A day at the races at Kempton Park a few weekends ago.

We arrived just in time for me to rush to put a bet on the first race. The horses were already being loaded into the starting stalls.  I had clocked a horse called Mahadee going through the form that morning and I already knew he was going to be the one I was going, so I quickly put my pennies on and climbed the stand to watch the race.

Being the professional that I am I only after I took photos of Mahadee in the winners’ circle I discovered I had not adjusted the shutterspeed, so pictures  have quite a bit of motion blur. I don’t mind the result, but I doubt anyone else would be impressed with my skill ;oP

The next race was the listed Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes. I put my money on Festoso in the first small picture (click for bigger photo). Unfortunately she only managed to finish sixth. The winner was Born Tobouggie in the second picture.

Born Tobouggie runs today at Goodwood in the Conqueror Stakes at 2.55.

Next it was the Easter Stakes. As soon as the horses came into the paddock my eye was caught by a colt called Pure Poetry.

He looked so good I put a small each way bet on him at 16/1. He won! When he was fighting for the lead in the stretch I was far too excited to take photos, but here he is again in the winners’ circle. It is my favourite photo from that day:

He is running today in the 2,000 Guineas. He is a longshot, but I put a couple of pounds on him anyway :o)

In the 3.45 Something won at 20/1:

In the 4.15 Forgotten Voice seemed a pretty little horse in the paddock, but had not started since 2007. Considering that, he was the surprisingly short-priced favourite. He certainly justified favouritism in his race, winning by a length.

In the 4.50 it was Laudatory that conquered (1st picture) while my bet Proclaim (second picture) went off quite fast but couldn’t quite last to the finish and finished only sixth:

In the 5.25 the ‘Darth Vader’ horse (it is the mask, ahem blinkers, and the cape, ahem rug) Kavaloti beat the field. My friend was on him so he was very pleased!

In the last race of the race it was Press The Button that did the business:

I will probably post some more of my favourite photos from this day at the races, but these were all the winners :o)