There is only one shop on the island of Hoy, in Orkney, and it doesn’t stock The Racing Post. Or at least, if it does, it’d sold out before I got there.

There are no betting shops and the nearest racecourse is Perth which, while only 180 miles as the crow flies, is a journey (according to google maps) of 17 hrs and 23 minutes by public transport…

Last week’s blog caused quite a stir: “Why,” several of you wanted to know, “do you need TWO bottles of ketchup in the office fridge?”

The Kelso Racecourse office benefits from both a kitchen sink (with cold tap attached) and a fridge containing: one can of Coke, two bottles of tomato ketchup and four bottles of white wine.

I don’t know, really, why we need to have a water cooler too – but it keeps the admin team happy, so I’m not going to interfere…

Future developments in the presentation of sport might offer spectators the opportunity to see what’s on a player’s mind – as Rory McIlroy drives off from the tee, Ronnie O’Sullivan lines up a pot, or Frankie Dettori breaks from the stalls…

After years of concern about the health of northern jump racing, and debate about how it might be improved, mathematicians have finally proved that it was never actually an issue. Northern jumping has always been the best…

When Cinderella left the Kelso Ladies Day After Party she was in a dreadful rush. In just a few seconds the clock would strike, her footmen would turn into mice and her car into a pumpkin…

Perhaps that’s why we’ve been unable to find her car, despite the keys turning up in the morning on the grass alongside her sparkly shoe.

The sunshine-bathed cobbles of the town square glistened in the heat this week. As we judged the best-dressed shop window competition, Kelso looked radiant.

It’s rare, when friends are in need of fashion advice, that they ever consider consulting me. I’m not sure why that would be – perhaps the socks don’t help.

Nevertheless, part of the fun of staging Ladies Day is that people ask us what to wear, over the telephone or by e-mail, without knowing who they’re talking to or just how badly qualified we might be to answer the question…

Who doesn’t enjoy the comfort of a well-worn routine? The same table, if you can secure it, in the corner of the pub; the same steak & ale pie from the familiar menu; the same pint of hoppy ale.

But sometimes it’s good to break established habits and try something new…

The coronation of King Charles III is almost upon us. I’ve bought the balloons, the Union Jack paper cups, and some miniature flags that’ll adorn the Coronation Quiche that we’ll devour during the television coverage.

In a ceremony that will be laden with symbolism, the King will pledge “to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely” – including, one hopes, people who put their faith in horseracing…