Pennod 6 Ceffylau Cymru

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-There are 59 racecourses in Britain.

-This is one of them -

-Ffos Las in Carmarthenshire.

-There are 8,000 racehorse owners

-in the country...

-..and Janet Davies is number 23

-on the list of National Hunt owners.

-In this programme,

-we focus on the speedy steeds.

-Welcome to Ceffylau Cymru.

-We take a look behind the scenes

-with a racehorse owner.

-This is the sport of kings

-which also appeals to commoners.

-The roots of horse racing

-can be traced to Roman times.

-It's a sport which is

-full of pain, pounds and pedigree.

-Hold on tight!

-The thrill of competition...

-..is the highlight

-for any racehorse owner or trainer.

-A day at the races is a combination

-of joy and disappointment.

-From jockey to bookie,

-from handicap to horseshoe.

-Everyone's on tenterhooks.

-But the hard work is done

-before this stage.

-Our story begins at the stables,

-with Brychan and Janet.

-Janet Davies

-is a successful businesswoman...

-..who runs

-a translation company in Cardiff.

-Owning horses may be her hobby

-but her professional instincts...

-..mean it's a well organized

-and successful venture.

-Her horses

-are trained by Evan Williams...

-..on his farm

-in the Vale Of Glamorgan.

-Janet, what sparked

-your interest in racehorses?

-A combination of things.

-I remember being in my grandmother's

-house many years ago...

-..watching horse races with her and

-my sister on a black and white TV.

-We had a few pennies

-to bet on horses.

-I think it was my grandmother's way

-of keeping us out of mischief!

-Apparently, my great-grandfather

-worked as a groom...

-..so it seems

-horses were in my blood.

-My interest

-also stemmed from the fact...

-..that a friend of mine

-owned a point-to-point horse.

-I started to follow

-point-to-point races...

-..and I enjoyed it.

-When did you buy

-your first racehorse?

-Back in the summer of 2008.

-The point-to-point season

-was over...

-..and I told my husband

-I'd like to own a horse.

-He said, "If you want

-to own a horse, buy it yourself."

-I visited another yard

-before I came here, to meet Evan.

-I fell in love with a horse

-called King's Theatre.

-Of course, he was expensive

-and I said I had to look elsewhere.

-He said, "As this is your first

-horse, let's have shared ownership."

-"You buy 50%

-and I'll keep the other 50%."

-Evan had faith in the horse

-although it had never raced.

-The months passed

-and the horse showed great promise.

-A few days before the horse

-was due to run his first race...

-..my husband decided to buy a share.

-We were in a taxi in London...

-..when he phoned Evan to tell him

-he wanted to buy the other half.

-The horse ran two days later

-and he won.

-That may have been

-the worst thing to happen to us...

-..because we fell in love

-with racing.

-Since that day, we've enjoyed

-a pretty good level of success.

-Janet's horses have run

-at meetings across the UK...

-..including Ffos Las

-and Chepstow in Wales...

-..and over the border

-in Ludlow, Ascot and Cheltenham.

-Court Minstrel, one of her horses,

-came through a thrilling race...

-..to win

-the 2013 Scottish Champion Hurdle.

-It's a lovely morning

-in Llancarfan, Janet.

-It can be breezy here.

-Yes, and extremely cold.

-Talk me through

-what's happening here.

-Our horses are out on the yard.

-We don't own all these horses.

-They're taken

-out of their boxes in the morning...

-..to be taken

-either on the gallop...

-..to go onto the sand

-or simply for some light exercise.

-It depends

-on the condition of the horse.

-The jockeys are warming them up,

-waiting for Evan's instructions.

-You seem like a happy person to me.

-This must give you a thrill.

-This must give you a thrill.

-

-Yes.

-It's a great way to relax

-and forget about work and worries.

-There's an incline here.

-Yes, and some of them find it tough.

-Some of them

-gallop up there, mind you.

-There's a huge variety

-in the way Evan trains each horse.

-Some horses may not come up here.

-They sulk and refuse to come here.

-We have to listen to the horses.

-Do you enjoy watching them train?

-Do you enjoy watching them train?

-

-Yes. It's the best part of it.

-Being outside and watching

-our horses doing their best...

-..gives me great pleasure.

-Evan Williams grew up here,

-on Aberogwrn farm...

-..in the Vale Of Glamorgan.

-He was a point-to-point jockey

-before he became a trainer.

-His structured days

-include exercising the horses...

-..discussions

-with jockeys and owners...

-..and entering horses in races.

-Mrs Davies

-is a very, very good listener...

-..but where

-she's a successful owner...

-..is that

-she makes her own mind up as well.

-A racehorse trainer enjoys people

-giving them their opinions.

-If you think you're right all

-the time, you'll never move forward.

-An owner can have an opinion on a

-horse I perhaps wouldn't have seen.

-It's nice to get an owner's look

-on the whole situation...

-..because it can sometimes

-point you in the right direction.

-I like Evan's style.

-When they've done their work

-and been washed...

-..they're let out to graze.

-Are your horses out here?

-Yes, a few of them are here.

-They were running earlier

-and now they're relaxing.

-You can see

-that they are totally relaxed.

-They're very content.

-They'll be out here

-until lunchtime...

-..so they'll graze

-for a good two hours.

-You can see

-that they really are relaxed.

-It's good to see there's a time for

-working and a time for relaxation.

-It's just like people.

-We work hard and play hard

-and so do these horses.

-As we've seen, Janet enjoys watching

-her horses on Evan Williams's farm.

-Brychan had the pleasure

-of meeting the horses she owns...

-..and I'm about to meet

-the ones that she's breeding.

-Janet, you've already

-had a good day with Brychan.

-We've seen where the horses

-are kept and trained.

-We've seen

-how the whole thing operates.

-But there's another element

-to your equine world.

-You breed horses too.

-You breed horses too.

-

-Yes, and it's a new element.

-We bought a mare

-in Ireland in 2009...

-..with the intention of racing her.

-She did race a couple of times.

-She won a race at Towcester...

-..and we could see

-that she had great potential.

-But she sustained a leg injury

-when she ran at Hereford...

-..and rather than try to find

-an alternative home for her...

-..we thought we'd try to breed her.

-We thought if we could get her to

-produce a couple of foals, why not?

-Timoca already has two foals...

-..with a third on the way.

-Timoca comes from

-a successful bloodline...

-..which includes

-Northern Dancer and Mill Reef.

-Northern Dancer

-won the Kentucky Derby...

-..in the United States.

-What are your hopes

-when it comes to breeding?

-Well, we hope to see her foals

-on racecourses.

-More than that,

-we hope to see them win.

-That would be a dream come true.

-I've told

-Evan Williams, our trainer...

-..to be brutally honest with us...

-..and tell us

-if they'll make racehorses.

-These are exciting times.

-Yes, and I try

-not to come and see them too often.

-They're racehorses, not pets.

-I look forward to the future.

-I hope they don't all disappoint me!

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-I'm with

-the racehorse owner, Janet Davies.

-Court Minstrel is one

-of her most successful horses.

-He's won ten hurdle races, come

-second three times and third twice.

-Brychan met Court Minstrel

-at the stables a while back...

-..but, in the meantime,

-he's had great success.

-Yes. It's incredible, to be honest.

-A few days after being on the yard

-and praising the little horse...

-..he was entered

-in a two and half mile race.

-He'd never

-run further than two miles before.

-I checked his odds that morning,

-and they were 25-1.

-I thought to myself,

-"That's worth a flutter."

-By the time the race got under way,

-he'd drifted to 40-1.

-I'm not a betting woman,

-but I couldn't resist it...

-..so I put a few pounds on him.

-He looked magnificent on the day

-and he came from nowhere.

-He was bringing up the rear

-and he come from nowhere.

-He was third or fourth

-as he jumped the final hurdle.

-He passed the rest of the field,

-running like the wind.

-He was so cheeky, he turned his head

-to the others, as if to say...

-.."Hello! I've passed you!"

-The TV commentators just said,

-"How on earth did he do that?"

-The jockey did brilliantly...

-..and Evan did a magnificent job.

-Evan trained him

-to win that huge race.

-The downside is he can only run

-in top class races from now on.

-It will be tough for him...

-..but I look forward

-to seeing what happens.

-It'll be a challenge.

-It'll be a challenge.

-

-Definitely.

-The fact that he won

-is unbelievable.

-The big day has dawned.

-This is the big stage.

-All the hard work leads up to this.

-David saw the foals and

-I saw the hard work at the stables.

-Welcome back to Ffos Las.

-Ffos Las racecourse, Carmarthenshire

-is a relatively new course.

-Janet has a good track record

-at this racecourse.

-Her horses have won here 13 times.

-The rain was torrential

-during our day there...

-..but it couldn't dampen

-our excitement.

-Janet has two runners today.

-Fille De Champs

-is making her debut...

-..and Copper Birch,

-a horse with huge potential.

-Janet, we've seen the horses

-being trained at the stables.

-It all leads to this -

-a race meeting.

-Here we are, at Ffos Las

-on a cold and windy day.

-You're hoping

-to have a successful day.

-Yes, we hope so.

-Copper Birch has been in the stables

-for three months...

-..waiting for a race.

-He's been raring to go...

-..but bad weather has meant

-that races have been cancelled.

-We hope he does well today.

-You're also racing a new little mare

-for the first time today.

-Yes - Fille De Champs.

-We bought her about a year ago.

-We've been waiting and waiting

-for her to race.

-She's ready to race

-and I hope she'll be alright.

-This kind of race

-will be an education for her.

-She's been entered in a flat race,

-rather than a hurdles race.

-We want to see if she settles.

-She's like a child

-going somewhere for the first time.

-The official term for this kind

-of racing is National Hunt.

-It involves racing on the flat,

-usually over a variety of hurdles.

-Copper Birch

-will run in the Handicap Chase.

-In a handicap, the best horses

-carry more weight in the saddle...

-..to make it a fair race.

-The Grand National is the most

-famous handicap race of them all...

-..but Ffos Las will do nicely today.

-Brychan, you have more experience

-of racing than me.

-What's your advice to me?

-What's your advice to me?

-

-My advice is never bet!

-When you see the bookie

-arrive by helicopter...

-..you know it's a mug's game!

-I'll follow Copper Birch.

-I had a nice price on him, at 7-1.

-I'll sit with Janet

-to watch the race.

-Have you had a flutter?

-Yes. My money's on Fille Des Champ.

-I can't wait to see the race.

-Fingers crossed for Janet.

-Copper Birch runs first, and Brychan

-joins Janet in the pre-parade ring.

-Owners, trainers and jockeys

-meet here to discuss tactics.

-Minutes before the race.

-What happens now?

-All the horses are in the ring,

-as you can see.

-They're walking around,

-starting to warm up.

-Owners and trainers are here

-and, when the bell rings...

-..we'll be joined by the jockeys.

-Evan will tell our jockey

-how to run the race.

-How are your nerves?

-How are your nerves?

-

-Alright, at the moment.

-I may get nervous later.

-This horse has a mind of his own,

-so anything could happen.

-Come on, number nine!

-Come on, number nine!

-

-Yes. Let's hope for the best.

-And they're off!

-They're racing!

-That's fast!

-Yes, when you consider

-they'll run three miles in the mud.

-He jumped that one well.

-He jumped that one well.

-

-Good boy.

-He's at the rear but he looks happy.

-Over the second safely.

-Here they come,

-in front of the stand.

-All the runners

-are still in the race.

-Yes, and they're bunched together.

-Yes - it's a close race.

-There's growing excitement

-in the stand.

-Everyone's watching

-the horse they've backed.

-No wonder they're struggling

-in this weather.

-The ground is really heavy.

-The important thing is the jockey

-knows when the horse is too tired...

-..and he stops him.

-He's sixth and he's slowing down.

-I think it would be better

-if he didn't jump any more now.

-That's how accidents happen.

-Unfortunately,

-it's too much for Copper Birch...

-..and the jockey pulls him up.

-It's disappointing, but it's a

-relief that the horse is uninjured.

-Are you happy

-with the jockey's decision?

-Yes, because it means

-the horse will come home.

-I need to check that he's OK but

-he didn't fall or injure himself.

-He's exhausted. You can see that.

-He's exhausted. You can see that.

-

-Yes. He's shattered.

-He can run some other time.

-Janet, how do you feel

-after that last race?

-I feel alright.

-He did his best and I'm glad

-he was pulled up before the finish.

-The big horses who've run since then

-have struggled.

-Small horses can get through the mud

-but it's hard for the big ones.

-But that's life.

-On we go to the next race

-and Fille De Champs.

-How do you feel ahead of this race?

-I feel fine.

-I want to see if she can behave.

-I hope she's learned some manners

-from Evan's training.

-She'll run her own race.

-I hope she'll be quite competitive

-but I don't want her to be pushed.

-The jockey is quite young...

-..but I hope he knows

-what to do with her.

-They're off!

-Fille De Champs

-is a runner in this race.

-She's right at the rear, which is

-where she's supposed to be.

-That should help her stay relaxed.

-It's possible that the ground

-will be too heavy for her.

-As long as she relaxes

-and runs well, I'll be happy.

-As you can see, she's struggling

-with that soft ground.

-The first four horses

-have a substantial lead.

-She's alright.

-She's behaving herself

-and I think she looks happy enough.

-We told the jockey to pull up

-if he felt she was struggling.

-If she doesn't like the ground,

-she'll remember that next time.

-If she has a bad experience,

-it will stay with her.

-Let's see what happens.

-I'll be surprised if she does

-finish this race, to be honest.

-She looks happy

-as she approaches the finish.

-She's done what you hoped she'd do -

-she finished the race.

-Yes, I wanted her

-to finish the race.

-I wanted her

-to finish higher than that...

-..but this weather is beyond words.

-Briefly, Evan,

-describe the events of today.

-What people don't understand

-is you need days like this.

-People think we're mad, coming out

-when they wind's blowing...

-..and the rain's tipping down

-but it's important for us.

-We love horses

-and we love seeing them perform.

-They were bred

-to perform in these conditions.

-National Hunt is all about days like

-this, when tough horses win races.

-Even when it goes wrong, you get

-enjoyment out of the preparation...

-..the competition and the

-camaraderie involved in it all.

-Janet, how do you feel?

-SHE LAUGHS

-I don't know what to say!

-I'll keep my language respectable!

-Ffos Las in the rain...

-..and two horses

-which didn't perform at their best.

-Never mind.

-That's how it is - up and down.

-A horse on Evan's yard

-is called Ups And Downs.

-We've had the downs today!

-Let's hope for more ups

-in races to come.

-Yes, of course.

-During the eight years

-since we bought our first horse...

-..our world has changed.

-Having horses means you forget about

-any problems you may have.

-I lose myself completely...

-..when I watch the horses train,

-when I have a cuppa with Evan...

-..chat to the jockey

-and go to the big race meetings.

-We're very lucky

-to be part of the equine world.

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones

-.