Melanie ‘Mel’ Sheppard had a few different roles within the racing industry, all of which she loved. ‘I started off as a groom. I had several years in a point-to-point yard from eighteen-years-old then moved onto Paul Nicholls’ in 1996, where I stayed for six years.’ Mel also had roles still within racing, working on racecourses: ‘I then worked as Advanced Flag Operator (false start flag) for the Jockey Club, when I travelled to racecourses mainly in the South-West and Midlands area on race days.’
‘From 2010, I took a few years away from racing but as it’s so addictive, I ended up getting race day jobs at Stratford, Ludlow and Warwick. In January 2020, I started with the British Horseracing Authority as an Equine Welfare and Integrity Officer.’
‘It was a varied career in racing,’ says Mel, 52. ‘My mum and dad weren’t horsey but they both loved racing – so it was in my blood. Despite my parents not being directly involved in racing, my dad had race day jobs at several local racecourses after his retirement.’
Mel and her partner John Bishop live in the picturesque Cotswold town of Broadway, Worcestershire. in the last few months, she has swapped working with racehorses for being an independant travel agent at Mel’s Holidays.
Did you have a horsey childhood? Whilst growing up near Thornbury, Bristol, I started riding when I was about eight. I was lucky enough to have my own ponies and attend local shows and gymkhanas, but my biggest passion was hunting.
How did you get into racing? Through the hunting field, I got to know several people who had point-to-pointers that I helped out and worked for. I gradually became interested in the National Hunt side of racing. I much prefer National Hunt to Flat racing.
What was your best day in racing? There were so many great days that stand out but Ad Hoc, who I looked after at Paul’s, winning the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown (now the Bet365 Gold Cup).
What was the best aspect to working in racing? Looking after the horses, and having that special love and bond with them. I was lucky enough to look after some top-class horses and travel to the best race meetings, such as the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.
What was the worst aspect to working in racing? Losing a horse is obviously the worst thing ever. They are like one of the family and you spend so much time with them day-in day-out. Thankfully though, I never lost one on the racecourse.
Mel's huge smile says it all after Ad Hoc won the 'Whitbread' at Sandown
Did you ever go racing abroad? No. Ayr was the furthest I travelled!
Favourite racehorse: Court Melody. I looked after him and rode him every day. He won several decent races.
Favourite jockey: Ruby Walsh was a great jockey and horseman, and knew how to read a race.
Mel's first winner she led up - Captain Khedive at Worcester in 1996,
with a very young AP McCoy and equally youthful Paul Nicholls
Favourite canteen: Sandown and Cheltenham, where you could always guarantee a good breakfast on arrival and lasagne last thing before you left. (I don’t know what they are like now.)
What were your favourite racecourses working in yards and for the BHA? Whilst working in a yard, my favourite was Sandown, because I led up so many winners there. And for the BHA, I enjoyed Cheltenham and Stratford as they were closest to home.
How did working in racing change over the years? Racing has changed for the better in many ways, but especially as the veterinary care and welfare of the horses are improving all the time. Yet, it has changed for the worst too. For instance, there is now too much racing, especially on evenings and Sundays. This makes it very long and unsociable hours for stable staff; hence the lack of staff wanting to come into the industry.
Riding Irbee at Nicholls', with Ad Hoc and the BHA team
How did you the get a job at the BHA? In January 2020, just before covid struck. I had been wanting to get back into racing more permanently and a vacancy came up in my area at the right time.
Describe your role at the BHA: I was an Equine Welfare and Integrity Officer. The role included maintaining integrity and security within the stable yards at racecourses. My tasks included scanning in every horse arriving at the stable yard, scanning them out for each race and sampling the selected horse after each race.
Why did you leave working for the BHA? It was long, unsociable hours and a lot of travelling. It was difficult having the right work-life balance.
What is the best thing about not working in racing? I don’t have to go out in the wet and cold if I don’t have to!!
Is there anything you miss about working in racing? I miss the horses.
What are your lasting memories of working in racing? The excitement of having winners, whether it be one you looked after or just the yard getting the winners after putting so much work into it all. The social side back then was pretty good too.
What was the best ever racing celebration you attended? It had to be when See More Business won the Gold Cup in 1999.
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to leave racing? If you are really not enjoying it, you just have to go with your gut feeling. You’ve got to do what’s best for you.
How did you become a travel agent? In May this year. I had seen a couple of people on social media had joined a travel company and had progressed really well. I followed them for about eight months before saying yes to the opportunity. John and I have always loved to travel.
What do you love about being a travel agent? I just love searching through different destinations and helping customers to find their ideal holidays. It’s pretty good being able to travel more and check out different places and hotels.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, money no object, where would you go?! I would settle for the Caribbean, probably Barbados or St Lucia.
Favourite meal: Lasagne.
Favourite drink: Red wine.
Favourite snack: Chocolate.
Favourite holiday destination you've been on so far: Australia.
Other hobbies and interests: Cricket, going to concerts, eating out.
Favourite film: Dirty Dancing.
Favourite music: The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs.
A random fact about yourself: I have a diploma in Massage Therapy!
Sunshine, blue skies and cocktails of the travel business
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