Hector's Vacation

Lots of good racing on today, and with our access all areas passes we were able to explore all the niches that are so rarely seen by the public. I was quite fascinated by the weighing room where the jockeys must go after each race to ensure that they were carrying the right weight when they finished the race. In this oak clad room were many screens so that owners, trainers and jockey could all watch back the race and analyse the performance.

Many of the men in this room look a lot like the atypical race goer of old, long raincoat, flat hat, cigar in hand and binoculars around the neck. There is a great banter between the jockeys as they come in to be weighed and then change their colours ready for the next race- they do seem to have wonderful senses of humour whilst they remain highly competitive.

The weather today started off quite very wet and windy, after the horses made it past the winning post the terraces were abandonned with great haste as the corwds rushed into the stands and betting halls.



With it cold and damp outside we made a brief visit to the Salon Proprietaires and to the opportunity to ask the man in the white dinner jacket if he could make us a refreshing pot of tea and we helped ourselves to a few small cakes.



Dad had a small bet in the second race; after watching the horses walking round in the paddock he said No.2 was looking particularly well, remarkably so in fact- and as a shrewd judge of physique he was quite right- it turned out that the jockey riding it was one of his old favourites, A Badel, who is infact retired and only rides for his wife who trains several horses. Yesterday when we watched the racing his son rode as an apprentice for his mother and they also claimed victory then, so it was a successful weekend for the Badel family. Dad made back the money he had lost yesterday after a wayward tip so called it quits.

We wandered into the pre-parade ring to get an advanced look at the horses as they were saddled and before they went into the public ring; there we met David Powell again and several other of Dad's old pals. There were three big races on today and with an interest in the second and many of the big owners in racing putting forward enties the mood was livening up.

Patrick Barbe assured us that if the Aga Khan had turned up in person to watch his horse then it was beyond being a certainty, and with Frankie Dettori on board in the green and red colours we were inclined to believe this. He was, of course, spot on with his prediction. Frankie took the race quite beautifully and Dad was happy enough to have money on the second and third.

This race had been sponsored and so there was to be a presentation to the winning owners, trainer and jockey. A popular win, given the volume of the applause by the crowds. Click, flash, click, click went all the cameras around me so I joined the band waggon, and why not. It is certainly not everyday that we find ourselves in the paddock surrounded by such company. Henri Barbe ran up to Frankie after the ceremony to give him a good luck bracelet that he had made- the type we've all made out of different coloured threads, intricately weaved into patterns and then often given to friends.

With Hector kicking and screaming a fuss like I've never seen before I was under instruction to ask for a photo, but with the French racing channel interviewing him on his way to get changed there was not a chance. But, we did catch him on the way out of the changing room, and he was very obliging. Thats why everyone loves Frankie. He then went on to ride his second winner in the next race, in the blue colours of ***** and ever being the crowd pleaser did a trademark flying dismount in the winner's enclosure.


JH had a runner today so we joined him and Oscar to watch most of the races, on this occasion from right up on the roof with an unimpeded view of the race. Fortunately by this time the rains had eased and there were even moments of sunshine unlike the torrential dowpours during the first race that had the terraces empty within moments of the horses reaching the finish line. Bryan made the briefest of appearances for the 6th race in which one of his close friends had a runner, so they had flown over from Ireland to watch this race and then an hours polo before returning to their plane. The horse lead from the start and on a heavy track with only daylight to chase it tired and soon finished after the leading horses. Perhaps a disappointing run, but not given much of a chance by the ride.

Dad was insistent that the last two races were poor so left for the car- Hector and I paused briefly 'pour un cafe'- which really had the hairs on the back of our necks standing on end, MyOhMy they like their coffee strong. We then took a last tour of the stables, said goodbye to JH and Marilyn and I found Dad waiting for me in the car. He had chosen to leave just as the sun was finally coming out on the races. It really is such a beautiful track when the weather is nice.