After a challenging 2020 with restrictions in place on the racecourse for the majority of the year, 2021 saw an upturn in both the fortunes of the Old Stoic Racing Club (OSRC) and accessibility for our owners on the track.
I am very proud to say our 2021 year started with a bang back in March when Bourbon Beauty led from pillar to post in the Grade 2 Mares Final at Newbury under a determined ride from Harry Bannister (Chatham 12) and trained by Alex Hales (Chandos 92).
She did not go unbacked, as the 33/1 on the morning of the race was snapped up and her starting price had more than halved to 14/1! This victory brought about a very proud moment for the OSRC and realised an objective back when I established the syndicate in 2017, to support Old Stoics working within the sport.
Bourbon Beauty’s victory meant Stowe had an ITV broadcasted winner bred, owned, trained and ridden by Old Stoics. Some feat. For the 2021/22 season she will be contesting hurdles and chases over 2m5f+ and we are confident she will give us lots to cheer about.
Our flat team needed a resurgence after a disappointing 2020 and boy did we get one. Sweet Reward is a truly Stoic horse in every way and very much the apple of his trainer, Jonny Portman’s (Chatham 83) eye.
He started his season rated 74 and finished a stone higher in the handicap at 86. He raced ten and won three. Once at Goodwood and twice at Sandown. Furthermore, he took a very excited group of OSRC owners to the famous Glorious Goodwood Festival, which was bathed in sunshine. If you haven’t been – it’s worth a trip.
Here he finished a very encouraging second in a competitive race. Much to our delight, Sweet Reward will continue to race for us into 2022.
Away from the course, the OSRC continued to strive to offer its members a wide range of activities. A champagne reception and morning on the gallops at Jonny Portman’s yard in Lambourn, Zoom calls with jockeys and trainers from the world of racing and an invitation to our annual (and increasingly popular) Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening. This year it was again hosted (digitally) by our resident racing presenter and OSRC member – Robert Cooper (Cobham 68) – my thanks again to him for his support with this event.
Our panelists included Harry Bannister, Alex Hales, Jonny Portman and Cheltenham Festival winning jockey David Bass and Simon Clare from Coral Bookmakers. We had 50 people attend and hopefully we provided you with some winners.
The OSRC continues to support the School’s Change 100 campaign with donations coming from any prize money earned by the horses and this is something we are delighted to be able to do.
If you would like to keep up to date with what we are up to in 2022 please email oldstoic@stowe.co.uk to be added to our mailing list and we will notify you when the OSRC have runners.
Alternatively, you can join our Facebook page – Old Stoic Racing Club – and follow us on Twitter @StoweRacing.
Finally, none of this success would be possible without the support of the OSRC members and the dedicated teams at Alex and Jonny’s yards. Our thanks again to them all and here’s to another successful year for the OSRC.
Henry Kimbell (Chandos 04) Old Stoic Racing Club Manger
Stowe 100 Racing Club
To celebrate Stowe’s centenary in 2023, we will be launching another syndicate this summer with three horses in training with our two current OS trainers and a new addition in Ed Bethell (Cobham 12), who has hit the ground running in his first two seasons from his base in Middleham, Yorkshire.
The Racing Club is open to Old Stoics, staff and parents and there will be a strong emphasis on both fun and affordability.
Again, if you would like to kept in touch about developments for this then please contact the OS Office with your details.