I know what you are thinking, didn’t three-times Grand National winner Red Rum used to gallop in the sea at Southport Beach. His wise, old trainer, Ginger McCain realised that salt water was like the elixir of life when it come to healing tired legs and aching bones. He went on to win the ‘greatest race in the world’ three times in 1973, 1974 & 1977.

Perhaps you’ve seen horses galloping on the beach. It looks so natural and a beautiful sight.

Another location where racing takes place on the beach is Laytown, Strand Road, Ninch, County Meath, in Ireland. This spectacle has taken place since 1868. Racing takes place on just one day each year in September. This seven-furlong straight course sees all races run over six or seven furlongs and watched by a crowd in excess of 5,000.

I don’t know if you have enjoyed a holiday or a day out in Norfolk. It’s a lovely location with a beautiful coastline and villages of flint-stone buildings and thatched roofs. Wells-next-the-sea is a port town a stone’s throw from Burham Market and Holkham Hall. I’ve been to Wells-next-the-sea on a number of occasions but the last time I went there for a day out I notice something in the sea. It was a horse standing on the sand looking proudly out to sea. As the tide turned it remained in situ and the water rose until it lapped against its neck. Still it stood motionless. The Lifeboat Horse as it’s known is a sculpture made from steel bars and whisky barrels and created by Rachael Long as a tribute to the horses that once pulled the town’s lifeboat more than two miles from the quay to Holkham Gap. The Lifeboat Horse had a brief spell at Wells-next-the-sea in 2018. However, locals and visitors missed the horse so much that £15,000 was raised to make it a permanent feature of this beautiful location in 2019.

To protect the horse from winter weather it is kept in storage from October to May. Thankfully the harbour commissioners have agreed to cover all future maintenance costs.

Harbour Master Robert Smith MBE said: ‘It was important to buy the sculpture because ‘so many people loved it. People have already come from ll over the country to see the horse – it’s good for tourism, it’s good for Wells and it’s good for Norfolk.

The next time you visit Norfolk, go to see this beautiful sculpture.

https://twitter.com/Jon_Clifton78/status/1416863080064106497

I’m sure many of us have said those words. To be fair, I’m not sure if I have uttered that sentence but I know a man who has and I read it today. For privacy, I won’t mention his name but call him Mr. Mister (nothing to do with the American rock band, although being from the states he may well know their song Broken Wings). Anyway, he is a published writer and very much a horse racing man. It makes sense he writes for me considering I run a number of blogs related to this subject matter.

If there’s one thing I like to be that’s quick off the mark when it comes to paying people. If someone does the work then they deserve to be paid. It’s a transaction of not only a product or service but doing the right thing and behaving in a professional manner. It shouldn’t be too much to ask. However, so often it is. Late payers. People who never pay. He made me smile because he said: ‘You’re the best fellow I have ever worked for…’ He followed this statement with: ‘I have been severely unappreciated and fully abused over the years and can’t remember a time I didn’t have to fight to get paid. Several times I didn’t’.

‘Your parents did a good job and should be proud.’

Kind words, hey. I don’t imagine he was saying them for effect.

In ways gambling and life are the same.

My Dad always loved a bet. Going to the races at Great Yarmouth. Working so hard, he was the one person who deserved to have more time to do exactly what he wanted. I guess he didn’t because he never quite have enough money in his pocket to stop working for a while. Always thinking about not letting someone down. If he wasn’t at work perhaps he would miss a customer. I’m sure if Dad was alive now he would look back and make changes. He would have done more what he wanted and pleased himself. He most certainly should have. If myself and my brothers could go back in time we would make sure that happened.

‘Let’s go to the races today!’

‘Forget about the work, that can wait until tomorrow.’

I always remember when my brother and I were younger and very talented within our niche of two-year-old horse racing. We wanted credit for how good we were. I guess we were looking for approval, respect or appreciation. As if showing the world would somehow make this happen. I always remember Dad saying: ‘If I knew something worth knowing I wouldn’t tell anyone and just have a smile on my face.’

He was and still is 100% correct in that thought.

Whether it is someone writing an article, shining shoes on the street or working for years to understand something to help win when betting on the horses we are all the same. In essence, we are all fighting to be paid. It may be today, tomorrow or years later. For some that delayed gratification never arrives but so often it shines brightly when you reach your goal.

For the majority of people in life nothing comes easy. It is a fight (mostly mental rather than physical but it can be both) where you have to put the work in to get any return and even then there isn’t a guarantee of success or that elusive payday.

We have to fight.

The best fighter isn’t always the biggest or strongest. Sometime they are the most courageous with wisdom.

The best gamblers are those who have not only bet but sat, thought and considered the answers to questions. If you said to many that gambling is very much a philosophical question they would think you have lost the plot. It doesn’t seem to have any philosophical aspect. But the only person who thinks that is the person who hasn’t sat quite long enough to appreciate the subject matter.

As in life, how you work or treat others runs deep.

Someone once said of me: ‘Whatever he says it is true.’

That is a statement of trust.

Like father like son.

If you meet a good, kind soul, treat them right.

It’s good to make plans to travel.

Living in England, you’d think I would be well travelled in the United Kingdom but sadly I haven’t ventured to Wales, Scotland or Ireland.

To be fair, I haven’t been to many racecourses but a trip to the Emerald Isle has been promised for far too long. In fact, I have plans to go to Killarney Racecourse which sits in the picturesque landscape of County Kerry.

It’s in the southern region and the province of Munster.

Horse racing is part of the Irish culture and the mountains of McGillycuddy’s Reeks have been whispering their name ever since I saw a photograph of the racecourse, nestled in the woodlands, a stones throw from Ross Castle and Loch Lien which is the largest of three lakes in Killarney.

Killarney Racecourse also known at ‘The Kingdom’ dates back to 1822. This left-handed oval course with a circuit of one mile two furlongs is one of the oldest racecourse in Ireland and hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing.

There are 13 meetings planned for 2024 from Sunday May 12^th – Monday 7^th October. Seven fixtures dedicated to the National Hunt including Ladies Day on Friday 19^th July. Tickets for Lee Strand Best Dressed (a prize for best dressed man and woman) cost 25 Euros. This meeting starts at approximately 1:45pm.

In general, the cost of entry is 20 Euros.

Dining at Killarney Racecourse includes The Panoramic Restaurant with views of the Killarney National Park, Ross Castle, The Lakes of Killarney and McGillycuddy Reeks.

For a variety of hospitality packages contact the racecourse.

A sample menu includes:

Starters – Chicken Liver Pate, Fantail Of Galia Melon or Cream Of Leek & Potato Soup.

Main Course: Honey Roasted Loin Of Bacon, Fillet Of Hake, Oven Roasted Bell Peppers.

Dessert: Tiramisu, Chocolate Praline, Rhubarb & Strawberry Cheesecake.

In addition, there is a BBQ Package, Carvery and Refreshment Options.

Also, there’s the Jim Culloty Bar which offers live music and the best pint of Guinness you will ever drink.

For those who are interested in annual membership to the course it costs 180 Euros, while double membership costs 270 Euros. This includes:

• 2 Tickets for every Killarney race day (13 fixtures)

• 2 Complimentary tickets to selected race days at Mallow, Limerick and Punchestown

• Entrance to bar/private members area at Killarney Racecourse

• Horse racing enthusiast social meet and greet

• Entry into several members draws

• Entry into The Grand National draw

Annual membership to the Ross Golf Course (which is in the centre of the racecourse) costs 350 Euros for new members. This nine hole golf course was opened in 1995 and one of the most scenic in Ireland.

Travelling from London Stansted Airport to Kerry Airport takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and a round trip with Ryanair and costs just £30 without luggage.

The splendid Lake Hotel on the shore of Loch Lein with mountain views cost from £101 – £180 per night.

You can get to the Killarney Racecourse in 15 minutes from Kerry Airport, while Shannon and Cork Airports are 90 minutes.

Sea Access to Killarney is via ferry from Rosslare, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Belfast and Larne.

A train and bus station are just half mile from Killarney Racecourse and 10 minutes walk from the town centre.

Why not add to the occasion travelling by horse and carriage (Jaunty car) to enjoy the fresh air and splendid views.

I can’t wait to get to Killarney and enjoy some of that famous Irish hospitality and more.