10 of the 13 tipsters choosing him. I cannot see him going off at that short price, but it is likely Blacky will be favourite. Go Blacky !!!

12th February

An excellent run by Blackheath at Wolverhampton yesterday. He got a fast break from the stalls, led for a furlong until the favourite Alexander Huricane headed him. He stayed about a half length down around the turn, made a sustained effort to draw level but just could not find anything extra when Chris Catlin on the favourite got serious well inside the final furlong. He was beaten 3/4 of a length, with the third 2 1/2 lengths further back. I would expect the handicapper to put him back up to 48-50 as a result. The time was good, with the Racing Post and Timeform both coming up with a timefigure higher than their rating for the run. Alexander Huricane looked a nice horse in the paddock and is now unbeaten in two runs.

Here are some photographs of the day.









Blacky is due to turn out again quickly, in the 9.20 at Wolverhampton on Thursday. 8 runners are declared and Blacky is well drawn in 3. If he can repeat Monday’s run he should have every chance.


9th February

Blackheath is drawn 8 of 10 runners in the 2.20pm at Wolverhampton on Monday. He is racing from 1lb out of the handicap i.e. as if he is on the bottom rating for the race of 46, rather than the 45 rating he is now on.
As there are four horses in the race that have already won this year it looks quite a competitive heat.

8th February

Two entries for Blacky during the coming week. On Monday he is in the 2.20 at Wolverhampton, a 5f Class 6 46-50 Handicap. On Thursday, again at Wolverhampton, he is in the 9.20, a 5f Class 7 0-45 Classified Stakes. He could run in either or both.

On Tuesday he ran well enough on the unsuitable fibresand finishing 4th. Kelly took the blindfold off a little early, and he got a bit excited and dwelt, but only losing a length. He was soon handy and stayed in touch until the final furlong gradually fading out of contention. He didn’t look 100% happy on the surface, tending to hang right a touch. Still it should set him up for a good effort in the next.

4th February

Blackheath runs tomorrow in the 2.40 at Southwell, a 5f Seller. He is drawn 1 which over the years has been good but I suspect that the middle is probably the place to be these days? Kelly Harrison is back riding him, so he’ll get the patient sympathetic ride which suits him. Drawn on the outside Kelly should be able to ride her own race without interference. Just looking at the names, there are some speedy horses in the race and the early pace should be relatively quick.

The surface doesn’t suit Blacky so I will be surprised if he is in contention inside the final furlong. On fast turf he would have every chance against this sort of opposition, but not on fibresand.

2nd February

As there is no ‘suitable’ race for Blackheath at present he has been entered in a 5f Seller at Southwell on Tuesday 5th.
There are a few other old stalwarts of the sprinting ranks entered as well. Eleven year old Maromito, whose super early speed never quite brought the rewards I expected of him, 10YO Magic Amour, 9YO Maktavish and 8YO Dunn Deal. You could not expect Blacky to run his best on fibresand, but at least a run will keep his fitness up. It will be his 100th race for us.

19th January

As expected the old fella did not stand a chance against horses with much higher ratings in the claimer yesterday. He broke well enough, was in close touch on the outside, but as they entered the straight the effort began to tell and he dropped right away from one and a half furlongs out, finishing a well beaten 7th. He was going virtually flat out from the start, in order to stay in touch. No horse can keep that up for more than three or four furlongs. His best chance of winning remains a 6f Class 6 0-50 handicap. Hopefully one will be along soon to mark his 100th race for the syndicate.

16th January

So it is to Wolverhampton again on Friday. There are only 9 runners entered for his race, the 1.20pm. Hopes are slim though because Blacky is the lowest rated and gets precious little weight from four horses rated 60-70. He has drawn an outside stall (8) and Kelly is back from Dubai so can ride. Calloff The Search gives him 3lb, but the favourites could well be Grimes Faith (rated 70, won his last race, has stall 1 and Neil Callan aboard) and Mafaheem (rated 66, won his last race beating Calloff, drawn 9, Seb Sanders). I imagine Blacky will be a 25/1+ rag.

Without coming further south to Kempton or Lingfield, or running from well out of the handicap, there are very few races on Polytrack that he can be entered in at present. So it is either a case of taking his chances in Claimers or not running. Better that he keeps ticking over until the next realistic chance comes along.

It will be his 99th race for us.

12th January

Blackheath has been entered in a 6f Claimer scheduled for 1.20pm on Friday 18th at Wolverhampton. There are four horses rated 70 or above entered. Blacky now has an official rating of 48. Calloff The Search opposes again. Three winners last time out are also included.

5th January

We were expecting Blackheath to go close to winning yesterday, but it was not to be. He got a decent break but soon ran into a little trouble as Calloff The Search moved across him. Within another furlong he was in a reasonable position chasing the winner but that horse was too good and he pulled away as they came off the bend and Blacky was under pressure fully 2f out. If the jockey is chasing him along and using the whip that far out you can be certain that Blacky will fade inside the final furlong. Whether it is 5f or 6f. So it was, and he lost 2nd and 3rd places in the last 100 yds. Calloff The Search won by 5 lengths and clearly there was no way that Blackheath could have beaten him, on the day.

Blacky lives to win another day and Scott Mason will be looking for another race for him soon.

2nd January

Blackheath has been declared for the 7.50 at Wolverhampton on Friday evening. He is drawn 5, which is good, and Paul Fessey is due to ride. He will be the 30th jockey to have the honour of riding Blacky in a race. The race looks to be a good winning opportunity. Lets hope that the forecast snow stays away. I am getting nervous already.