Our annual race-night took place at Sandown Park on May 23.

34 members and guests enjoyed drinks, dinner and outstanding views of the action in the Royal Box.

The evening featured a prize draw for all in attendance. First prize went to Nick Fahey, the guest of Deepam Patel, who won a £250 voucher to spend at the Oxo Tower restaurant. Second prize was six bottles of fine Yalumba wine. This went to John Yuille, who was the guest of Graham Frazer.

The feature race, the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, was landed by the hot favourite, Royal Rhyme. Elsewhere across the card, winners were less easy to find but this not did dampen the spirits of Carbine members, some of whom “batted on” late into the night at a local hostelry.

During the evening, Terry McCaughey, our honorary treasurer, announced that all 15 shares in CCL’s new syndicated racehorse had been taken up. The horse, a colt by Hello Youmzain, will be trained by Derby-winning trainer William Haggas at Newmarket. And we are delighted to welcome William as a member of our club.

Having taken over from Peter Jensen, our new “light-touch” syndicate manager is Lord (Christopher) Rathcreedan, who deserves plaudits for securing the horse at what seems to be (fingers crossed) a not unreasonable price. He and I will oversee a competition to name the horse; all syndicate members are now submitting their suggestions.