The vagaries of an early English summer have been all too apparent this past 10 days, as a stiff breeze ensured the clouds scudded over Ripon and intermittent sunshine bathed the 49 runners at yesterday's meeting in stark contrast to last week's 30 degree...

There was plenty to enjoy at Ripon on Thursday despite the high temperatures of the week which have made racing a challenging business for horse copers. Old favourites - equine and human - mixed with precocious talent in a compelling mix whose leading players are...

Racing today mourned the loss of Malton-born Tony Ives, who died of undisclosed causes over the weekend at the age of 74. The Yorkshireman had been living in Thailand for some time. Ives enjoyed a distinguished career riding more than 1,000 winners in the UK during...

Spring took a step backwards at a draughty Ripon yesterday, but the card proved popular with owners and trainers, leading to a division of the 6f handicap and a resultant 8 race card, with 73 runners. Racegoers braving the keen wind were treated to some close finishes...

Friday turned out to be a red-letter day for Tim Easterby with a short-priced treble at his home track courtesy of Red Spells Danger, Vince d'Amour and U Sure Do. The stable fielded nine of the 50 runners during a showery evening fixture, but plenty braved the cooler...

Among the world’s great races, the Preakness Stakes holds a distinctive place. It may lack the history of the Epsom Derby or the prize money of the Dubai World Cup, yet its identity remains unmistakable, shaped by its timing and uniquely decisive role in the racing...

On a day themed around Downton Abbey, Tony Carroll travelled the aptly-named Dream Composer to win the feature Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy holding Copper Knight at bay to win by 3/4l under 7lb claimer Myla Coppins. Carroll is a rare flat trainer in the heartland of...

Ripon's opening day belonged to Mark Walford and Harriet Bethell, in some intensely competitive races that had spectators with hearts in mouths race after race: the best advertisement for our sport. Sixty-four runners turned out for the seven race card under cloudy...

We've just been through an exciting month in the international racing calendar, with high value prizes fought out by runners from all over the world in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Dubai, but as we all know, many of these champions embarked as novices or maidens in...

There's a string of excuses for beaten horses trotted out by their trainers and riders in post-race analysis, but if there's one over-riding obsession among racing professionals, it's the state of the ground. Ground is rarely perfect, always too quick, too soft, too...