Fakenham Races

Today was my birthday, and we always go racing on my birthday. Ahem 47 years old!! Where did those 47 years go?

This is a shot of Ruby Walsh (centre), Barry Geraghty (left) and Donal Deveraux (right) galloping towards me before veering left at the last minute!

I love Horse Racing, and am slowly trying to visit all 60 courses in the UK. Fakenham was my 41st. This was my first trip racing since April, and I've got the bug again!!

The weather was freezing, but I really loved this course, and it is definitely one of my favourites.

One of the best things about today, that I got a happy birthday text from The Big Fella (my son Sam) in China. It brought a lump to my throat!

SOOC and one to view large.

[Hubregt Visser]

Beautiful shot. Congratulations!

[Cassandra Hoffmann]

Nice action shot! Happy birthday!! Three to go for the awesome one :) Sam will be home in no time now... so nice that he remembered and texted you :)

[Sean O'Neill]

@hjv @ozziehoffy Thank you both. Yes, it was very good of Sam to remember, he is back on monday night, I can't wait to see him!!

[Mike]

Happy Birthday Sean :)

[Paul Godfrey]

Great pic and Happy Birthday

[Cathy Breen]

Great photo and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! no wonder I like you, you're a Scorpio like me!!

[Ann Jones]

A belated Happy Birthday Sean! Super action shot, I was glad to see you adding that they veered left - so you weren't on a suicide mission after all!

[David]

Congratulations on making it so far Sean and for celebrating your birthday with a fine photo!

[Alicia]

Nice shot for your 300th and for your birthday! Glad you spent it doing something you love.

[8yearson]

Aww.... a text from the Big Fella, I expect you have re-read it quite a few times and savoured! I don't see my eldest son very often and keep all his communications (he is quite bad at responding to texts/emails etc. so they are special!) Hope you had a great birthday, I like the sense of pounding hooves and the concentration of the jockeys in this shot.

[Simon]

Great action shot

[Fanny Brogden]

Happy Birthday, still the right side of 50!! Sounds a lovely day....Scorpios reign!! hurrah!!! Great shot, glad they veered left!!

[Jill]

Happy Belated Birthday! Fabulous shot - love how they look like they are coming right at you!

[Pat Knowles]

A very Happy Birthday Sean, you are but a youngster!!!!!! Best part of the day was your text I bet! Full on shot !!

[Reva]

A very Happy Birthday to you! Wonderful shot, really does look great large, there's tons of detail! Glad to hear you had an enjoyable day. :)

[fife]

Great capture!

[Ruth Moucharafieh]

Happy Birthday...you are still a kid!!!! Great shot!! Presume you did not get run over!!!!

[Phil]

Great shot! And Happy Belated Birthday - all the best people are 47!! This is an incredible shot - how on earth did you get it without being trampled or arrested!!

[Linda Lorraine]

Fabulous action shot and amazing perspective. Like Phil above I wonder how you got it!? Happy belated!

[Sean O'Neill]

@runningbk @godders @cathy366 @rhos @yrhenwr @tulipgirl @jackie8 @simon0128 @fannyb @jillmstruss @happypat @reva @winemonologues @ruthmouch @filsie65 @lindag Thank you all for your birthday wishes, very much appreciated. The course veered left after this fence so my zoom placed me safely at the corner as it turned left, behind the rails!! I love this sort of shot though, Gets you up close and personal with the action.

[Ruth Lueth]

Fantastic action shot, Sean

[Mick]

Really great shot Sean! A horse racing shot - over jumps preferably is on my 365 bucket list. Happy Birthday, hope you had some winnings to go home with :)

[Sean O'Neill]

@noragentian Thanks Ruth.

[Sean O'Neill]

@bluefirebucket Cheers Mick, Haydock is near you and is one of the 19 courses I have never been to. Maybe we'll get the cahance to hook up there. The trick is shutter speed (and no flash!!) you need 1/500 of a second and hopefully somehere between f8 and f11.