MEMBER SPOTLIGHT DEBORAH THOMSON: A thoroughbred racing horse owner MELLING LANE DIVIDES AINTREE RACE COURSE, VENUE FOR THE GRAND NATIONAL THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS STEEPLECHASE, AND IT IS WHERE MY MOTHER WAS BORN AND GREW UP. SO, WHEN THE CALL TO WRITE A FEATURE ON DEBORAH THOMSON, CALEDONIAN CLUB AND RACING SOCIETY MEMBER WAS SUGGESTED AT THE MAGAZINE EDITORIAL PLANNING MEETING, I WAS UP FOR THE JOB. Louise Newton reports Much has already been written about the astonishing triumph of One For Arthur at the Grand National in April <strong>2017</strong>: ridden by jockey Derek Fox, trained by Lucinda Russell and only the second Scottish-trained horse to win at Aintree since Rubstock in 1979 owned by John Douglas – coincidentally wearing the same number 22. The 14-1 shot, a horse who for the first time in six years at the National started at odds below 25-1, galloped steadfastly to fend off Cause of Causes by four and a half lengths, and win, thrilling the punters and making the bookies weep. Racing success can be the result of paying the highest price at a horse sale for a genetic thoroughbred talent, but this was not the case of One For Arthur part-owned by Deborah Thomson along with Belinda McClung. Their success is a story of friendship, risk, informed choices, hard graft, training and commitment. They became friends at Pony Club aged four, and a passion for horses secured their friendship through to university. After separate journeys through their twenties and thirties, they were re-united through their combined and continued love of horses. Deborah took her first step into owning a race horse after consulting with Johnny Jeffries the chairman of Kelso Racecourse, who asked if she was in it for money or fun; “most definitely for fun” was her reply and so he suggested she contact Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell to pursue her dream and ambition. Serendipity was also to play a part around the same time, when she met Belinda again at a Racing Owners Day lunch at Arlary near Kinross. Having last seen each other in the rounds of 21st birthday parties back in the day and several years later with partners, they each eyed the other suspiciously across the room, before re-connecting and picking up their friendship as if they had never been apart. Inevitably, it wasn’t long before they agreed to embark together on what became the successful and life-changing search for One For Arthur. With so much time taken up in pursuit of a suitable race horse, their respective partners took to escaping most weekends to the golf course, and so developed the Two Golf Widows partnership. At the Brightwell’s Cheltenham sale in December 2014, the magic happened. Belinda arrived first, and on exiting the viewing told Debs who had just arrived with bloodstock agent Tom Malone, that there was only one horse for her; half an hour later Debs agreed, and One For Arthur was bought for £60,000. The journey to Aintree was strategic, tough and meticulously executed by trainer Lucinda Russell, assisted by partner retired jockey Peter Scudamore at their yard in Arlary. One For Arthur ran every week and always placed. But his handicap was still not high enough for Aintree <strong>2017</strong>. As time passed there was more success and then a big win in the Classic Chase at Warwick Racecourse on 4 January <strong>2017</strong>, had Aintree in sight. Assigned a weight of 151 pounds and with starting odds of 14/1 in a field of 20 chasers, he took the lead at the second to last fence and drew away to win by six lengths from Goodtoknow. This moved his handicap from 136 to 146. At the annual Weights Lunch Deborah discovered he was not in the top 40, but was in with a very realistic chance of starting. Due to re-shuffles, he eventually got a place. An unexpected accident four weeks before the race was a major blow to their plans and jeopardised the partnership of jockey Derek Fox and One For Arthur. Derek broke his wrist and collarbone in a bad fall and it seemed unlikely that he would ride. But the skill of staff at Jack Berry House, a state of the art rehabilitation and fitness centre, working on his physical strength and conditioning got him back to fitness just days ahead of the race. With so many obstacles along their journey behind them it seemed nothing else could go wrong. But (rarely for Liverpool) the sun shone. Deborah recalls, on race day the weather conditions were very hot, and the ground unusually dry, not favourable terrain for One For Arthur. For the team, family and friends, therefore all bets were off, the day was to be relaxed, fun and the gin and tonics flowed. But at the water jump, with a round to go the realisation dawned. Watching the race from a screen, Deborah witnessed One for Arthur, the good jumper and stayer, described by Fox in overtaking the competition “like passing cars” win the Grand National, and fulfil her dreams. The media frenzy which followed One For Arthur’s success was challenging and a learning curve for Deborah, but a relationship she has become more comfortable in managing as her confidence has grown. But her ability to overcome this media hurdle is not surprising, because to achieve the success she has in the male dominant world of horse racing takes intelligence, bravery, talent, hard work and humour, qualities she exudes. Deborah has recently invested in another horse, Two Rivers, and carrying on in her theme of subtle anonymity, is owned by her ‘Two Black Labs’, Dom and Louis; no doubt securing continued success for this thoroughly modern Scottish woman. 10 The Caledonian WINTER <strong>2017</strong>
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT At the post-race press conference: Belinda McClung, Deborah Thomson and Derek Fox “ The success she has achieved in the male dominanted world of horse racing takes intelligence, bravery, talent, hard work and humour, qualities she exudes. ” One for Arthur going over the finishing line Deborah, family and friends Two Rivers in the colours of Two Black Labs. Deborah’s labradors are named Dom (Perignon) and Louis (Roederer) after her favourite refreshment. Let’s hope there will be many occasions with Two Rivers when champagne will be called for! WINTER <strong>2017</strong> The Caledonian 11
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