THE RACING GRAPEVINE???? RETIREMENT???
It has never ceased to amaze me how truth never seems to get in the way of a story when it comes to anything remotely to do with racing. Over the years I have had more than a few digs at journo's over the way stories are reported however I must say that the latest story to be reported to me did not involve any journalist but fellow participants in the industry.
I was at the track on Wednesday morning when a trainer came up and told me how my name had come up in discussion the previous day amongst a group of trainers. The "facts" of the conversation were that I was retiring from training and moving south to set up an aggistment property.
This is as good a time to put the story and the "facts" into context so that you can hear it straight from the horses mouth. Pardon the pun!!
Firstly, anyone who knows me would know that there is about as much chance of me ever retiring as there is of me winning lotto. Considering I rarely buy a lotto ticket, I would say that the chances are remote.
What I have done is purchase a property down south which has been a long held ambition and dream of mine to do, which can serve me in a number of ways. It is close enough to Amelia Park where we spell and pre-train most of our horses, enabling me to play a bigger role in the running of that property and the horses there on. Secondly it gives Dion the freedom to put his own stamp on the way things are done at our Ascot stables without me being there to look over his shoulder every day. It then allows me the time to set up my small property in a way that I can spell a few of my own horses and maybe one day pre-train a few of my own from the property.
The few broodmares which I am involved with will also naturally live at my property however I am not likely to challenge Mungrup nor Heytesbury Studs for the role of Breeder of the Year! All of this while getting back to my Italian roots and growing a few vegies etc and hopefully enjoying my working life even more. I will still be in attendance at Ascot trackwork on some mornings and will also be at the races on most days.
The simple fact is that now that I have Dion on board, it enables the business to expand in different directions giving us both new challenges and slightly different roles. I really believe that we can utilise the top class facilities at Amelia Park to a far greater level than they are currently which will hopefully end up producing happier and sounder horses to take to the races. If anyone can say that building fences and erecting sheds and horse shelters in my spare time whilst not training horses is retirement then I guess, yes; I must be going into retirement! Can anyone tell me how I apply for my seniors card?
I was at the track on Wednesday morning when a trainer came up and told me how my name had come up in discussion the previous day amongst a group of trainers. The "facts" of the conversation were that I was retiring from training and moving south to set up an aggistment property.
This is as good a time to put the story and the "facts" into context so that you can hear it straight from the horses mouth. Pardon the pun!!
Firstly, anyone who knows me would know that there is about as much chance of me ever retiring as there is of me winning lotto. Considering I rarely buy a lotto ticket, I would say that the chances are remote.
What I have done is purchase a property down south which has been a long held ambition and dream of mine to do, which can serve me in a number of ways. It is close enough to Amelia Park where we spell and pre-train most of our horses, enabling me to play a bigger role in the running of that property and the horses there on. Secondly it gives Dion the freedom to put his own stamp on the way things are done at our Ascot stables without me being there to look over his shoulder every day. It then allows me the time to set up my small property in a way that I can spell a few of my own horses and maybe one day pre-train a few of my own from the property.
The few broodmares which I am involved with will also naturally live at my property however I am not likely to challenge Mungrup nor Heytesbury Studs for the role of Breeder of the Year! All of this while getting back to my Italian roots and growing a few vegies etc and hopefully enjoying my working life even more. I will still be in attendance at Ascot trackwork on some mornings and will also be at the races on most days.
The simple fact is that now that I have Dion on board, it enables the business to expand in different directions giving us both new challenges and slightly different roles. I really believe that we can utilise the top class facilities at Amelia Park to a far greater level than they are currently which will hopefully end up producing happier and sounder horses to take to the races. If anyone can say that building fences and erecting sheds and horse shelters in my spare time whilst not training horses is retirement then I guess, yes; I must be going into retirement! Can anyone tell me how I apply for my seniors card?
posted by Lou Luciani at
8:12 pm
2 Comments:
you should but you cant!! with properties and up coming wedding I doubt you would qualify for seniors.as for going back to your italian roots!!maybe you could but the scarecrow you are seeing in your veggie patch....hehe that might keep the birdS awAY..PARDON THE PUN...XXX
Dear Anonymous, he's only 56! All daughters deserve a wonderful wedding with their dads... Enjoy Jes. We all know he's Italian and proud of his Ascoli Region and soap box! The Scarecrow might fancy some of the birds! XXX
Hoof note: He's worked very hard for many years for the dream. Congrats Louie.
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