FAIR SPIN. 23 April 2000 Pivotal-Frankie Fair. Owner-Bendery Properties Holdings Ltd.
If you said to me it's over eight years since Fair Spin last ran, I would have told you to go check your facts, but it is, as he ran for the last time on January 12, 2012. Fair Spin was very versatile, if also at times unpredictable, running over the minimum five furlongs, and as far as three miles two furlongs over jumps, he also acted effectively on any surface.He ran a total of 68 times, with all but two being for the Micky Hammond yard.
Fair Spin began his career racing in Italy for trainer Michael Quinlan, racing at San Siro. He made a winning debut over six furlongs in heavy ground, in September 2002, and was then second over the same course and distance, when raised to Listed level, earning a Racing Post Rating of 80.
Fair Spin arrived at Oakwood Stables in the Autumn of 2002, but didn't race until the following April at Thirsk, in their Class 3 conditions race, he also took in quality races at Haydock, and Beverley, and although not disgraced, unfortunately couldn't get involved. He next contested sprint handicaps from marks in the mid 80's, and it wasn't until July 2004, from a reduced mark of 63, that he finally made the frame, finishing third at Haydock. He placed twice again, including over 10 furlongs at Pontefract, before turning his attentions to hurdling in November 2004. A good third at Hexham was followed by his first win for the yard, at Newcastle on heavy ground in a first time visor. One week later at Carlisle under his 7lb penalty he doubled up under Graham Lee. His jumps mark was now 115, so when he returned to the flat off 58, he looked very well weighted, but in five attempts he couldn't take advantage.Back over jumps in November 2005, he raced at Wetherby, but he couldn't get competitive in a further five attempts, and he fared little better in three more flat runs,seeing his mark tumble under both codes.
It was in August 2006 that he finally came good again, needing all of the two miles at Ripon, in the hands of Paul Hanagan, from a mark of just 48. In November back over jumps at Hexham, he also took advantage of his much reduced mark of 95, winning the two mile handicap hurdle by seven lengths.
After racing in January 2007, Fair Spin missed a year, and took quite a while to find his form, as he struggled through the 2008-2009 season, racing 11 times. By April 2010 his flat mark was only 45, when he ran in the Pontefract Marathon, over the extended two miles and five furlongs, He had been working well at home prior to the race, but he still went off the complete outsider of the field at 40/1, he relished every yard of the trip winning by a neck under Paul Mulrennan. A month later in May, and back over jumps from a much reduced mark of 68, he won again at Hexham, by 3/4 of a length. The treble was completed in June, also at Hexham, but this time by eight lengths. Fair Spin also won twice more at Carlisle, and Hexham, in November, meaning he had won five races in a calendar year, at the age of 10.He would race just another five times, with his best effort coming at Carlisle, when finishing second under Joe Colliver, in December 2011.
Fair Spin has lived in three different places since retiring, first living with his owners, until moving to a retired lady judge who lives in Middleham, and after she gave up riding, he has moved to Halifax, in West Yorkshire, where he now spends his days with Megan, and another of our retired horses Zaytoon.