I would like to welcome my existing owners and anyone who has the time to log on, or has an interest in racehorses to our website.

Regulars to the website will know that at the start of the year I review the previous year and look forward to the year ahead, it’s an honest ‘warts ‘n’ all’ appraisal which those that know me is how I believe owners and staff understand, respect and hopefully appreciate.

This year (2010) will be my ninth year as a trainer. I think that we start the year with potentially the best group of three year olds that we have had for some time, and this is due to the patience and understanding of our owners whose two year olds needed the time to mature, I’m sure that this will be repaid during the forthcoming season.

We also saw some making their debuts late in the season and their potential as three year olds was quite evident. KINGS’N DREAMS performance at Doncaster was very promising and a great thrill for his owners. MASTER MYLO joined us late in the season and if he builds on his Windsor run for us could give his owners some exciting days at the races. LUCKY MELLOR had a thirteen race campaign as a two year old, which is not usual but he is an honest individual who won two races and had three close-up second places (beaten by just under 3/4 length) and was only placed outside the first four on just three occasions. We’ve heard that he has a small fan club already! MISS LESLEY also collected two wins during the season (both by a neck), being by Needwood Blade (as is JUST SAY PLEASE) the team are anticipating a successful three year old season for her.

The core of our older horses (ELLEMUJIE, FROMSONG, HEREFORD BOY & SOVEREIGNTY) have been joined by last seasons successful three year olds LUJEANIE & KISS A PRINCE along with several less exposed older horses (please don’t tell the handicapper) we have the potential to do well on both the turf and all-weather surfaces.

It certainly was a loss for many trainers when the Great Leighs track closed in January 2009, as although the amenities were not that good the tracks surface was. We shall never know how good this course could have been in the long run. Its ease of access for us was certainly a major positive.

One thing that would be a great help to racing and all owners is an increase in prize money at All-Weather meetings as these meetings have become a major part of the racing calendar, it is ridiculous when you can be placed in a race and the money received doesn’t cover the transport, jockey and entry fees. I know that I’ve written about this for the last three years but when you can win 13 races and collect just over £ 37,000 in win prize money it just isn’t good enough. This wasn’t our worse season so the fact that the total prize money was under £ 100,000 for the first time in the eight years I’ve been training is disappointing and shows how poor the place money is.

It’s fair to say that midway into December 2009 we were still two behind last years win total of 14 and with limited opportunities left in the final weeks. We needed a little luck in running something that seemed to avoid us earlier in the season, but this evened itself up when we collected four victories to take us up to 16 wins. It was some way off 2007’s record haul of 33 wins, but on a positive note; 19 different horses finished in the first four during the season.

We also lost a few of our multiple horse owners during the season and this saw horses who had been successful with us over several years (and in some cases this year) leaving us, this is just part of training – not a nice part as you are always trying to do the best for the horse and their owners; but it is always especially hard on the staff as they have become attached to these horses over several years and know each ones personality and traits. Owners who have talked to the team will know how well they know your horse.

It would have been very easy to gloss over much of 2009 as overall it wasn’t as successful as some previous years, but as those who know me will say, I meet challenges head on and it’s important to be honest at all times.

Can we reach 33 wins in 2010? Well, looking around the stables, there’s a lot of positives not only amongst the horses in our charge but also in the wonderful group of owners that we have owning them. I would like to think that total of 20 wins is well within our reach for 2010 and it would be great to see at least half of these on the turf, if that happened then I would like to think that 25 wins could even be possible.

Throughout any year there will be ‘off the track’ distractions and 2009 was no exception and I would like to take the opportunity to recognise the great team work and resolve that we have here. It is easy for a team to be strong when the winners are flowing, but the true strength is when things are not going so easily. So team… Thank you for your support, hard work and commitment throughout 2009.

Following on from that, you can have a great hard working team but without horses and the support of your owners you can't achieve the results that you know you're capable of. So thank you to all our owners for your support and for entrusting us with your horses and not least friendship. As you will have seen over the years at Harpers Lodge we have been constantly improving the facilities and treatments available for your horse. I'm sure that you will agree that we endeavour to keep you informed and try to make your racing experience fun and ideally a successful one. The team is up to the challenge and we all hope that the horses are as well.

We would like to invite those of you who are considering having a horse in our yard to contact us to have a look around and join us. We do have “Radlett Racing Syndicates” these are ideal options for those either wishing to dip their toes into ownership and for those who enjoy racing as a group, they are also popular with some of our existing owners … please feel free to contact the office to discuss this opportunity.

Each season brings with it new challenges and I am looking forward to what this year will bring. My prime concern as always will be the well-being of all the horses placed in my care.

For those visiting the site for the first time, and for those you who have not yet met me...

To tell you a little about myself I will start by saying that I have been involved with horses for most of my life. My Grandfather kept broodmares which is really where it all started and he encouraged this interest through the very close relationship that we shared.

As a child I had my own ponies and took part in local competitions.

In my teens I helped ride out and school my fathers' horses, this I did with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Horses have been my "first love" from a very early age and I have always been involved behind the scenes assisting and learning from my father whilst he was training.

In 2004 there were major changes in my personal life when I married Lesley in April and then in September of that year she gave birth to our son William Dean. William is now five years old and as any proud parent will tell you it’s amazing how quickly they grow up. Hopefully William will follow in his fathers & grandfathers footsteps... only time will tell.

As an owner prior to taking my trainers license, I had experienced success and disappointments over many years, but despite the ups-and-downs, there was nothing better to get the adrenalin going than owning a racehorse.

I like to think that I am a fair person and approachable by my owners and team. In spite of having a very busy schedule, I will endeavour to spend time with my owners either when they visit the yard or at the races. Relationships with owners are important to me because as an owner, I learnt that this personal liaison makes so much difference.

We have a small, friendly yard, which has enjoyed a great deal of success over the years training sprinters. I am delighted with the mile plus all weather gallop which enables us to train more distance horses over the coming years. One of the recent improvements has been the installation of a spa, this has already proved its worth. If you are considering sending or having a horse with us, please feel free to contact the office to arrange a visit or to discuss your requirements.

I also feel it is very important that horses are not confined to their stables every day; they will be turned out regularly for a pick of grass in our numerous paddocks and ménages which are available for this purpose.

All horses in my care are treated as individuals and their needs are catered for by me and my team of staff who are conscientious and dedicated.

Chris Scally is my assistant and has been with us for many years. His knowledge and expertise is second to none.

Jean Wallace has been in the post for about twenty-three years and what she does not know about horses is not worth knowing. She is head girl and an absolute diamond.

Graham Mash, our travelling head lad has been here for the same amount of time and is an enormous asset to my team, and I trust him implicitly with all the horses whilst in his care.

The remainder of the team are equally as dedicated and each have their own special qualities.

I'm looking forward to building on our successes and the team are keen to see all the horses in our care doing as well as they can in 2010, and I'm sure this will be realised because we all work together as a team and we love what we are doing.
 

Dean Ivory 1st January 2010