By Paul James, The Journal..

Outsider horse wins – to aid MS patients

Dec 2004

As outside chance Diamond Mick stormed to victory at Kelso racecourse he had more than just the usual hopes of punters resting on him.

Dozens of members of the MS Society were cheering him on, as the 12-1 outsider romped home, wearing the charity's colours of orange, black and white.

Diamond Mick's trainer Rhona Elliot, herself diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 16 years ago, has launched a racing syndicate to help improve care for patients with the condition in the Borders.

The 50-year-old, who trains horses with husband Peter, 60, at Hownam, near Kelso, entered four-year-old Diamond Mick in his first race on Sunday.

He has been leased to Rhona and her partners, including the MS team at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, for the next year.

The main aim is to raise awareness of MS, which affects the central nervous system, but last Sunday's victory brought an unexpected £2,500 bonus for the charity.

Rhona is hoping the "fairytale" win will be the first of many, with two as yet unnamed new studs added to the MS Borders Racing Club.

With the outfit worn by Diamond Mick's jockey, Rose Davidson, designed after a competition, the two new stars will now be subject to a naming contest.

Last night she said: "These fairy stories usually go in the opposite direction to me, but the dream's come true.

"I couldn't believe it was actually happening. The fact that we got as far as the race was amazing, and to win was such a buzz. I would have settled for him getting round safe. He could have easily gone splatter at the first hurdle. But someone was obviously looking down on me - you do need some luck with racing. And we're not finished yet."

The syndicate now has 35 members who are backing the project in the coming year, but Rhona is looking to drum up more support to back the two new horses. She leases Diamond Mick from owner-breeder friend Andrew Hollis, and is determined to raise awareness of MS and the support which is needed for patients in the Scottish Borders - with any prize money coming as a bonus to the charity. Husband Peter said it was only when Rhona started visiting the RVI that they began to see real progress in her condition. He added: "Rhona decided having coffee mornings and raffles wasn't enough, she sent some letters round and started putting a syndicate together. Sunday was quite a fairytale, and since everything started we've had so much interest we've now got another two. They'll be on the racecourse in the New Year, and that's probably when Diamond Mick will have his next race. It's unbelievable how it's all happened.

"You couldn't say he was fancied at all, but the official distance was about two lengths."

Anyone interested in joining the syndicate can contact Rhona on (01573) 440268