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Arab Graduates
The Arabian Racing Season recently came to a close with the final day's racing at Warwick and two of our graduates were amongst the prizewinners.
Racheal Kneller won the prize as top Lady Rider for the year with three victories and 10 places from 18 rides across the 14 full meetings. Racheal was also second in the Royal Cavalry Of Oman Novice Rider series with victory going to fellow graduate Kevin Locking in the Hands N Heels Series.
The ARO season is based around 14 full meetings for Amateur Riders and a smattering of individual races on thoroughbred racecards open to professional and Amateur Jockeys. Each card is made up of a mix of races for pure Arabian breds, part breds and open races that can accept thoroughbreds rated 45 or under.
Another graduate, Well-known Veteran Amateur, Anna Wallace is a previous winner of the Lady Rider's title. The three picked up 7 of the 20 nominations for Riding Performance of the Year with the winner to be announced at the Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday.
Barry Adams is another member of our alumni to taste success in Arab racing. Barry is now an Apprentice and unable to compete on the circuit any more but it was a valuable source of experience and he gained 12 winners in his three seasons. Harry Haynes is another successful graduate to make the transition and won 14 Arab races before taking out a Conditional Licence over Jumps.
We caught up with Racheal to explain some of the differences between riding Arab Racehorses and Thoroughbreds.
"The main difference between the TB's and arabs is that arabs are a lot sharper. I always ride a couple of stirrup holes longer on the arabs because they are so spooky and because of their tiny size (both in height and in build), when they spook you have nothing to wrap your legs around.
In a race as well, they pull your arms out but find nothing when they come off the bridle. They go from one extreme to the other and a lot of them you have to trick into thinking they're running away with you. If you throw the reins at them too early in a finish, they will be legless so i always try to keep a bit back till the last minute".
Arab races can be unpredictable, in part due to the flip starts despite the Flat race distances.
"It's a bit of a free for all! It's every man for himself. We all walk in together in a bunch like the NH starts and then they let the tape go, which most arabs decide is an excuse to whip round to! It's all won and lost in the start of arab sprints."
The Arabian Racehorse Association have a comprehensive website www.aroracing.co.uk with almost everything you need to know about the sport and how to get involved.
We trust our winners will have a great evening and even greater success next season.