2010- 2011        21st MARCH 2010
Caveman and RYDAL PARK fought a classic duel over the final mile of the Mens Open and it was left to the judge to decide that the latter had prevailed. This was a reverse of the result a fortnight earlier at Ampton when Caveman was the beneficiary of the verdict.

More exciting and close finishes were witnessed during the afternoon. In the Restricted, EVENING ECHO and Andrew Braithwaite just overhauled Crosby and Gina Andrews, by a neck. The Ladies’ Open saw three horses in a blanket finish. MID DIV AND CREEP just beating Inaro and King Du Berlais, with only a length and a half covering all three.

The opening division of the Maiden saw trainer/rider Andrew Pennock ride his third winner of the season on CAVANQUARTER whilst Gina Andrews and COLERAINE were never headed to land Division Two.

2000-2009     26th FEBRUARY 2000
DRY HIGHLINE andChristian Ward-Thomas land the Confined race, unchallenged, leaving their rivals spread all over the Essex countryside. SPRING GALE and Zoe Turner finish five lengths to the good over Cache Fleur and Gi d’Angibau in the Ladies Open but the Mens equivalent went to the out-of-area participants COPPER THISTLE and Richard Hunnisett, who were never troubled to land the long odds-on.

MONTY’S TAG and Simon Andrews won the Restricted but Simon had to settle for third place in Division Two of the Maiden on Nigel Padfield’s Senior Partner behind winners BALLAD and Alex Harvey. Alex was deputising for joint trainer Toby Bulgin, who cracked a bone in his left arm at Higham, the previous weekend. Division One of the Maiden went to LE CABRO D’OR and Simon Sporborg, who was seen at his best to steer his mount home. The gelding having run off the course on his previous start.

1990-1999          17th FEBRUARY 1996
Dictating the pace on a stayers’ track like Marks Tey requires a certain skill. However this was demonstrated to perfection by both Nigel Bloom and Paul Hacking, when adopting these tactics at this meeting. Hacking, from the South-east area, rode CELTIC SPARK to victory in the Mens Open, although the pairing were only a length up at the finish ahead of Brown Windsor, a first runner at the track for Caroline Saunders.

Nigel Bloom’s successes came on THE ARTFUL DODGER for Malcolm Kemp, in the Confined and HIGHLAND RALLY in Division One of the Maiden.

PENDIL’S PLEASURE and William Wales displayed their liking for the Essex track when winning Division Two of the Restricted race. The pairing had won their Maiden, here, at the equivalent meeting twelve months earlier. 

1980-1989          10th MARCH 1984
The Essex Union meeting saw David Turner ride a treble on COURTNEIGH (Adjacent), HILL POINT (Mens Open) and BARSTICK (Restricted). Ollie Vaughan-Jones and Kalkashanndi were about to give Courtneigh a race when falling at the second last, leaving Ollie with a badly broken wrist.

MARCUS BOY and Alistair Templeton won Division One of the Maiden whilst Will Barber rode SUSPENDED SENTENCE to victory in Division Two, wearing his mother’s colours.

The biggest shock of the day came in the Ladies’ Open. The ‘dead’ going appeared to inconvenience the favourite Reliable Robert, who could only finish fifth. The race honours went to RIVER SAINT and Jackie Hodge, returned at 33/1 with the bookmakers but paid a remarkable £159.90 on the Tote. Those were the days !