These packed stands are not an image we will see this year 2021 during Covid times. I have fond memories of working here several years running very hard work but rewarding. The thrill of the odd glimpse of the finish post, of making a cup of tea for AP McCoy or getting racing tips from Richard Johnson or Ruby Walsh in my clients box – not that we were able to use them, we were just there to serve the client and his guests. Then, hosting race goers from the UK and Ireland over the last 7 years for bed and breakfast, again hard but rewarding work. We will certainly miss them this year.

I have used my experience of the racecourse both as a spectator and as part of the working team there in the scene in my first book, Alpha Male.

As a journalist and reporter at the Alpha Course, Craig is able to use his friendship with one of his local paper’s sports reporters to get some free tickets for an evening event at the racecourse. However, things don’t quite turn out at the event as Amy and her friend Kate expect when they find out they have other female guests of Craig in competition for his attentions. Amy manages to have beginners luck and backs a winning horse but the whole evening is a disappointment with Craig spending very little time with her or paying her much attention.

“Amy felt despondent in spite of her win and was inclined to go straight home, queues or no queues but decided it would be rather mean-spirited of her not to offer to buy a round of drinks with her winnings.” On her way home with her friend, Kate, Amy gives vent to her tears of anger and humiliation. (p21)

“he’s nothing but a shallow flirt…How humiliating to be made to look foolish by those girls. I dare say he thinks us foolish too, a couple of silly little religious nutters.” (p22)

It’s great that as writers no experience we have goes to waste but can all be used as fodder for our writing.

Alpha Male is available on Amazon UK in both print or kindle form from as little as 99p https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpha-Male-Sheila-Donald-ebook/dp/B01FVBEZIU/ and on Amazon US in both print and kindle editions https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Male-Sheila-Donald-ebook/dp/B01FVBEZIU/