Harry Fry Racing takes pride in ensuring every horse receives first-class care at Higher Crockermoor, but their journey after racing is equally important.
Harry and Ciara will make recommendations to ensure every horse has the opportunity to find a happy retirement home or a chance to excel in another sphere.
A huge amount of pleasure is taken in watching horses progress after life in racing and below are some lovely examples of these stories what we are delighted to share with you.
ROCK ON RUBY
Rock On Ruby is a horse Harry and Ciara credit for much of their success. ‘Ruby’ as known by the team, enjoyed a glittering career at the very top, a specialist over hurdles, he was one of the most consistent horses of his time.
A stellar 2011-12 season saw him victorious in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and although officially trained by Paul Nicholls at the time, victory in the race was widely credited to Harry and Ciara who had been masterminding his training program at home.
Collecting the Relkeel and Ascot Hurdles, he was retired in 2015 and has remained in the care of Harry and Ciara since. He spends his time leading young horses up the gallops and his wonderful placid nature means their eldest daughter Ruby (named after Rock on Ruby) enjoys riding him around the yard. He is a much-adored member of the team and Ciara is looking forward to hunting him this season with the Cattistock Hunt.
OPENING BATSMAN
Owned during his racing days by The Twelfth Man Partnership, Opening Batsman was retired in 2019 after seven-and-a-half seasons. Amassing over £140,000 in earnings, a hallmark of his successful career was his tough temperament and physic. Winning several competitive handicaps, his biggest win came when scoring in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton in 2013.
Having recently retired, he has relished a long summer in the field with his great friend, Rock On Ruby. Over the pending months, he will enjoy hacking around Higher Crockermoor keeping a watchful eye over youngstock. Harry is also gearing up for a few days hunting on him this season.
TOODLEPIP
A runner in several Maiden contests over the 2018/19 season, Toodlepip never showed a liking to racing but her athleticism caught the eye. A decision was made that she would be retrained by Rosie Fry, sister to Harry, on behalf of her supportive owner Mrs. Thomas.
Toodlepip adapted brilliantly, and with a sensible attitude it wasn’t long before she found a lovely Eventing home. Fit and ready to compete, she is looking to take part in BE100s when British Eventing commences in the next few months.
SUPERB STORY
Looked after during his time at Harry Fry Racing by Hayley Gilmore, following injury, he was kindly given to her following retirement. Having had a year off, he is now back in work and enjoying a quieter life.
He is ridden out regularly with General Ginger, whom Hayley also rehomed, and the plan is to take him to local shows. He is a lovely easy horse and gorgeous individual to look at. Currently a blank canvas, we look forward to watching them progress.
GENERAL GINGER
From 11 runs over hurdles, General Ginger enjoyed two wins, two seconds and two thirds for the Hazard Chase Racing Syndicate before joining Hayley Gilmore in retirement.
Hayley heard about ‘Ninja’ through a friend working for Harry Fry Racing at the time, and the rest was history. With a keen interest in endurance, Hayley has started teaching him the ropes, which is easier said than done as he still thinks he’s off racing! A combination of pole work and quiet rides has seen him start to relax into his new retirement home. Much adored, he has a home for life with his friend Superb Story.
SHUIL ROYALE
Owned by Phil and Lorraine Fry since a 3-year-old, they enjoyed many great days of the racecourse with Shuil Royale, notching up ten wins with him during his career.
Retired in 2017, ‘Shuily’ was sent to be retrained by Eventer Sarah Perry where he competed successfully in unaffiliated events. He was sold to a friend of Phil and Lorraine, Sarra, who learned to ride again on him after many years out of the saddle.
Currently based at Kingston Maurward Equestrian College, Sarra continues to ride him regularly alongside level 3 students. His sensible, honest characteristics and beautiful jump make him a firm favorite. Sarra has her sights set on several dressage competitions over the coming months, a combination to watch in ROR classes!
AMERICAN
We have greatly enjoyed following the progress of former Gold Cup runner and high-class chaser American who was owned by the Jago Family during his racing career with us.
Now owned by Emma Jane Powne, who was gifted the Garde Royale gelding in retirement, they have both been taking the showing world by storm in just their first season together. A win at the Dorset County Show in the Retraining Of Racehorses (ROR) Novice Ridden, followed a second place at the Bath and West Show. Both performances qualified the combination for the ROR National Championships at Aintree Racecourse in August, where they competed successfully in ridden, and in hand classes, taking home the prestigious Always A Star accolate for their merits.
Aside from strutting his stuff in the showing, he adores his cross country, and it was only last week that the pair won their Hunter Trail. He enjoys a varied and fun retirement and we wish them all the best for the future and will continue to follow their achievements with great interest.
BAGS GROOVE
Bags Groove joined the team in 2015 for owner Michael Pescod and bar one run at Huntingdon, he didn’t finish out of the frame in his first two seasons. A tall scopey horse, his future always lay with chasing, and it was at this point that his highest-profile success came to fruition. A win at Wincanton in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase was followed by victory in the Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton in February 2019.
He always appreciated better ground, but sadly an injury to his knee sustained in a fall during Market Rasen’s Summer Plate forced him into retirement in July 2020. At this point, he was gifted by Michael to our equine team physio Verity Perrott, who has worked her magic on him ever since. From laser treatment to ultrasound, and massage he is now fully recovered from the injury, and returned to work last summer.
Verity aims to compete in dressage and ROR classes in the future. We wish them all the success together.
FISHKHOV
Competitive in four starts during his racing career, Fishkhov was a striking mover and bold jumper when trained at Higher Crockermoor, so needless to say, following his retirement in November 2021, it didn’t take long to find him an alternative career. He joined my sister Rosie Fry as an Eventer.
Selle Francais bloodlines, coupled with a trainable attitude, has meant he has shown an abundance of promise in a small space of time. Building core strength on the flat while channeling jumping scope, he has enjoyed five starts under British Eventing rules since April.
Currently competing at Novice level, he is much-admired by Badminton Course Designer Eric Winter in his work at home and looks sure to raise the grades in the future. One to watch in a flourishing second career, we wish him and Rosie all the success in the future.
DON POOLEONI
Don Pooleoni was purchased by The Dons in 2013 and placed in training with us at Seaborough where he gave his connections some great days out on the racecourse. However, since his retirement, he has come into his own on the hunting field.
Now in his eighth season with Master of the Devon & Somerset Staghounds, Rupert Andrews. Rupert has enjoyed some phenomenal days on the bay gelding, whom he regards as the best hunt horse he has had. Thriving on crossing the challenging moorland country, it’s safe to say the now 17-year-old looks to be loving life in his second career.
