Claire Main

@mjyharris I remover this photo. What is Amberjam up to these days?

My fav Autumn photo. Me and Amberjam at Rhonehurst when he was in training with Oliver Sherwood. They were very happy times at the yard. He was actually a well bred horse by Duke of Marmalade out of a Sadler’s Wells mare but showed nothing on the flat but managed to win 4 times over the sticks. He was a stable mate of Many Clouds and used to be turned out with him. On 28th January, 2017 Amberjam won the 2.10 at Uttoxeter and the 2.15 at Cheltenham was The Cotswold Chase when Many Clouds lost his life. I was at Cheltenham that day and watched Amberjam win his race in a racecourse betting shop and then I rushed down to the shoot at Cheltenham and there were 4 fences to jump. I remember Many Clouds and Thistlecrack having a humdinger of a battle only to see elation turn to despair when Many Clouds lost his life in front of me. What was to follow was the saddest time I have ever spent on a racecourse as Oliver, Tarnya, Nathan, Lisa et al came to say goodbye to him. Heartbreaking moments. A day I will never forget. 📸 Mick Stevens

@mjyharris @the_doyler But think of it as wonderful exercise too!

I’m not sure it was worth me running like Usain Bolt from the finishing line, out of the racecourse, and into the car park to try and compose a photo of GEWAN and @the_doyler on the top of the hill after winning The Dewhurst. Sometimes my enthusiasm forgets how old I am. The idea was there……

@mjyharris That’s a beautiful tribute Michael. He certainly was one of the great characters of racing. And what a wonderful life he had too.

I popped down to the start at Cheltenham one day when Mad Moose was running, along with a few others (you know who you are), after he’d developed this idiosyncratic behaviour of ‘I’ll start if I feel like it.’ We wanted to see him at close hand and offer him some encouragement and support and hoped that he would jump off, enjoy himself, and run his race. It all seemed to be going very smoothly as he went to post nicely, he circled around at the start with the others, he looked happy and relaxed, as if he was just having fun with his mates, and I was pretty sure, given his body language, that on this occasion he would start. How wrong I was. As the starter called them in, he even lined up, took a step forward, and almost feigned a forward movement as if to go, but he stayed firmly rooted to the spot. It was almost as if he was humouring us all and given what I learned about him afterwards, I think he was. Racing needs characters. To me, it’s not about how much a pint of Guinness costs or whether you can drink it whilst watching the race, it’s about falling in love with the horses and their personalities, and returning to the racecourse time after time to see them, cheer them on, and develop that unique bond with them. And Mad Moose was certainly a character. You felt a connection with him. You empathised with him and related to him. He was the naughty kid at school, loved by all. Thank you Moose for bringing so much joy to all of us who loved and followed you. You had a good life. Now RIP x❤️ (I attach a photo from that day, taken on my old Sony Ericsson C905, as Moose looks onwards (@DavidCrosse up), as the rest of the runners head to the first, with that expressive, knowing look of “If I don’t want to run I won’t.” Love him.)

@mjyharris A proper amateur - and a proper gentleman

Happy retirement. A gentleman. One day I bumped into David in Grosvenor Square. He was obviously in a hurry, but as I hailed him like hailing a cab he stopped, made time for a short chat, thanked me for the photos that I had taken of him at the races, briefly and passionately discussed plans for his horses, shook my hand, smiled, and went on his way. That brief few minutes made my day and told me all I needed to know about him. Like I said…. ….a real gentleman.

@mjyharris Me too!

Not Doncaster but I’ll just have to make do. Happy St Leger Day.

@RacingGav Great thread and full of info. I learnt more about Conrad than I do from my son who works at Seven Barrows 🙄

Well that was a long thread! 😅 Hopefully there are some helpful insights and it was an insightful/enjoyable read for you! 🤞🏻 It’s always tricky to try and work within the character limits when there is so much to say! 🤦🏻‍♂️ If you made it this far, well done and thank you! 🤝🏻🫡

CONSTITUTION HILL update - A thread 🧵⚪️⚫️ 🔸Taken apart and put back together 🧩 🔸Full body bone scan 🏥 🔸Internal investigations 🕵🏻‍♂️ 🔸Equine eye specialist 👓 🔸The change of hurdles 👀 🔸Mended by an Australian 🇦🇺 🔸Could he go chasing? ✈️ … and much more! 👇🏼

@RacingTV @nickluck Well deserved indeed👏🏻👏🏻

Congratulations to @Nickluck who will make history in the US in October when he becomes the first non-American recipient of the Jim McKay Award for broadcast excellence👇🏻

@ggcouk @AtTheRaces What a proper horse he was. Still greatly missed 😢

@AtTheRaces Shishkin Vs Energumene in 2022 I could watch this all day!

Let's hear them! 👇

@knott_knottya @RacingLeagueUK @RacingHeather @GraceMcentee Poor Zippy - he was robbed!

MISTER BLUEBIRD aka “Zippy” back in action this evening for team Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 in the @RacingLeagueUK for @RacingHeather @GraceMcentee taking the ride A great run in a similar event 2 weeks ago, we are hoping for another big run in a very competitive race..🤞🤞🤞 #gozippygo

@mjyharris She’s very special. I saw that you had re-posted a tweet about Oisin’s new book but I initially thought YOU had a new book coming out and I thought HURRAY!!! Very disappointed to discover I was wrong 🙁

I hadn’t seen ESTRANGE before today but oh it was worth the wait. Beautiful filly. So switched on. She clocked everything that was going on around her. Lovely to see her.

@knott_knottya @RacingLeagueUK @RacingHeather @GraceMcentee #gozippygo!

@NewburyRacing Think we can do this (only better!) @LeicesterRaces ?

Channeling our inner dancing queens 🕺🪩 Our team took on one of ABBA’s most famous songs to celebrate Björn Again taking to the stage at the Racecourse live after racing on Friday 15th August 🎤 Book now ➡️ ow.ly/v6Gv50WCfTb

@knott_knottya @MasonPaetel @GTYarmouthRaces @RacingHeather @RacingLeagueUK Well done Zippy!

MISTER BLUEBIRD makes it win no 8 this evening under @MasonPaetel @GTYarmouthRaces for team Scotland @RacingHeather @RacingLeagueUK

@knott_knottya @EpsomRacecourse @RacingHeather Well done Zippy and Jack!💙❤️

Another strong by MISTER BLUEBIRD in 2nd this evening @EpsomRacecourse under Jack Dace, going down 3/4 of a length to a clearly improving favourite. Onwards and upwards… 👆 @RacingHeather

@knott_knottya @EpsomRacecourse @RacingHeather Good luck Zippy!

Looking forward to seeing MISTER BLUEBIRD back in action this evening @EpsomRacecourse under Jack Dace. @RacingHeather

@itvracing Performance of the week surely must go to the presenters and all their crew for delivering a (mostly) professional and watchable programme all week in difficult conditions 🌞🥵. Chapman is still irritating but I don’t suppose he can help himself 🙄

2025 Royal Ascot is over 😢 We want to know your picks for the below ⬇️

@mjyharris Exquisite

I love a horse who makes the traffic wait so he can have his photo taken. Anmaat.

@itvracing @RichardHoiles @CommentatorMark You have masters like this and then you have Chapman who is the most unprofessional of them all .

Masters. In. Action. 👏 Don't scroll. Watch this from @RichardHoiles and @CommentatorMark 🎙️

@Chrisgordonrac1 @freddie68528641 @betgoodwinuk @EQFencing @chrisgordon68 @Huntingdon_Race Freddie! Where’s your hair gone?

Apologies for the late post ! Chris has been busy so Freddie has recorded a little video for you on his way to Huntingdon. Little Soiree runs in the 6.10 And Press Your Luck in the 7.40 @betgoodwinuk @EQFencing @chrisgordon68 @freddie68528641 @Huntingdon_Race

@mjyharris Oh dear. I will miss seeing your photos and videos😢. Shishkin was a one-off. The last time I saw him he was enjoying a physio massage the lovely boy.

I think this is the first Lambourn Open Day I will be missing since Mr Frisk won the Grand National and the village was heaving. Also missing this year will be Shishkin who always loved seeing everybody and really enjoyed these days. Beautiful horse, lovely personality.