Fontwell Park: Philip Hide Talks About His First year as Clerk Of The Course

Set in stunning scenery - in the village of Fontwell, West Sussex – the UK’s only figure-of-eight jumps track is steeped in history, including playing host to HM Queen Elizabeth II’s first runner in her famous silks - Monaveen. Alfred Day, who began training racehorses locally in 1887, procured enough money to buy the land upon which Fontwell Park stands – in 1924 – naming the course after extensive research into the local area. The first meeting took place on May, 21 of the same year.

On Monday, October 29, 2018 - Philip Hide was appointed new clerk of the course, taking over from Irish-born Tracey O’Meara, who returned home to become the first female to assume the clerk’s role in Ireland.

Hide rode more than 400 winners over jumps in a 19-year career, including 80 winners at Fontwell, and trained 18 winners at Brighton. He has also undertaken other roles in racing, including working as a council member of the Professional Jockeys Association.

He took out his training licence six years ago but 2018 proved tough going, with Hide citing the summer heatwave, which compromised his training methods, as a contributory factor behind his decision to quit. He saddled his final runner at Goodwood.

This year looks set to be one of the best yet at Fontwell and it coincides with his first year in the role.

But what has been his highlight of 2019? “It has to be Saturday of Oktoberfest – we had a great crowd and the atmosphere was terrific,” said Hide.

During the year, there have been plenty of improvements made on and off the track.

Hide said: “There have been remedial works we carried out on the top bend during the summer to level out some undulations.

“We’ve reclaimed a few yards of racing surface on the inside and have had it surveyed. We now have an additional four moves of fresh ground to use (a move is about two yards).

“More recently, we have improved the horse-box parking, to provide more hard standing and a barrier rail to secure the area.

“The old Guinness Bar has had a facelift, and the Comedy of Errors Stand has undergone a complete refurb.”

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One of the main issues at last year’s festive fixture, flagged up by Hide, was poor traffic management – something he has addressed this year.

“Nobody likes sitting in traffic, and it needs to be better this year – I have been assured it will be,” he said.

For those of us flocking to racecourses around the country on December 26, it is easy to forget those people without whose hard work and discipline, there would be no racing.

Looking back on his time as a jockey and trainer, Hide explained the kind of situation a racing person might find themselves in on Christmas Day.

“Christmas Day as a jockey was always governed by what weight you had to do Boxing Day. I remember one year, spending the afternoon at a friend’s – in his bathtub – sweating off 4lb, while everybody else was getting stuck in,” he said.

“As a trainer, Christmas was a busy time, as I felt it important for staff to be off where possible – but we’d give half Christmas off, and the other half New Year, which worked well.”

Following the Boxing Day meeting, racing is off the menu until the end of January – so Hide will take the opportunity to join his wife and two children on a skiing trip in the new year.

He urged people to visit Fontwell on Boxing Day - whether they were racing fans or not.

“I think Fontwell is a great place to bring anyone for a day at the races, you can get immersed,” he said.

“To get out in the centre course and stand up close to the fences while a race is on is a special experience – there is also the new Figure of Eight Bar, if refreshments are required.”

The ground staff are hoping for a dry week as the track has had to absorb 42mm of water in the past week or so, but the clerk is hopeful there will be plenty of runners entered.

He ended by praising his team for their all their hard work throughout the year.

It’s been a fantastic start to his new career – which looks set to continue into 2020, and beyond.