It was with sadness that we learnt today that SCOOT AROUND had passed away on his 24th birthday. Rachel Gilvear (nee Fell) wrote “The saddest day today. Unfortunately, our family have had to say our goodbyes to our absolute Hero and Legend, Scoot. We were the most fortunate family to have had him and he will be forever missed and always have the biggest part of our hearts. I’m going to miss my updates on his antics, which were usually followed by laughing faces and a comment of “look what the old bugger has done today!!! The biggest character with the hugest heart who we all loved and adored. I’m going to miss you Scooty boy. Thank you for the best of memories.”
SCOOT AROUND was born on 10 June 1999, the third foal out of Merry Go Round / Cover Up (US) by Brian Davies’ stallion Master Scoot (US).
Bred by Huw Evans, owned by Les Fell, trained by his daughter Rachel, and predominantly driven by Alan Haythornthwaite.
SCOOT AROUND started his racing career with Huw Evans. He had one start as a 3 year old. However, undescended testicles appeared to inhibit is racing ability and surgery was arranged for the Autumn of 2002. He then made his 2023 seasons debut at the Tregaron Spring Meeting and won his Maiden. At the end of May he went to Appleby, finishing second to George Arthur. He returned to Appleby in June and despite only finishing third, an eagled eyed Les Fell had spotted him and after some negotiation, SCOOT AROUND found his forever home with the Fell Family.
The remainder of the season was a great success, as he was placed in each of his 11 starts, with 6 wins including Musselburgh Heat (and third in the Hurricane Final) & Strata Florida Heat (second in the Final) and £3,000 for his efforts.
By the end of his 5yo season in 2004, he had a further 7 wins which included Hellifield Heat & Final; Pikehall Heat & Final and Appleby Heat (third in the Final). He further raised his game by winning the Free For All at Tregaron along with Crock of Gold Heat and finishing second to Frisco Titan in the Crock of Gold Final. For his efforts he banked another £13,690.
By 2005, it was straight into the top end of the sport, and it took a few runs to get going. But by Ceredigion (Aberystwyth) he was back on the scene, finishing second in the Free For All on Saturday and Dead Heated with Frisco Titan in winning the stellar Top Heat (and S4C Crock of Gold qualifying race) on Sunday. It was a similar story at the Tregaron Festival, finishing second to Direct Dream in the Free For All on the Friday, and then on Sunday he went on to win the top Heat of the Welsh Classic and finishing third in the final (trailing 60yds and won by Day Dreamer). In the next fortnight he started his catalogue of sub 2.00 minute miles, winning the S4C Crock of Gold Final at Tir Prince (1.58.8 and a new Track Record) and the BHRC Sires Stakes 4yo & over in 1.57.1 (new Track and British Record)
Indeed, his success in those 2 races were to be repeated in 2006, when he returned to successfully defend both titles – winning the Sire Stakes in 1.58.6 and his second Crock of Gold in the most terrible of conditions and a more modest 2.12.6!
For the next 5 years, SCOOT AROUND continued to grace our tracks in all the top races. He was rarely out of the placings and given a Free For All at Tir Prince or York, consistently clocking 1.58 or 59. And then on the 27 June 2010 at 11 years of age, he won the Preferred Free For All by 6L taking his own personal record and once again setting a new British Record 1.56.9
His last win came in June 2011 at his local track in Hellifield when winning the Top Grade Handicap Pace. He was then placed in the BHRC European Classic and the Electric Mile Free For All t Tregaron and his final race was to be at Tir Prince on 31st August 2011, The Billy Williams Free For All Pace when he finished third, behind Stoneriggs Mystery (1.56.6). In harness racing fashion, the horse was paraded to the crowd and received plaudits and trophies for his outstanding contribution to Harness racing in UK. His harness was removed in the winner’s enclosure and thus the 12-year-old retired to the Fell’s family farm in Gigglesworth, near Skipton.
SCOOT AROUND was undoubtedly a crowd favourite, and different people will have different memories of his ‘best performances’. Whichever race that may be, this legend of a horse always gave of his best.
From 2004 to 2011, SCOOT AROUND won 35 races and earned £58,997 in prize money and named BHRC Horse of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2010.
