Overton Farm Point to Point is a winner for Willie

FAIRYTALE success stories, drama and excitement kept a 4000 crowd royally entertained at Saturday’s marvellous point-to-point meeting in a sun-kissed Crossford.
By Craig Goldthorp
Published 3rd Apr 2014, 16:39 BST
Excitement palpable...at Overton Farm's Lanark and Renfrewshire and Eglinton point to point horse race meeting (Pic Lindsay Addison)Excitement palpable...at Overton Farm's Lanark and Renfrewshire and Eglinton point to point horse race meeting (Pic Lindsay Addison)
Excitement palpable...at Overton Farm's Lanark and Renfrewshire and Eglinton point to point horse race meeting (Pic Lindsay Addison)

A packed Overton Farm witnessed a first ever point-to-point victory in the fifth race for teenage rider John Dixon on Raifteiri, owned by venue boss Willie Young.

“Getting a winner made the day extra special for me,” Willie said. “I was delighted for John. He rode the horse extremely well.

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“I had a tenner on Raifteiri at 8/1, but winning money didn’t interest me. What made me happy was the fact that a lot of local people would have had a wager on Raifteiri.”

Excitement palpable...at Overton Farm's Lanark and Renfrewshire and Eglinton point to point horse race meeting (Pic Lindsay Addison)Excitement palpable...at Overton Farm's Lanark and Renfrewshire and Eglinton point to point horse race meeting (Pic Lindsay Addison)
Excitement palpable...at Overton Farm's Lanark and Renfrewshire and Eglinton point to point horse race meeting (Pic Lindsay Addison)

Drama on the day was illustrated by the events of the second race, in which eventual winner Five Point Plan had thrown off his jockey and ran around riderless before the race even started. But the horse showed his class by winning in dramatic style from second placed Bayfirth.

Excitement galore came in races three and four, the Ladies Open and Men’s Open contests.

Joanna Richards, owner, trainer and jockey of Scarlet Fire, won the Ladies race convincingly from Monogram in second. In a glorious double for the family on Saturday, 5/1 Sir Vinski – trained by Jo’s dad Nicky Richards – won at Kelso Racecourse. Race of the day was the Men’s Open contest, which featured four class horses which could hardly be separated by around 10 bookies in the betting ring.

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Gunner Jack, ridden by Nick Orpwood, held off Indian Print in the final straight of a race which also included top performers Ocarina and Tommysteel.

This was the 11th annual staging of the seven-race Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire and Eglinton meeting, which featured a hospitality tent packed with 1000 people enjoying food, refreshments and live TV coverage of the races.

The pictures featured in our slideshow were taken by Gazette photographer Lindsay Addison and can be purchased on this website or from our office in Lanark on 01555 678792.