Running out of race cards a sure sign of bumper crowd
RUNNING out of race cards at the entrance was a sure sign that yesterday afternoon’s horse racing at L’Ancresse was a success, with hundreds of islanders taking to the common to enjoy the event.
‘This is probably as good as we’ve ever had it since we returned in 2005,’ said Guernsey Race Club president Trevor Gallienne as he looked out over the sea of people basking in the sunshine.
‘When we came back, people came out in their droves to support it,’ he added, pleased at what looked like being another great turnout for the event, after the disappointment last year when bad weather forced it to be cancelled.
‘It’s a fantastic crowd,’ he said of the turnout yesterday, ‘and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.’
It was too soon to say what the takings might be like. ‘Obviously we’ll have to get together once the dust has settled and see where we are with everything,’ he said.
‘We’re hopeful we can carry it on.
‘One of the things that people don’t realise is that there’s not a single horse trained in Guernsey now.’
Previously there were three race meetings a year, and that had been sufficient for trainers to get local horses ready, but dropping to one meant there was no real incentive.
A total of 23 horses had been brought the island from the UK and Jersey for the event.
Mr Gallienne said he would love it if there was a full-time venue locally.
‘It would be great to have somewhere permanent where we can just do our own thing,’ he said. ‘It might give people the incentive to start training horses over here if you had a fixed space.’
