Cleric Racing

If you look through the events at Chepstow racecourse you will not find " Cleric Racing " anywhere, as this event was not on any programme.
The cleric race took place on Saturday 7th of July 2001. The day started very well with great weather but the forcast stated there was always a chance of a shower, but as we watched the first two races in bright sunlight, little did we know what was in store for us. As the horses went down to the start for the third race, it started to rain and within a few minutes the rain got heavier and then the lightning and thunder started. After the race the storm really did get very bad and the lightning and thunder was very spectacular however the torrential rain caused the very dry, good to firm, ground to get very wet and within 10 minutes the racecourse had a lot of standing water on it.
It continued to rain and there was an announcement for the horses in the pre parade ring and the parade ring to return to their boxes and that the racing was going to be put back until after the storm.
After a further 10 minutes of rain everybody started to get restless and as the rain, lightning and thunder were now moving away. A group of lads who had come to the races looking for a good day out decided to start some fun of their own. They decided that they would hold their own race in the silver ring, this would not be very exceptional if it were not for the fact that they were dressed as members of the clergy.
So out they went, with drinks in their hands, into the pouring rain, to hold their race.

The Race

	As the runners went down to the start you could see that some of them were a bit green and that they were reluctant to line up and take part, while some others were keen to get on with the race. As the land rover sped past them, it seemed to spook one or two of them and they jumped at the gate.
	They were off and down the track but they had to be called back and it was declared as a false start. The crowd looked at each other and wondered if there was to be a repeat of the 1993 Grand National when some of the runners would complete a circuit and then that would make the race void but no, that was not to happen today as the leaders pulled up and returned to the start.
	The false start did not seem to have an adverse effect on the runners indeed it seemed to have the opposite effect on them and they all settled down and took part in the parade despite the rain still pouring down. As they paraded there was a buzz of excitement in the crowd it looked as if we were in for a classic spectacle today, and having seen the runners run the first 20 yards we all thought we knew who would come out the victor.
	As they lined up at the start the atmosphere was electric and that was not just the electrical storm that was now passing away across the river Severn. We all knew we were in for a great race as they lined up they took a last drink, settled down and waited for the off.
	Suddenly they were away and within 10 yards a complete maverick was out in front and got away from the pack very quickly. Once away there was no stopping him he ran away with the race. The others ran very green indeed and would probably improve for the running. such was the emphatic distance of the win the crowd thought there might be a stewards inquiry.
	But as the runners came back to the paddock we were in no doubt that today we had seen a very special performance with the final winning distance of 25 lengths, but there were even then whispers of a ringer being in the race. All runners ran with credit however and not one of them spilt any of the refreshment they were carrying indeed they seemed to come back with more in the glasses that they started with.

Here is a full picture of the runners.

The first thing to say about today's event was the very good humour that was around the stand and all enjoyed this spectacle very much, with the problems that some racecourses have had recently it was very refreshing to see these young men having fun and also providing some spontaneous entertainment for the crowd. It was good to see that the vast majority of young people can have a drink at the course and enjoy themselves without any problems.
It was all done with very good humour and I think all of the people in the ring, mostly families enjoyed it very much. We should have known we were in for something when the rain started to pour down and one wag started the chorus of singing in the rain.

As you can see the lads gave piggyback rides to some of the youngsters in the crowd as the rain eased to a stop but there was too much water left on the track and there was an inspection called. It would have been easy for Chepstow Racecourse to have called for continued racing given that they have been one of the courses worst hit by foot and mouth and must have lost a lot of money in the recent past so it is to their credit that they called off the racing as the ground was too bad. Even though the racing was called off after the storm, the " cleric race " made up for the disappointment of the rest of the card being abandoned.
I would just like to thank the lads for this piece of entertainment and who knows maybe this will become an annual event (as long as it does not reply on the racing being abandoned every year).