Sean's Blog

One in the books. Davy Russell ducked under the rail to get closer for a selfie with a fan. They roared. And asked for three more. Phones came out like lighters at a concert. Out of the saddle a year, still a star. Paul Townend after a surgeon’s ride on … Read More

Well, hello old friend. It’s been far too long. Four years. Four long years. My first was 2002. Two years after I retired and one year after foot and mouth. I stayed in the Hunter’s Lodge, shared a two bunk-bred room with three others, the bathroom down the hall, galloped … Read More

Welcome to England. Somehow during a long Sunday lunch, I decided that it would be fun to ride out Monday morning and decided to tell everyone. Free help? They hold you to it. The knock on the door came early. Dress boots, borrowed leather leggings, a black skull cap, Barry … Read More

Nothing like a Saturday. Check out The Saturday Special. Winners are flowing. See you you tomorrow. In England.

It’s been four years. Hard to believe. I brazenly went to Cheltenham in 2020. Well, it wasn’t brazen, I had heard about something called coronavirus, thought about the risk and went anyway. In seven days, while at Cheltenham, it was declared a pandemic. Then it felt brazen. Stupid. Selfish. It … Read More

Shipping one. Vetting one. Waiting on two. Chasing three. And watching so many others… Life in the horse business. Riverdee has grown to 21 horses. I like to say it’s grown organically. Naturally. From a horse or two, on spec, the sidebar of a publishing career to a 21-strong team … Read More

Nothing like March. Winter is over. Spring is near. Sure, there could still be some cold days but we’re on the other side of it. The race season is palpable. The long, lovely offseason is behind us. The horses have yet to be pressured, they’re gearing up, sizing up, revving … Read More

I touched upon the highs and lows of trying to get to Cheltenham yesterday. Constitution Hill first. Marine Nationale second. And I forgot Ferny Hollow, a talented tank, a fragile freak, he returned from a 791-day layoff to win a 2-mile Grade 3 chase on soft to heavy ground Feb. … Read More

Eight days to go. Champion Hurdle favorite Constitution Hill is out. Arkle favorite Marine Nationale is out. Who’s next? The Cheltenham Festival pressures owners, trainers, jockeys and horses. There is a horse running in Great Britain named Heltenham. No doubt, many have walked out of Prestbury Park muttering those sentiments. … Read More