Champion jockey William Buick paid his first ever visit to Carlisle for the prestigious Bell and Plate meeting.
Buick didn’t have any luck in the two big races yesterday, Wednesday, June 26, but he actually landed a double with his very first ride on the course and completed by winning the last as well.
He steered Bountiful to a comfortable win in the first for George Boughey and wrapped up the double with Sir Michael Stoute’s Red Pixie, but had to work a lot harder to get this one past the post first.
A number of the country’s top jockeys were riding, including James Doyle. He recalled riding at Carlisle about 15 years ago when he picked up a couple of winners and was successful again on his only ride of the day.
Doyle steered Roger Varian’s Jabaara to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Eternal Stakes.
But it was Hector Crouch, another of the southern-based jockeys who travelled to Cumbria for the meeting, had the pleasure of winning the Cumberland Plate on Sea the Thunder for Ralph Beckett.
Dating back to 1599, the Carlisle Bell is widely regarded as the oldest trophy in sporting history.
The race’s name relates to the bells which were awarded to the winners of the race, and are still on display in the city centre, making them the world’s oldest sporting trophy.
There were 17 runners in the Carlisle Bell, including last year’s winner Mostawaa, but it was Orbaan, ridden by Danny Tudhope, who won for David O’Meara.
