Before coming on down to Metairie for the first time since we left on June 28, which I was not looking forward to, I was able to spend 4 days with wonderfully supportive and hospitable Marion and Teresa ... and the horses. POLINA had been fourth at Graignes on July 21(Perle was second in the same race.)
She was going to race again at Bacqueville-en-Caux, near Dieppe, on Sunday. Before that PORTO was to race at Les Sables d'Olonne (4-5 hours drive each way) on Friday. He had drawn the outside on the gate (autostart) but Marion got him into the 1-1 round the first bend. Then the trailer galloped and the horse outside the leader moved in, leaving PORTO 'facing the breeze' for the rest of the journey (2650m). In the straight Marion wisely settled for fourth rather than risk the break which had happened the last two times.
Bacqueville-en Caux (possibly the worst track in France anyway according to a usually reliable source) turned out to be Bogville-en-Caux. POLINA was off 25m and a slip on the first bend meant the loss of another 25, and that was the difference between second and fifth, which was where she ended up. Still she ran another good race and her five starts since Evreux have produced 5 4 5 6 6. (Prince was fourth in his race.)
Despite the state of the track it was a fun day with the village choir performing church music as the entertainment and almost every van having to be pulled out of the mud by a tractor when attempting to leave (see pic above)
Before coming on down to Metairie for the first time since we left on June 28, which I was not looking forward to, I was able to spend 4 days with wonderfully supportive and hospitable Marion and Teresa ... and the horses. POLINA had been fourth at Graignes on July 21(Perle was second in the same race.)
She was going to race again at Bacqueville-en-Caux, near Dieppe, on Sunday. Before that PORTO was to race at Les Sables d'Olonne (4-5 hours drive each way) on Friday. He had drawn the outside on the gate (autostart) but Marion got him into the 1-1 round the first bend. Then the trailer galloped and the horse outside the leader moved in, leaving PORTO 'facing the breeze' for the rest of the journey (2650m). In the straight Marion wisely settled for fourth rather than risk the break which had happened the last two times. 
Bacqueville-en Caux (possibly the worst track in France anyway according to a usually reliable source) turned out to be Bogville-en-Caux. POLINA was off 25m and a slip on the first bend meant the loss of another 25, and that was the difference between second and fifth, which was where she ended up. Still she ran another good race and her five starts since Evreux have produced 5 4 5 6 6. (Prince was fourth in his race.)
Despite the state of the track it was a fun day with the village choir performing church music as the entertainment and almost every van having to be pulled out of the mud by a tractor when attempting to leave (see pic above)
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