Lou's Diamond details

One of the sweetest horses ever trained here, Lou's Diamond was an instant favourite with the staff even before she saw a racecourse.

She was by Camacho out of Martha's Way who had raced for the yard. A home-bred filly and a stunning looking girl, she was given the stable name 'Martha' after her dam.

Lou's Diamond started her racing career at York in May 2016, finishing last in a maiden race. Building on the experience, she finished fourth at Thirsk next time out, beaten just three lengths at odds of 50-1.

Two more runs followed, running respectably, before her all weather debut at Newcastle on the evening of 8th October in the Hadley Steel Framing Nursery Handicap. Ridden by Nathan Evans she got out smartly and made all, holding off the challengers to win by a short head at odds of 20-1 under the floodlights.

One of the most popular winners in a record breaking season for the yard, she looked the type to build on her success. As a two year old she'd proven all she needed to, and spent her winter break with us at the yard.

Coming back into training at the start of 2017, she was working nicely. However, in February 2017 disaster struck. During a routine gallop Lou's Diamond stumbled and fell. She bravely made it back the yard and the vet was called to look at the problem. A fractured shoulder was diagnosed, the break being so bad that she sadly was not going to survive.

Martha raced five times as a two year old and would have blossomed at three. Her final career stats showed one win from five starts, winning £3,100 prize-money. What they didn't show was how this filly had won the hearts of the staff during her all too brief career.