Two hundred horses process through the town accompanied by cheering crowds. At the head of the cavalcade is a young man bedecked with a huge blue and white rosette, and a sash bearing the town’s crest, the words on which read “Dae Richt, Fear Nocht”.

The young man is the Kelso Laddie, selected for his good character to carry the town flag and lead the civic week celebrations in July each year. The 2026 Kelso Laddie is Chad Patterson, who happens to be the youngest member of the racecourse’s groundstaff team – a source of additional pride for us during the forthcoming week.

The sun is set to shine on Chad as he officiates at events including the annual fundraising walk to Morebattle, the family day, baby show, wreath laying ceremony, ride-outs on horseback to mark the bounds, a children’s fancy dress party and the Grand Civic Week Ball. On Wednesday, in a “colour bussing” ceremony steeped in pageantry, Chad will be entrusted with the Burgh Standard decorated by four girls chosen from the town.

Last year Robyn McNulty, daughter of Joanna who manages hospitality bookings (and much more) in the racecourse office, was one of the Lady Bussers – a role which Gill Meikle (key keeper and loving wife to our late Head Groundsman Brian) also fulfilled back in the day. Local engineer Eric Paxton, who has fixed buildings and machinery all over the racecourse, and occasionally stands in for his daughter as stable manager, is currently celebrating fifty years since he was Kelso Laddie. Meanwhile, many in the town will be remembering Colin Gibson, late husband of Linda who works alongside Gill, who was Laddie in 1983.

If the picture painted is that of a proud community coming together, it’s worth bearing in mind that Kelso is only one piece in the jigsaw. Similar events occur in almost every town in the Scottish Borders. The Principals from each town ride alongside the Principals of each other town, creating a colourful collage that is collectively known as the Borders Common Ridings. Excitingly, for me, the Common Riding events at Hawick, Langholm and Selkirk include unofficial racemeetings – known in racing industry circles as flapping.

Flapping enjoys a mysterious, almost nefarious, reputation among those that follow horseracing, due to its non-compliance with the British Horseracing Authority’s General Instructions and the Rules of Racing – which would be in place at racecourses like York, for example, where Saturday’s selection is Warrant Holder.

However, the reality is that the Common Riding events offer an opportunity for locals to dabble in equestrianism at an early age, to hold horses, sit on horses, and even race horses for the fun of it.

While several top jockeys have graduated from the Borders flapping circuit, Chad, who only sat on a horse for the first time this year, won’t be one of them. I’m certain he’ll do right though, and he’ll have no fear.