21-year-old Lucy Burton hails from Wormleighton in Warwickshire, north of Banbury and close to Mollington point-to-point course. Steeped in horses, with a background in show ponies, she trains two pointers – Earlshill, on whom she has won three races, and the Sarah Knott-owned Sgroppino. She spoke to Jake Exelby the other day and gave him the lowdown on her hopes for ‘Earl’ this season, side-saddle racing and an irrational fear of the fourth-last fence at Edgcote!
What is your point-to-pointing background?
I was riding before I could walk and have always hunted, then the show ponies took over – I had a 14-hand New Forest pony I took to the Horse of the Year show. Then, when I was 17, I caught the pointing bug and used to go to Pauline and Doug Harkin’s on race days and turn out their horses. One day, they asked me to jump on one – I knew so little about racehorses that they had to teach me how to put on a breast girth! I’d get run away with up the Edgcote gallops, but thought it was fantastic and started riding out for them more.
My first race was on We Never Give Up, at Clifton-on-Dunsmore in December 2018. She was very well-named because, though she used to get detached, she’d always give me a fantastic spin and never actually gave up! On my first ride, I got in trouble with the stewards, but Doug defended me, saying that the mare doesn’t want to go very fast, so I wasn’t finishing on a tired horse! She was a legendary servant for novice riders like me. (Lucy is right: by my reckoning, the Harkins legged up six different novices on her).
My other ride in my first season was Velvet Cloud and I’ve never ridden such a tiny but determined horse. She could be evil – if you touched her head, you’d have your nose and teeth removed – but also brilliant. When I first rode her at Thorpe Lodge, I thought we were going to get squished but she managed to nip up the inside!
Tell me about Earlshill
Harold Bowley – a great family friend – owned him under rules and offered him to us as a schoolmaster. We sent him to Tom and Gina Ellis’ yard because I saw they were advertising for a novice rider – Nat Irvine got that position but they offered me a job too and I thought it would be good to learn from the very best!
Lucy schooling for Tom Ellis
My first win was in our third race together, at Charing in February 2020. We travelled down with two of Julie Wadland’s and Earl – who normally kicks all the way – was terrified and quiet as a lamb! Jack Andrews came with us. I’d never been to Charing before and, as we walked the course, Jack said four out, ‘Watch that fence. Horses like to have a pinch of grass there.’ He was right! We were on our nose but collected ourselves and drove for home. I couldn’t quite believe it.
Lucy and Earl winning at Charing
At the end of the season, we took him home. I’d broken my shoulder and couldn’t afford to keep the horse with Tom and Gina without an income to pay for it, but I learnt so much from them. Mum has a wealth of experience with horses and training him is a joint effort.
I gather you’re also a successful side-saddle rider
One of my earliest memories was being plonked on a side saddle when I was about five – I thought it was magical and that Ladies riding that way looked elegant. And when I started racing, I was able to hold on for long enough because I’m gung-ho! I’ve won two – on Last To Leave for the Harkins at Edgcote in 2018 and recently at Larkhill on Mr Grey, who’s ex-Ben Case.
What do you do alongside training your pointers?
I work for a family called the Richardsons at nearby Napton, looking after their ten show ponies. When the pointing quietens down, showing ramps up and I used to do their entries for them for a few hours a week during the season. Then, when I left Tom and Gina’s, they asked me to come and work with them full-time. In the winter, I have to take a long lunch break to work the horses in daylight - we’ve also got three hunters and a cob at home!
Lucy and Hunter "Pino" in the indoor school
Who's inspired you most in the world of pointing?
The most sportsmanlike person I know is Izzie Marshall, who’s always the first to say well done to me and who I got to know when she came to school at Tom’s. She’s always in Gina’s limelight, but no-one is more pleased than her when Gina wins – look at Izzie’s reaction when she broke the record on Fumet D’Oudairies.
Izzie Marshall: sportsmanlike
What's your favourite course? Why?
I love Mollington. It’s my local track, one of my earliest memories as a child was going there and I was a close second there on Velvet Cloud. When Earl ran there after lockdown, I couldn’t believe how many of my friends were there – we got absolutely slaughtered afterwards!
What do you love most about pointing?
The community and the social aspect. There’s never any animosity, you can ask anyone for help, nobody judges you and – whatever day you’ve had – someone’s had a better or worse day than you.
What's been the highlight of your time in the sport?
My win on Earl at Revesby Park – I’d no idea how far it was until I saw the signs to Skegness (!) - first time out this season. I didn’t absorb Charing, Garthorpe was good, but that was the first time we’d done him at home from the beginning. We didn’t know how fit he was because we had nothing to work him with, so he worked on his own up Edgcote hill, and couldn’t believe how it all came together.
What are your ambitions in pointing?
One of my biggest dreams is to win the Bicester with Whaddon Chase Members race. I’d also love to have a spin in a Hunter Chase and to get some outside rides if anyone thinks I’m good enough.
What's been your personal funniest moment in the sport?
I can look back and laugh about my bad luck at Edgcote. When I was riding We Never Give Up, we fell at the fence at the bottom of the hill (four out). Next time, I had it in my head that I didn’t like the fence and thought, ‘I’m going to fall off again.’ I rode like a melon and you can guess the rest… I’d never been so scared to go back to Pauline afterwards!
Racing at Edgcote: don't mention the fourth last!
What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?
I’d have more incentives for novice jockeys. People don’t want to put up novices in Opens, so I’d extend the 5lb allowance to Conditions races, and maybe others. Definitely not Maidens though – that would be like the blind leading the blind!
What do you think the effect of lockdown on pointing has been?
It hasn’t affected us so much, as we have our horses at home. It’s great that the sport’s kept going – especially with the rise in the cost of living – and fair play to all the owners. It shows how strong pointing is – I don’t think we’ve seen a reduction in the number of entries and horses.
What are your plans for this season?
I’ll keep going with Earl as long as possible and we might go to Garthorpe with him at the end of the month – it’s close to home and I look forward to going to the local tracks as it gets lonely doing everything on your own. Sgroppino is an older maiden and I’d just like to have a spin with him and see what happens. He’s been working well with Earl and there’s no pressure.
Do you have any hobbies outside racing?
Going out in Banbury or to a Hunt Ball and making bad decisions!
Tell me something I wouldn't know from asking these questions?
I got four A-levels, including French, but I was too shy to go to university – the idea petrified me. When I discovered pointing, it was great that I could do it from home!