Eight tonnes of fun take to the track at Lingfield

It’s a good thing Lingfield Park offers all-weather as there could have been some large hoofprints on the track, after eight tonnes of equines took part in the Showerking Flying Feathers Shire Horse Charge last weekend (28 June).

Photo finish

This is the second year Lingfield Park has held the race, which sees professional jump jockeys racing on Shire horses.

It was a photo finish with Mark Goldstein and Morpheus winning the title by a short head, to put Jack Flash in second place. Curious George was half a length behind to come third.

Military

This year’s event had a military theme in honor of the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

“The Shires played such a crucial role in this conflict and I have been working closely with the Army on how we can help to mark the commemorations this year,” said Jax Gardiner from Hurst Green Shires, who provided the horses.

Original war horse

As well as the racing there was an Armed Forces march, led by Shire racehorses Hercules and Hector, who pulled a WW1 general service military vehicle.

“We have traced Hercules’ ancestry directly back to the original War Horses,” said Jax. “One of his line was born in 1910 at Tandridge Court and in 1914 was requisitioned by the Army and ended up in France, so it is very apt that he should be heading up the parade on the day.”