SPOTLIGHT Harriet Brown pictured with Oscar and Tiggy
Harriet Brown
Sussex-based Harriet Brown is living the equestrian dream. She currently works at Plumpton Racecourse, competes two horses and is renovating a house with land…
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arriet Brown has an infectious enthusiasm for life. Her natural ability to see the best in every opportunity can be witnessed in both her personal and business life. Take for example, she and her partner James Baker are currently renovating a house near Herstmonceux. It sounds wonderful, set in threeand-a-half acres and once finished will be the perfect equestrian home, but at the moment it doesn’t even have a kitchen. This isn’t a problem for Harriet, who is currently cooking on a gas stove, she describes it like it is a special treat, adding that when the weather is good it is a bonus as she can cook outside. The same positive attitude shines through as she chats about her position as Marketing Executive at Plumpton Racecourse, a role she has been doing since last October. Responsible for all the raceday and non raceday marketing her brief includes racing, events, weddings, corporate hire and venue hire. Harriet is looking forward to her first ‘Family Day’ on 24th September, where as the name suggests there is something for everyone including a full card of racing. This is followed at the end of October by the Moorcroft raceday, this will be the 18th year the special fundraising day has been held at Plumpton and over the years it has raised £250,000 for Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre. Harriet and Oscar competing at Firle Horse Trials last year
A sprinkle of magic Whilst Harriet is responsible for marketing the racecourse she also understands how important it is for visitors to have a good time once they are there. At the Easter Meeting there was an Easter Bonnet competition for children to enter. There had only been five entries the previous year, so Harriet planned for 20, when 40 turned up this wasn’t a problem and with a wave of her wand she conjured up lots more prizes, so that every entrant went home with an Easter egg. With two National Hunt Meetings’ a month between November and April Harriet is looking forward to encouraging more visitors to enjoy a great day’s racing at Plumpton.
Racing Fanatics For Harriet who had previously had a freelance public relations practice and grew up riding with a mother and aunt who were racing fanatics, discovering the position at Plumpton was perfect. She said: “My mum (Ginny Freeman) and my late aunt (Frances Bates), used to make an annual pilgrimage to Cheltenham. I was always exposed to racing as the television had the racing channel on all day.” Harriet’s mother and aunt were also influential in her early riding career. When Harriet was seven they bought a pair of New Forest pony yearlings, Jack and Smuggler, from a stud in Ringwood. Three years later Harriet helped back them and for the next five years did everything on them. A member of the East Sussex Pony Club Harriet did everything including taking her ‘B’ test, but the ponies came into their own if someone had a whizzy pony that was too much for them, then she would be asked to bring her other pony along too for them to ride, as they were so safe and inspired confidence.
Both ponies are now living at Harriet’s mother’s yard. Smuggler, who has spent a number of years with Sophie Miles, is now retired, while Jack who spent five years with Frances’s granddaughter Georgia Brady, is still quite busy. He has a number of young riders he is introducing to riding (Phoebe, Albert and Lucy), as well as being hacked by local adults. There are seven horses and ponies living with Harriet’s mother and her stepfather and Harriet is very grateful to her mother for all
Pic by Spidge Photography
Jack keeps busy
8 Localrider SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
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24/8/17 17:08:04