Hello and welcome to Getting To Know You with Neil Watson (@WattyRacing)
Carlisle racecourse in Cumbria is a lovely course, which offers flat and jump racing all year round & is slowly coming out of its traditional January winter holiday to resume the action back on the track.
On the flat it hosts it’s most prestigious meeting of the year is the week after Royal Ascot with the Cumberland Plate and Carlisle Bell race day, the Bell itself was first run in 1599 and is a sought-after prize to this day especially on the northern flat scene.
Over jumps however, it’s fair to say Carlisle has seen plenty top class horses grace the Cumberland turf with racers such as Many Clouds, Exotic Dancer, Lostintranslation, Al Dancer and Waiting Patiently all appearing.
Carlisle is managed by Molly Dingwall who has risen through the Jockey Club ranks and heads the team at this excellent venue and with January being one of the more quieter months, Molly very kindly agreed to take part so lets Get To Know Molly Dingwall with many thanks to her and all the best for 2020 at Carlisle….
1 Favourite racecourses? (You can choose up to 5 for each answer)
Carlisle
Perth
Warwick
Market Rasen
Kelso
2, Favourite racehorses?
I have to say Dove Mountain who gave me my charity race win at Warwick, he was trained at the time by Gordon Elliott but went on to be Olly Murphy’s first runner and first winner. Dove has now been retired and lives with me.
Tiger Roll has to be another I think he is an absolute rocket.
Allaho would be another pick, the way he flew around Cheltenham in the Ryanair is certainly something to behold and I look forward to seeing what else he achieves in his career.
The Storyteller would be another, he always seems to be the underdog but delivers time after time.
Seddon would be another racehorse I love watching.
3, Favourite races of all time?
Grand National at Aintree
Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle
Peterborough Chase at Huntington
Classic Chase at Warwick
Supreme Novice at Cheltenham
4, Favourite trainers and jockeys?
Trainers
Olly Murphy
Dianne Sayer
Christian Williams
Sandy Thompson
Jockeys
Jamie Codd
Davey Russell
Rachael Blackmore
Keith Donoghue
Callum Bewley
5, Favourite racing festivals?
Punchestown
Aintree
Cheltenham
Newmarket July Festival
6, Favourite holiday destinations?
Greece
Portugal
3 Valleys French alps
Scottish Islands
7, Favourite journey to a racecourse?
Market Rasen
8, Favourite place for a breakfast?
Anywhere that does a decent sausage sandwich
9, Favourite bands you’d like to see play a racecourse concert?
Lewis Capaldi
Tom Grennan
Conor Maynard (Guilty Pleasure)
10, Favourite biscuit to go with a brew?
Chocolate hob nob – is there anything else?
11, Favourite sports teams?
-I really enjoy watching Athletics
– Scotland International Rugby Team
– Welsh International Rugby Team
12, Favourite movies?
Gladiator
Cool Running’s
Coyote Ugly
13, Favourite comedies?
Bridesmaids
The Hangover
Mean Girls
The Proposal
14, Favourite ways to unwind outside racing?
Going up to the Scottish highlands to see my Daddy’s cairn, and if I can’t manage that going somewhere nice to eat with friends and then onto somewhere that does nice cocktails and has something I can use as a dancefloor…
15, Favourite race of all time?
Hedgehunter winning the Grand National.
16, Favourite non racing sporting event you’ve either attended or would like to attend?
Commonwealth Games – amazing in terms of sport but also as a cultural experience
17, Favourite places to go for a meal?
We have a favourite bar in Carlisle called Maggie Elliots and it is unreal for food and cocktails.
18, Favourite town and cities?
Edinburgh
Cardiff
Prague
Amsterdam
19, Favourite things about working at Carlisle?
It’s such an amazing community, everyone pulls together. The team at Carlisle are just fantastic, they are so passionate about Carlisle and racing. They also work extremely hard.
There is also an amazing racing community with some fantastic trainers so close to the racecourse – everyone has been so welcoming. Northern racing is getting stronger and stronger and I am so proud that Carlisle Racecourse provides such an amazing platform for horses to compete at.
20, Chose your own favourite of anything?
My dog wiggle, trusted side kick and confidant!
Watty get’s to know Molly by Neil Watson ( @WattyRacing)
Images via Molly Dingwall (Twitter) Neil Watson (Twitter) Carlisle RC (Twitter)
Tiger Roll & Cheltenham (File)
This interview is published by Arseonlineracing on behalf of Neil Watson.
March 2021
arseonlineracing 