Why Fakenham Races?
My lifelong interest with horse racing began with the raw spectacle of the Grand National. As a child, the sheer drama – the towering fences, the mass of runners, the bravery of horse and rider – was utterly captivating.
This early exposure blossomed into enjoying a bet. I still remember the thrill of picking Little Polveir in the 1989 National, having a modest 10p each way at 28/1, and, heart in mouth, cheering him home. Sharing those Saturday afternoons watching the races on television became a cherished way to connect with my father.
That connection to racing deepened as the years went by. I joined an insurance company in 1992 when I left school, but the advent of night racing in 1993 led me to a part-time job with a bookmaker. The pay wasn’t great, but it kept me close to the action. Even after moving to a different town to pursue a career in the film industry (assistant manager at Blockbuster video), I continued to enjoy a flutter and visits to our local track in Huntingdon.
It was in 2005, when I’d grown tired of London, that an opportunity came up to revisit my passion. I saw a job in the Racing Post for a call centre manager in Gibraltar and impulsively applied. They flew me out for an interview a week later. I ended up living there and later in Spain managing a team taking bets over the phone. Unusual place, Gibraltar, so I eventually returned to the UK, and somehow ended up as a prison officer.
An urge to write led me to leave the prison service in 2015, and my detective, DI Ashley Knight, was later created in the Norfolk town of Cromer. Knowing of nearby Fakenham Racecourse, a story began to take shape for a mystery set there. I reached out to the clerk of the course, who generously welcomed me, offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour and tickets to race meetings. Conversations with a friend who once owned a horse and another who briefly worked at a stable years ago further improved my understanding.
Crafting this novel has been a real challenge, driven by a desire to deliver accuracy, excitement, and a story that grips and thrills. My aim was to bottle the authentic atmosphere of a racecourse – the raw adrenaline, the subtle strategies, and the unforgettable personalities it draws, as well as the challenges of owning and training these incredible animals.
I hope that as you turn the pages, you’ll not just read, but feel the ground tremble beneath the thunder of hooves, and be swept away by the roar of the crowd, fully immersed in the heart of the racing world.
Pick up your copy today: https://mybook.to/DeathatFakenhamRaces