August 2008 Newsletter
It
was my intention to undertake a newsletter on a quarterly or bi –
monthly basis. However, as so much has evolved since the July
newsletter, I thought it appropriate to write once again! Therefore,
I have pleasure in updating you on The yard, owners day, website,
horses performance and our new satellite/overflow yard.
The
yard
As
previously intimated, we are still undertaking significant works at
our premises. Thankfully, we have nearly completed the last stage
of stables and my new office has commenced construction. The
entrance road is also being completely re-laid which should be
completed in the next 6 weeks and then we will have to put a cover
over both of the horse walkers and construct the staff accommodation
Owners Day
The date for the owners day has been agreed and set for
Saturday 20th September 2008.
A formal invite will be sent to all owners in the coming weeks but I
would be grateful if you could put this date in your diaries. All
owners, family and friends are welcome, we will just require an
indication of numbers from yourselves. An RSVP card will be sent
with the invite.
Website
The website is just being finalised with
changes made to reflect our new yard. I invite you to have a look at
this at your convenience.
www.timvaughanracing.com.
Horses Performance - The results!!
I
reported in our July letter that we had made a good start to the
2008/9 season but thankfully this just got better in July. In May
we had four winners and a further four in June. In July alone we
sent out 9 winners, including two on the flat. This also included 4
winners in succession over four different days in one week,
concluding with our stable amateur jockey, Dean Coleman winning on
his first ride on the flat on Mad Professor at Chepstow. We were
all really pleased for ‘Deano’!
In
doing this, it took our seasons tally of winners to 17, three above
what we achieved for the whole of last season. In 2008/9 so far we
have had 72 runners over jumps, 15 winners, 6 seconds, 8 thirds and
9 fourths, running at a strike rate of 21% (winners to
runners) and 53% of all runners have finished in the first
four home. This has enabled our owners to earn over £58,000 in prize
money and placed us 12th in the national hunt trainers
list for the UK (correct at the time of writing). On the flat, we
have had 5 runners and two winners showing us a strike rate of 40%.
Satellite/Overflow Yard
Fortunately, our team of staff, horses and owners is progressing
rapidly. Therefore, in order to cater for increased horses I have
agreed with Mr David Walters of Walters Group to take over the
licence of his premises in Lisvane, Cardiff, which will cater for
another 20 horses.
Walters Group are high profile owners within the racing industry and
I feel that this has given me a great opportunity to continue
increasing the quality of horses to take to us into the winter
season. The satellite yard will be occupied by around 20 of Mr
Walters’s (and co owners) horses, which include some very exciting
prospects such as Special Envoy, Serabad and Lord Generous (amongst
others), all of which I hope would lead us to Cheltenham
next march – please God!
I
cannot explain to you how excited I am about the recent progress
that has been made and I thank you all for your continued support.
I
look forward to seeing you soon.
Tim Vaughan
July 2008 Newsletter
I thought it may be of interest to
write a newsletter as there has been a great deal of change during
the last 3 months and we tend to see some owners more than others;
it seemed appropriate to write to keep you all updated. Therefore,
I have pleasure in updating you on the yard, proposed owners day,
website, horses performance, my flat licence and new staff.
We completed the move to our new
premises on March 14th 2008. Since this time, we have
installed a 5 furlong all weather gallop, erected a log cabin home,
constructed 41 stables, put in place two 6 horse walkers, increased
our string of 16 horses to 65 (39 in training) and Abbi is pregnant
for a second time and we are expecting our baby in December! It’s
been a busy few months!!
The yard
As detailed, we have
already undertaken a substantial amount of work at the premises but
there is more planned. We are in the process of constructing a
further 10 stables to provide us with a total of 51 (this should be
completed in approximately 3 weeks) and the main access road from
the A48 is being re-levelled and improved as I write. In the next
month I will start the construction of a new on-site office with
owners reception room and new staff hostel accommodation. I also
intend putting a cover over both of the horse walkers.
In undertaking these
works the horses will be cared for and trained in the best, safest
and most secure surroundings that I am possibly able to provide,
with 24 hour onsite care and supervision.
Owners Day
It is my intention to
organise an owners day for late August/September 2008. I am
proposing that this will involve a whole host of activities but
details on this and a firm date will be sent to you under separate
cover. This will invite you and any of your friends who you would
like to bring along.
Website
The website has recently been updated
to note our change of address, list of horses and the like. Over
the next couple of months this will be continually updated and I
invite you to have a look at this at your convenience.
www.timvaughanracing.com.
Horses Performance - The results!!
The 2008/9 started on
30th April this year and we sent out our first winner of
the season, Cava Bien on 6th May. Cava Bien was winning
for the second time for us within 30 days, having spent 2 years with
previous connections without winning. Since our first winner, we
sent out 3 more in May, Cava Bien, Apocalozzo (x2) & September
Moon. In June, we had another four winners, Delayed Approach,
Withington, Soviet Sceptre and Enchanted Approach. In July to date,
we have had two winners, Soviet Sceptre and Flying Grey.
In 2008/9 so far we
have had 43 runners, 10 winners, 5 seconds, 5 thirds and 5 fourths,
running at a strike rate of 23% (winners to runners) and
58% of all runners have finished in the first four home. This
has enabled us to earn over £38,000 in prize money and placed us in
the top 20 national hunt trainers in the country.
This is an
unbelievable reality considering I have only just began my third
full season training and in March I had just 16 horses in training,
most of which were Abbi’s point to pointers. I feel exceptionally
proud that this is the case and am eternally grateful to my staff
and family for the help and commitment they have shown and to the
owners who had faith in me from a very early stage to allow me to
prove to a wider audience that I am able to train successfully.
Long may the results
continue!!
Flat Licence
Due to the increase in horses and the
wider range of owners that have been attracted to the yard I have
recently sought a flat licence. On Wednesday 2nd July we
had our first flat runner, Soviet Sceptre at Chepstow who won by ½ a
length under Fergus Sweeney. Gradually a few flat horses are coming
and we already have a couple of jumpers whose handicap marks I will
look to exploit over the summer months.
Staff
In order to train the increased
number of horses, we have had to increase our members of staff to
keep up. Thankfully, we have put together a great team to include:
Full Time
Paul Morgan,
Andrea Kelly,
Joanne England,
Adele Smith,
Dean Coleman
& Rhys Hughes
Part Time
Byron Moorcroft,
Emma Moorcroft,
Robbie
Llewelyn,
Tom David,
Evan David
We are extremely
fortunate to have the long term experience of Paul, Andrea, Joanne,
Adele and the riding capabilities of Dean, who rode Abbi’s point to
pointers this season and won the Men’s Welsh Novice Champion title
and welcome and congratulate Rhys who has recently joined us and was
this season’s Men’s Welsh champion point to point rider. I am
privileged to have them all with me. A good friend and former work
colleague Sally Harris has also joined us for a month or so to help
with the administration and I am seeking to take on a full time
racing secretary within the next 8 -10 weeks.
I hope the above
updates or at least keeps you updated on the yard as a whole. I
would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who have and
continue to support us all at the yard especially as it has been a
little frantic over the last couple of months.
I look forward to
seeing you soon.
Tim Vaughan
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