Fifty Shades of Hay
Product Specifications
You might feel sure that a horse is not a Flamingo, a Polar Bear, a Tomato, a Teapot, a pair of Bootlaces, a Taxidermist, a Rat Catcher or a Flea but you’d be wrong. Racehorse owners often give their horses bizarre names that would seem to make success impossible. Luckily, thoroughbreds are able to defy such handicaps. A Spaniel has won the Derby (1831), a Crow the St Leger (1976), a Butterfly the Oaks (1860) and, difficult to imagine, Oscar Wilde the Welsh National (1958). It’s bonkers. Bonkers won at Southwell in 2002. Over the centuries there have been hundreds of thousands of different names bestowed or inflicted on racehorses and in Fifty Shades Of Hay, David Ashforth has picked out a selection to baffle, surprise and amuse in equal measure.
"The wittiest man writing about racing has provided the punter’s perfect bedside compendium." Robin Oakley, The Spectator
"...witty and erudite, as you would expect, and I can’t stop leafing through it." Tony Paley, Racing editor at The Guardian and The Observer
"Despite the fact that this book deserves to be on every coffee table, it also deserves to be read from cover to cover — it’s fascinating, laugh out loud funny and very, very clever." Gemma Redrup, Horse & Hound
Delivery Information
- Free delivery over £50
3–4 working days - Express delivery (£3.99)
2–3 working days - Standard delivery (£2.99)
3–4 working days
Process & Order Times
Processing time is currently 1–2 business working days from completed order.
Orders containing in-stock products, received before 12 noon Monday to Friday, will be processed and dispatched the same day. Orders placed after 12 noon Monday to Friday will be dispatched the next working day. All orders are fulfilled by Royal Mail.
Pre-order Products
Orders that contain pre-order products will be shipped separately at no extra cost to UK-based customers. In-stock products will be shipped in line with our delivery terms above.
Pre-order products will be shipped on their individual release date, which is shown on the product page and directly underneath the ‘Pre-order’ button prior to purchase.
You may receive shipping notifications for orders that contain pre-order products, but these notifications only apply to the in-stock items in your order.
International/EU Pre-order Products
If you live outside the UK and wish to purchase both pre-order products and items that are currently in stock, please place these on separate orders. Due to international shipping regulations, we are unable to split a single order for shipment to customers outside the UK.
If multiple products in one international order have different release dates, the entire order will only be shipped once all products are available. This ensures that all items are sent together in a single shipment.
EU Shipping
EU customers can enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience with all taxes and duties paid at checkout. For orders under €150 (excluding shipping and taxes), all VAT and customs duties are included in the price at checkout. No additional charges will apply upon delivery.
Please note: Some EU destinations may charge a handling fee upon delivery. This is beyond our control and must be paid by the customer in order for the product to be released by customs. Please check with your local customs authorities for more information.
French Shipments
From 1 March 2026, France has introduced a new €2.40 import processing charge (TPC) on low-value parcels (under €150).
To keep delivery smooth and avoid any additional fees on arrival, we include this charge within our shipping cost for French orders.
This means no unexpected charges at delivery and all costs are shown clearly at checkout.
We do not profit from this fee, it simply covers the cost applied to shipments entering France.
Italy Shipments
From January 2026, Italian customs apply a €2 administrative handling fee on low-value parcels (under €150) arriving from outside the EU. This fee is set by Italian authorities and is collected by the local postal service at delivery.
US Shipments
For shipments to the United States, an additional 10% tariff surcharge will be included at checkout to cover US import duties and taxes. This charge is calculated automatically during checkout.
The customer is also responsible for any additional customs duties, taxes, or handling fees that may apply once the goods arrive in the US. These charges are beyond our control and must be paid directly to US customs authorities.
Please allow additional time for US shipments, as customs processing may take longer due to tariff clearance.
International Shipping
Shipping charges to the EU and other international destinations are calculated based on current Royal Mail shipping rates. These fees are automatically calculated during checkout based on the weight, size, and destination of your order.
Shipping FAQs
For any questions, feel free to contact our customer support team at shop@racingpost.com.
Manufacturer Details
Name: Pitch Publishing Ltd
Address: 9 Donnington Park, 85 Birdham Road, Chichester, West Sussex, England, PO20 7AJ
Email: info@pitchpublishing.co.uk
Website: https://pitchpublishing.co.uk
Company Info: Company No. 04405674 | VAT ID 794787452
Is EU Manufacturer?: No
EU Responsible Person
Name: Easy Access System Europe OÜ
Address: Mustamäe tee 50, 10621 Tallinn, Estonia
Contact: gpsr.requests@easproject.com | Phone: +372 5696 8939
Website: https://easproject.com
Refund & Returns Policy
1. Physical Goods: 14-Day Right to Cancel (UK & EU)
Under UK and EU consumer law, you have 14 calendar days from the day after you receive your physical items to cancel your order and request a refund.
- Condition: Items must be returned unopened, unused, and in their original sealed packaging fit for resale.
- How to Request: Email shop@racingpost.com with your order number (e.g., #12345), original email address, and reason for return.
- Return Costs: You are responsible for return shipping costs and ensuring items are packaged safely. Optional premium shipping fees (e.g., courier or recorded delivery) are non-refundable.
Note: For international customers outside the UK and EU, returns are accepted strictly at our discretion provided items are unused, unopened, and undamaged.
2. Digital Goods & eBooks (PDFs & DRM Files)
Due to the immediate delivery nature of digital content, statutory cancellation rights differ between digital formats under UK and EU Consumer Rights regulations:
A. DRM-Protected Content (Flickrocket eBooks / Protected PDFs)
- Waiver of Cooling-Off Period: By purchasing and initiating the download or redeeming the Flickrocket DRM license key, you explicitly consent to immediate delivery and acknowledge that you lose your 14-day statutory right to cancel.
- Unredeemed Keys: If you have not yet downloaded the file or redeemed the DRM license key, you may request a full refund within 14 days of purchase.
- Compatibility: Customers are responsible for verifying device compatibility prior to purchase. Refunds will not be issued for purchasing an incompatible format if the file and license function correctly.
B. Non-DRM Protected Content (Standard PDFs & Direct Downloads)
- Immediate Access: Once a non-DRM PDF link is generated, emailed, or accessed via your account, the transaction is considered final and non-refundable.
- Unaccessed Links: If a download link has not been accessed or clicked, you may request a cancellation within 14 days of purchase by contacting customer support.
C. Technical Defect Protocol for All Digital Files
If a digital file (DRM or Non-DRM) is corrupted, incomplete, or fails to open due to a technical error on our end:
- Contact shop@racingpost.com with your order number and error details.
- We will first re-issue the PDF, reset your download link, or refresh your Flickrocket DRM license.
- If we cannot provide a fully functional, accessible digital file within a reasonable time frame, a full refund will be issued.
3. Excluded Products & Services
The following items cannot be returned or refunded unless faulty, defective, or delivered in error:
- Periodicals, newspapers, or print magazines.
- Unsealed digital physical media (DVDs, Blu-rays) where the shrink-wrap or holographic seal is broken.
- Digital downloads (PDFs, eBooks, or software) that have already been accessed or downloaded.
- Perishable goods.
4. Faulty, Damaged, or Incorrect Physical Items
If a physical item arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect due to our error:
- Within 14 Days: Email shop@racingpost.com with photo evidence of the damage. You are entitled to a full refund or replacement.
- Return Shipping: We will cover standard return shipping costs if a physical return is required. If clear proof of transit damage is provided, we may send a replacement without requiring a return.
5. Physical Returns & Exchange Logistics
- Processing: Refunds are credited strictly back to the original payment method within 24 hours of receiving and inspecting the returned item. Please allow 5–10 business days for funds to reflect in your account.
- High-Value Returns (£150+): You must contact shop@racingpost.com for an authorisation reference number prior to returning the items. Unauthorised high-value returns will be rejected and sent back to sender.
- Exchanges: To request an exchange, state your preferred item in your returns email. Return shipping and re-dispatch shipping costs are the customer's responsibility.
6. Subscriptions & Software (Raceform Interactive)
- Cancellation Rights: You have 14 days from initial registration to cancel subscription services. To pause, modify, or cancel, log into your account portal or call +44 (0)1933 304 858 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm) or email risupport@racingpost.com.
- Refund Issuance: Approved subscription refunds or downgrade adjustments will be credited back to your original payment card within 30 days.
7. US Import Duties & Customs
Orders shipped to the United States include a 10% tariff surcharge applied at checkout to cover import duties and taxes. Buyers are responsible for any additional local US customs fees or delays incurred during customs clearance.
