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MARIE MCCABE |
Weblog: The wife of leading all-weather trainer Alan McCabe with her weekly diary.
Much to reflect on and much to look forward to
It has been a few weeks since I last posted a blog and, for my tardiness, I apologise.
America was fun, despite the result, but feels a lifetime ago now. Caspar returned in good spirits and now, with his devoted Babu having gone back to India for his annual leave, he is a bit bored and looking for someone to play with.
I was the recipient of his attentions yesterday and he almost picked me up by my coat while playing a biting game with me. He means no harm, but he's feeling happy and relaxed, although a little confused by this 'holiday' business.
Most of the other two year olds enjoying their winter break have let downcompletely, getting fat and furry. Sans Loi and Sehnsucht look like young woolly stallions, but the fillies find it a bit more difficult to totally relax and can occasionally be heard bucking and squealing away to themselves.
I think some of the riders may need velcro breeches on in the new year when they start back in training. The yearlings are behaving decently at the moment, although the real test will begin when their training regime steps up a gear. Wow, the new year is going tobring such treats!
As far as our runners are concerned, we haven't really eased off much at all since the turf season ended.
With so many all-weather meetings on the go, there are still plenty of options out there and not all of them restricted to the more moderate animal. We have notched up six winners this month and, although I'd be quite happy for that to continue, I know it won't.
The racing does slow down a bit after christmas, so I am hoping the workload will do likewise, although we have been schooling a few this week and could have a few hurdlers to liven up the darkest days.
Bedouin Bay has shown a real flair for hurdling and we look forward to him this winter, although his resolve does need some strengthening. For all he is a big, powerful beast, he is a bit of a softie and didn't like the scrimmaging of his last race at Chepstow.
He was travelling like a good thing when he encountered a bit of barging, at which point he promptly downed tools and went into a sulk. He is still very young so he can be excused for that - I'm sure he will quickly discover his mean streak (he doesn't mind showing it to his human companions) and bully his way through future encounters.
On a personal note, we enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving feast last week at home with my parents. It is the first Thanksgiving they have spent in this country in over 10 years, so we felt we had to make them feel 'at home'.
The Wentworths joined us following the Sir Peter O'Sullevan charity lunch and we had a splendid evening. Unfortunately, a couple of our party (ahem) have become rather partial to Grey Goose vodka following our Breeders' Cup trip(Grey Goose sponsored the meeting and most of the festivities) and the Goose was most definitely loose about my hoose on Thursday evening.
I'm afraid the details must remain privy to attendees only, but I did have a bit of a headache on Friday morning.
I was still competent enough to know that the celebrations did not ring hollow - I have indeed had much to be thankful for this year and this was something that needed to be marked.
This year has taught me conclusively that financial rewards and spiritual rewards do not necessarily run concurrently.
But if you were to come to me in 12 months time and ask me what I was doing in early November 2011, I could tell you in great detail. If you asked me how much I had in the bank at that time, I couldn't tell you at all. Some pleasures are transient, but some will never leave you.
November may have been a lean month in some respects, but it's not stopped me from enjoying it wholeheartedly. I hope I can keep this up throughout the new year.
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