Charlie Hicks (second right) and friends in the paddock
EIC INSURANCE, a very prominent insurance business in Hertfordshire, at last realised their day at Newbury races as part of a successful auction bid at one of their famous golf days…back in 2019!
Solario Racing donated a two-part auction item comprising a visit to the stables and some Champagne hospitality at the races in September 2019 and Charlie Hicks, Managing Director of EIC Insurance was the successful bidder. Unfortunately due to Covid and various lockdowns it has taken a while to fulfil the second part of the package.
The first part, a visit to Dean Ivory’s stables took part in August of last year, when five ladies enjoyed a tour of the yard, watching the horses on the gallops and the odd glass of Champagne!
Charlie had said he would invite some racing pals of his to the races for the second part and eventually, we managed to find a day we could all make post-pandemic. The fixture at Newbury was Heros Charity Day and and it was another hot one as part of a record-breaking summer. However, Charlie and his mates turned up in suitably dressed tailored shorts…and shades for a seven-race card.
We ran a friendly tipster competition but having said it was likely to be a good day for favourites and market leaders, yours truly knew his fate early on as the opener, a 2yo novice stakes went to 16/1 outsider, Hoof It Hoof It. The second race, a 2yo maiden, went to Oj LIfestyle….at 125/1! Not many of us had either.
Schoolteacher, Luke, in the money!
Some normality was restored when the favourite, Zulu Tracker won the third race but it was generally a hard card to select winners. However, the Champagne flowed and we all went into the paddock to get a glimpse of the ownership experience before the penultimate race, won by Perisan Royal, only the second winning “jolly” of the entire meeting.
At the end of the seven-race card, points totted up and it was schoolteacher, Luke who won the £100 pot. He was absolutely thrilled and surprised but didn’t think he’d be giving up teaching history and politics any day soon!
