Stone of Folca
Chris Murphy
Monday, June 4, 2012
1:17 PM
Horse trained by Maidstone’s John Best romps to victory at Epsom Derby Day
A Kent racehorse has become the world’s fastest over five furlongs - with the Queen looking on as she kicked off her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The incredible performance of Stone of Folca, from the original name of Folkestone, saw him take the world record over that distance in front of the Queen.
He is trained by John Best at Detling near Maidstone, who could not be happier, as the horse’s value has just soared.
Anyone with around £400,000 to spare and fancies owning an animal with more horse power than any other can get in touch.
Stone of Folca is owned by people holding 120 shares, which were originally bought for £555 each.
But then the horse won the Investec Specialist Bank Dash during the Epsom Derby Day meeting on Saturday in front of the monarch.
He was a 50-1 long shot, ridden by Luke Morris, but it left the rest of the 20-strong field in his wake win in a time of 53.69 seconds. That is 0.09 seconds faster than Indigenous did 52 years ago using a handheld stopwatch which was wildly inaccurate, especially when hundredths of seconds count.
The £46,000 prize money is now paid out to the shareholders at around £380 per share, almost paying the owners back in one race.
Mr Best said: “We do sell horses from here when they run well so we make a profit. I would say this horse is now worth something between £300,000 and £400,000. Many go to Hong Kong.”
The Epsom course is slightly downhill, so the record is unlikely to be broken at any other track, and Stone of Folca just happened to be on his best form that day.
Mr Best said: “He is four this year. He was a fine two-year-old, then had last year whichg wasn’t too great, and now this.
“And he did it from stall two. At Epsom no one wins from under stall nine out of the 20 or so. A high stall number is vital to win. So if Stone of Folca had one of the higher stalls, he would have shattered all the records.
“I’ve always known he was quick but sometimes he can be very hard to handle. This time though every thing went like a dream.
“I believe not only was it the first time the race has been won from a stall lower than nine, but also the fastest time recorded electronically for any five furlong race. We will almost certainly take our chances at Royal Ascot, in June although that will be a huge step up.”
Source: www.kentnews.co.uk
Surviving Divorce: Three Essential Steps to Start Your Path - Patch
Going through divorce and surviving divorce are a true challenge.
When we live through divorce, we begin to experience a multitude of emotions.
But surviving divorce is an action… It is a proactive step to deal with these turbulent emotions, the legal challenges and our day-to-day lives that are in deep transition.
Surviving means putting the pieces together that will start to shape our progress into the future. Surviving is the start of reflection.
Divorce is a confusing and a difficult time. You may be asking yourself, "Where do I begin?" Surviving divorce involves a Movement of Choice. A choice to take small steps to move into your future and not to dwell on the past, the decision to live your best life!
The decision can seem insurmountable, even daunting. Here are 3 Steps that will help guide you:
1. Begin to Get to Know YOU: Often when we are in a relationship we lose ourselves to the other. In order to begin to get to know YOU, start by trying new things, experiencing what you may have put on hold. Begin relearning what makes you happy. Then you begin to understand what you like and dislike. Give yourself the freedom to explore new things that will begin to bring you joy in your life.
2. Look Inward: Take the time to look inward and begin to understand yourself. Divorce is a huge change and is scary. Devote time to better understand what is important to you. Often we are so busy living life we forget to think about what does give us pleasure. Review and begin to discard any unwanted habits and embrace your new life.
3. It’s Okay to Grieve, But Then It's Time to Let Go: Allow yourself to grieve the loss and demise of your relationship. Look at treasured photos and listen to "your" songs; give yourself the right to grieve the loss. Give yourself a set grieving period and resolve to move forward. Commit to letting go of the negative thoughts and begin to look toward your future, a brighter day.
While going through these steps remember your progress is personal. This chapter in your life is difficult, and surviving divorce takes time and a willingness to move forward. You can do it! My Divorce Path and My Friends Connect, Inc. are right here with you helping you to find your new future.
Cece Shatz,
My Divorce Path, http://www.mydivorcepath.com
Radio Host of Going Solo – Life After Divorce, http://rhinoonair.com
My Friends Connect, Inc.
http://www.meetup.com/tampadivorcesupportsocial
http://www.meetup.com/Friends-Connect-Tampa-Bay-Area
http://www.meetup.com/SingleParents4DatingTampaBay
http://www.meetup.com/Relationship-Seeking-Middle-Aged-Singles-Tampa
Source: oldnortheast.patch.com
Farmers plough into pre-nups to save land - Financial Times
June 4, 2012 9:32 pm
Source: www.ft.com
Managing Money After Marriage - Yahoo Finance
PENTICTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 31, 2012) - As wedding season approaches, many couples will be fretting over the budget for their big-day. However, paying for their party is only the beginning of a long financial future together.
Weddings are expensive and bills may remain long after the honeymoon is over. And, while love can be blind, it pays not to overlook your partner's financial situation before tying the knot, says Valley First's Glenmore branch manager Dan Turner.
"One of the most common challenges newlyweds face is how to merge their finances," says Turner. "It is also often said money is the number one source of friction in any relationship.
"While some people choose to keep their money separate and pay for joint costs equally, the majority of couples will, at some stage, merge their finances. Even though it sounds unromantic, it is important to understand what assets and debt your partner may have."
With many people getting married later in life, they also have more time to accumulate assets. The flipside is they also have more time to accumulate debt.
"In the past, people got married younger and, to a certain extent, had much less complicated financial backgrounds," says Turner. "With people marrying in their 30's and 40's they can bring more fiscal history into a marriage including mortgages, credit card and student loan debt as well as RRSPs and other investments."
Given the increased complexity of our financial lives, Turner believes having those tough conversations about money is a must for all couples. From hidden debt to vastly different attitudes to spending and saving, getting it all out in the open helps couples find common ground.
"Some people have difficulty talking about their personal finances," says Turner. "However, couples should talk openly about their finances before they exchange vows and get a potentially nasty financial surprise. Like anything in a relationship, talking openly about the situation helps us achieve compromise and identify the right financial solutions."
Valley First is a division of First West Credit Union, B.C.'s third-largest credit union, which has 37 branches and 29 insurance offices throughout the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Kitimat and Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson valleys. First West has approximately $6.6 billion in assets under administration, more than169,000 members and close to 1,400 employees.
Valley First
Corporate Communications Specialist
250-487-7311
Source: finance.yahoo.com
Diamond Jubilee: Hundreds of Kent beacons to be lit - BBC News
Nearly 200 beacons are due to be lit across Kent as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
More than 4,000 beacons are being lit across the Commonwealth and beacons around the UK will be set off on landmarks and hills at about 22:00 BST.
Kent will see more beacons lit than any other county, with 182 applications made to the event organisers.
The South Foreland Lighthouse on the Kent coast will be lit for first time in over 20 years as part of the event.
'Community spirit'The National Trust, which owns the lighthouse, said it would be the largest and brightest of the beacons, with its beam able to reach almost 40 miles.
In Gravesend, members of the Windmill Hill Residents Association have prepared a beacon which overlooks the Thames Estuary.
Beacons have been lit on Windmill Hill throughout history when they were first used to warn of the approach of invading forces coming up the Thames.
The Jubilee beacon was originally erected in 1988 for celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada and is lit by residents every New Year's Eve.
David Draper, of Windmill Hill Residents Association said: "We've got a great community spirit on the hill.
"I have had loads of people phoning me up saying 'we want to give you a hand' even though it's raining."
The Queen will light the UK's final beacon on stage after a Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Place.
Lighting times and locations of the beacons in Kent can be found on the official website of the event.
See all the latest Diamond Jubilee news and features at bbc.co.uk/diamondjubilee
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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