Angela ‘Angie’ Lock has worn many guises within racing – from riding her own point-to-pointers to stewarding and photography. She’s simply passionate about the sport, the people within it and horses in general, not just the Thoroughbreds that grace our racetracks on a daily basis.
Angie’s and her partner Craig Moutrie’s hobbies overlap as Craig is involved with the Value Racing Club and has a ‘leg’ of two young horses that, when they’ve finished their pre-training work, will be in training with Jamie Snowden. ‘They are called Machete Beach and Knight’s Affair,’ explains Angie. ‘I’m also part of a small syndicate called The Super Mario Syndicate who own an event horse called Quidam de Lux. He has just gone advanced and is qualified for 5* events. So, we are very excited about all of these!’
Race day stewarding has given Angie many years of pleasure – over a decade as a point-to-point steward and five years as a British Horseracing Authority steward. ‘I’m still point-to-point stewarding but I sadly stopped under Rules as we had a run of bad luck. I had cancer, two operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy then Craig’s dad had cancer and my mum a cancerous brain tumour; so, for five years, I had it all going on and needed to stop.’
An image Angie took at Cheltenham last year after a close four-way photo finish.
The jockeys were watching the big screen, trying to work out who'd won
Angie is also renowned for capturing beautiful images from behind the lens. Be it on a racecourse, yard visits or the hunting field where on meets, such as Christmas Eve, the racing and hunting worlds collide when jockeys follow the hounds as there are no racing fixtures. ‘I’ve never had a photography lesson in my life and the more I read about the technical side of a camera, the more confused I get! I have learnt through trial and error.’
Yet, it’s not all horses…last month, Angie went on a ‘busman’s holiday’ to the Cairngorms, Scotland to learn more about wildlife photography from the award-winning photographer Kevin Morgans. As well as lots of walking, she took amazing photos of the craggy summits, red squirrels, snowy mountain hares crouched in the heather and woodpeckers.
‘My favourite non-horsey pictures to take are of any wildlife. I spend a lot of time on Exmoor, photographing the Red Stags, especially during the rut,’ explains Angie.
Craig and Angie live in Pershore, Worcestershire, with their working labrador, Rosie.
Did you have a horsey childhood? My grandparents on my mum’s side had a small Welsh Mountain Pony stud, my mum rode and I followed suit. I did local shows and was a member of the Croome Pony Club. I was in most of the Pony Club teams: eventing, showjumping, tetrathlon and Prince Philip Cup mounted games.
First racing memory: My dad always followed the racing on a Saturday and had the odd flutter but the annual big excitement was for the Grand National at Aintree.
Angie and her Dad after winning the members' race on Joe Muggins at Andoversford
Were you a jockey? I showjumped to BSJA level Grade B and point-to-point rode. My dad had a little bit of spare cash and no knowledge – I had no cash and knowledge so we combined forces and had some great fun ‘pointing. I was very home-grown and did everything myself – there was no big budget, no big horse box and the horses were hunted to qualify properly.
The best-known horse I rode ‘pointing was Joe Muggins, who had no turn of foot but was still very consistent and stayed four miles. We were often at the business end of a race.
How did this grow into a love affair with racing? That all stemmed from point-to-pointing. As I got older and more sensible and life took over, I started point-to-point stewarding. Later on, I was encouraged by the late Stephen Webb to steward under Rules, which I really enjoyed.
Do you prefer Flat or National Hunt? When I started stewarding, I always thought the jumps would be my favourite. Then, I got doing some Flat meetings and loved the speed of racing, the quick decisions made and watching a race unfold. I now like both codes in equal measures.
Favourite racecourse: This will seem an odd choice to many but I loved Wolverhampton on the Flat. A lot of good horses make their debut there. It’s compact, efficient and the food is good! Behind the scenes, it is quite a feat to put a race meeting on. When I started my stewarding training, I was genuinely shocked how many people are involved behind the scenes to make it all happen.
Favourite racehorses: Back in the day, watching Tinglecreek over a fence was incredible. On the Flat, it would probably be Lochsong who raced between 1991-4 – she was beautiful to look at and so consistent.
There was also Earth Summit, winner of the English, Welsh and Scottish Grand Nationals. He was my biggest ever winning bet when he won the English National – I’d received no big tip, I just thought the conditions on the day suited him. By a strange twist of fate, when he retired, he became my hunter. When he came out of training, he retired to Marcella Bayliss’ yard as she had looked after him throughout his career at Nigel Twiston-Davies’. He was a bit quirky but we struck up a great relationship. I hacked him out on a regular basis and hunted him for five years. We were regularly out with the Cotswold hounds and neighbouring hunts. He had that ‘bit of something’ and presence in abundance. Everywhere we went, he thought everyone had only come to see him.
Favourite jockey: It’s probably best not the answer that one! One way or another, I know a lot of them. Through my photography, I have photographed many jockeys during a lot of their ‘down time’ at charity football and cricket matches, and days when they follow the hounds.
Back in the day, it would probably have been Barry Geraghty. He seemed the ultimate professional and was gifted at reading a race. Even these days, when I see him racing, he always presents himself well and has time for everyone.
Favourite trainer: Any trainer that has the ability to improve a horse – to spot that chink in the armour, give it some time and TLC, and give the horse every chance. This, of course, takes in a lot of factors and a massive input from stable staff but to match staff to horses can make a horse thrive.
How has racing changed for the better? I like the way racing has progressed with syndicate ownership, making it easier for the everyday man and woman to be involved with a racehorse from yard visits, a morning on the gallops to attending a race day.
Angie's shot of Oisin Murphy out with The Ledbury Hunt at Tweenhills on David Redvers' hunter Eli
How did you get into photography? I basically hijacked Craig’s hobby! He had a couple of cameras and, one day, I had a go with one. I started in the garden with flowers and birds, and progressed from there. I went onto horses, especially hunting with local packs. I started up a website and had a successful trade stand and greeting card business. Last year, I decided to cut back as sixty was approaching (although I think I’m still twenty-five!) and the workload had got too much. Now, I manage my photos on Facebook and I’m able to cherry pick what I do. I regularly cover the Ledbury Hunt meets, do photos at the Gold Button ride and team chases, cover point-to-points when I’m not stewarding and provide eventer Zara Tindall with photos for her website. I also have photographed for magazines such as Horse And Hound, The Field and Good Housekeeping, as well as some daily national newspapers.
What do you love about photographing racehorses? I like the mechanics of a racehorse, or indeed any fit horse: their looks, muscle tone, speed, synchronicity and movement is amazing. I love to capture a horse in full flight on the Flat, over a jump or on the gallops.
What weather is the best for photographing racehorses? Definitely not sunshine! There is either too much glare or too much shade. I’m used to being out in the winter months and don’t mind the rain as long as it’s not torrential.
On a recent trip to Scotland, Angie loved taking photographs of the wildlife.
Overall, what do you love the most about racing? The camaraderie between the jockeys. The anticipation of a race building up, the outcome and seeing connections celebrate when their horse runs well.
Do you have any general advice? In life, I have learnt if you want something you have to work for it and make it happen – whatever that is, try and give it a fair crack and see where it takes you.
All photographs are subject to copyright of Angie Lock.
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