June Runner Highlights

PERFECT LOCATION (above) got her head in front for the second time in her career on 12th June at Goodwood over six furlongs. The three year old filly was given a positive ride by Rob Hornby up the straight course and made headway in the last 3 furlongs, leading by 3 lengths, to eventually win by half a length. She was backing up a run at the racecourse 7 days previously, where she had raced over 7f. 

Perfect Location is owned by Mildmay Racing and Only Fillies RC and she was bred by Mildmay Stud. The filly is by Cable Bay, out of the Excelebration mare, Perfect Lady. 

GLENNA recorded her first career win at Royal Windsor Racecourse on Saturday evening (27^th June), winning the 1m3½f fillies’ Handicap under Pierre-Louis Jamin.

The three year old filly travelled in a close second throughout the race before challenging the leader in the last two furlongs. She took up the lead inside the final furlong to win by 1¼ lengths. This victory was a nice step forward for Glenna after finishing 2^nd at Newbury earlier this month.

Glenna is by Gleneagles, out of the Camelot mare, Lara. She is owned by Fitorfat Racing, and was bred by Mount Coote Stud and M H Dixon. 

One to Watch

LOLA (pictured above) started June off with a fantastic run at Windsor on 1st June. The 2yo filly was very professional with Alec Voikhansky on board to finish 3rd in a 6f Novice. Keep an eye out for entries, this competitive daughter of Caturra is sure to be in the winners enclosure soon! 

SPOTLIGHT: Headgear

Our new mini series will be looking at various different topics over the next few months and focusing on a wide range of industry news as well as interesting racehorse-specific subjects. If you have any suggestions for the series or if there is something that you would like to know more about, then please do let us know by emailing [email protected] 

Headgear can be an important addition to a racehorse’s tack, and each type serves a different purpose. From helping nervous horses to settle, to keeping their attention focused on the race, trainers use them to help horses perform to the best of their ability. Here is a guide to the most commonly used types and what each one is supposed to do.

Hoods are worn to reduce the amount the horse can hear, which can help if they get wound up from the noise of crowds. The hood has padded ear covers which helps to block out loud noises around the horse and reduce distractions. A Red Hood (pictured below) works in a similar way, but it is only worn before the race and usually removed when the horse reaches the starting stalls. This can help to settle a horse before it’s race but still allows it to take in it’s full surroundings during the race.

Blinkers are facemasks that cover the back and side of the horse’s eyes, so they can only see in front of them. This helps them to stay focused, as some horses can get distracted by other runners coming up from behind them. A Visor is similar, but has slits in the sides of the eye covers so they still have partial peripheral vision, but are mainly focused on what is in front of them.

Cheekpieces are also used to restrict the horse’s vision; they are sheepskin covers that are attached to the sides of the bridle, allowing the horse to fully see in front and beside them, but not behind.  A sheepskin Noseband cover can be used which reduces the horse’s vision if they put their head up too high. This can also help to keep a horse settled and avoid overracing. A Tongue tie is a soft strap used to keep the tongue below the bit and help the horse maintain a clear airway by preventing the tongue and soft palate from obstructing the airflow.

Choosing the right headgear is often a process of trial and error. Every horse is different, and what works for one may not work for another. A trainer may introduce headgear to help improve a horse’s concentration, and then remove it once confidence has grown, or try a different type depending on the horse’s behaviour and performance. 

Some types of headgear need to be declared before a race and are then shown on the racecard, with abbreviations next to the horse’s name to show what they are wearing;

• Blinkers – b
• Visor – v
• Hood – h
• Cheek pieces – p
• Tongue tie – t
• Red hood - not declared on racecards
• Noseband – not declared on racecards

Red hoods are not declared on the racecard, as they are removed before the start of the race, and sheepskin nosebands are also not published on racecards as they aren’t seen to be as restricting, and are there to improve comfort and control. This has been debated within racing, with some punters arguing they should appear on racecards as they can help to improve a horse’s performance. Commentators will often mention ‘first-time blinkers’ or ‘first-time cheekpieces’, as this can sometimes make a significant difference to a horse’s performance. This is indicated with a ‘1’ after the headgear abbreviation. Many racegoers and punters pay close attention to this, and view it as a positive indicator that the horse will run well. 

Success at the Sales

Tom has recently bought Sam Smoke, an exciting four year old mare by the proven National Hunt sire Scorpion, who comes to us having won her most recent point-to-point, on just her third start. Sam Smoke boasts an excellent jumping pedigree; her dam, Theatre Belle, was a four time winner over hurdles, while Sam Smoke is a half-sister to four winners over hurdles and fences. With stamina and jumping ability firmly in the family, she has all the attributes to develop into an exciting staying mare. 

Shares are now available, so if you would like the opportunity to get involved with this progressive young mare, please get in touch with the office for more information. 

Glorious Goodwood Picnic Marquee

JOIN US at Glorious Goodwood in the picnic marquee for a day of thrilling racing, delicious food and champagne on Saturday 1st August.

Tickets can be purchased for a discounted price of £90 using the following link -

Richmond Enclosure tickets for Saturday 1st August

We can’t wait to see as many of you as possible! It is going to be a fabulous day at Glorious Goodwood.

The dress code for the Richmond Enclosure can be found here: Goodwood Racecourse | Dress Code | Horseracing, West Sussex

Horses for Sale

At Whitehouse Stables we have a selection of different ownership options to suit everyone’s budget. This could be the purchase of a horse outright, or maybe even a smaller share.

Tom will be attending the premier midsummer sale at Tattersalls - the July sale on 7th - 9th July; where there will be a mixture of stock from fillies & mares as well as progressive horses in training.

Please see below a selection of horses on offer at the moment - head to our website or email [email protected] for more information or to register your interest. 

2024 BAAEED ex KINGDOM GIRL Filly

The Scout Syndicate has a new recruit! This athletic filly has a sire who needs no introduction. She is by BAAEED, the highest rated horse since Frankel whose flawless career saw 6 Group 1 wins and over £2.3 million in prize money. The filly’s dam, KINGDOM GIRL, by Kingman, was a winner herself and a half sister to Group 2 & 3 winners in HATTA FORT and BLUE BAYOU. This filly is registered for the lucrative GBB scheme, and can earn up to an extra £100,000. The buy-in is for the 2026 AND 2027 season & includes all pre-training, training, keep and UK racing costs. 

£3,000 for both the 2026 & 2027 season