Hello there, having just fallen off my filly during first lot this morning, I decided that today was as good as any to write “a day in the life of…” !

I am married to Racehorse Trainer Ralph Beckett and (usually) enjoy starting my day riding out first lot. I don’t normally fall off and was surprised how hard I now hit the ground – like a sack of spuds.  I love the early mornings and the camaraderie of all our riders. Normally, it all goes smoothly, today I was unceremoniously dumped at the bottom of the gallop.  Ralph and his Headman Gary thought I was getting a lift up in the tractor.  When in fact, there was no tractor and  I got left and had to run the entire uphill mile gallop to be reunited with my filly.  As I appeared over the horizon running, red faced and totally out of breath one rider quipped “Blimey, is the boss after a divorce”!  

We have a lovely team of riders so I enjoyed a lot of sympathy from the girls and a good ribbing from the lads.

Most mornings, owners are here.  I have perfected the craft of cooking breakfast whilst riding out 1st lot and having it all ready the minute I get in.  If you are lucky enough to have an aga, I can tell you bacon cooks to perfection in the bottom warming oven in exactly the time it takes me to ride out!

I then always check in with the office.  Over the years I’ve done every role in the office. We have a great team now and I hover, stepping in to assist, support or advise in any area when needed.  Today I am tackling the payroll on behalf of Sam, who is away; sorting the logistics of a planned power outage in the yard on Friday and organising an untidy lad living in the onsite staff Hostel who is not doing his chores and upsetting his cohabitors – Oh the Glamour!

My daughter has a very fat pony that I’m currently desperately trying to get the weight off ahead of Hickstead School Champs this weekend. How he got to size he did with sod all grass, I’ve no idea but thankfully he’s shaping up nicely. 

 Almost daily, I check in with my Joint Masters of the Tedworth Hunt.  Two girlfriends; Rachel and Nicky and I stepped up into Mastership last season and although a lot of work, we’ve had a lot of laughs.  

This time of year the jobs are admin based, all hunters thankfully in the field. Today I’ve got to stand in the Post Office with hundreds of stamps and post all the Puppy Show Invites which I spent all day yesterday writing out.   Come October I’ll be hunting twice a week, which works well as its out of our busy racing season.

Talking of a busy season:  Following PRICE OF ARRAS’ exciting win in the Dante at York last week, he’s gone from 50-1 to 5-1 3rd favourite for the Derby - we are now experiencing DERBY FEVER in the yard.   The fever exudes from Ralph and from now until the big day we will all be tip toeing around him and saluting magpies furiously.  With classy horses, come classy days racing which makes all the hard work so very worth it.   

With Epsom and Ascot on the horizon I have to make time to sort my outfits out, always a panic and always left to the last minute.  However, this year a lovely new hunting friend Elizabeth Hiscox who has her own label E.Stott has sorted me out with ALL the outfits I need for summer racing.  I don’t hire hats I like to buy them from Amanda Denton, Lambourn so I can just grab one when needed.  My two daughters Katinka and Cressie are rather good at disrupting my wardrobe – They just help themselves to EVERYTHING.  Apparently, its far more important that they look the biz at the races.

Oh Dear, Derby Fever Man has just walked in, can’t find his favourite suit needed for racing this afternoon – Government levels of diplomacy will be required over the next few weeks to diffuse minor housekeeping blips that crop up as well as keeping everyone happy and positive for what hopes to be another great season ahead.

My day ends with a large glass of wine and a quick check-in with Joint Masters Rachel and Nicky because one of us would have had something hilarious or silly happen to us that day that needs to be shared.

Images: 1 - mornings on the gallops at Kimpton Down. 2 - Izzi with her two joint masters,Rachel Butterworth  and Nicky Simpson. 3 - Izzi in action out hunting with the Tedworth. 4 - Pride of Arras winning the Dante earlier this month. 5 - Happy campers after Bluestocking won the Arc.