Your Guide To Finding UK Thoroughbred Horse Trainers


Welcome to Horse Trainer Directory

''Why listen to whispers when this comes straight from the horse's mouth?''

Welcome to the one-stop shop where everything gallops. This resource details a comprehensive list of Horse Trainer Websites, Blogs & Twitter links for National Hunt & Flat racing. Take advantage of this primary source of data by clicking our ‘Quick Buttons’ to detail all the latest news. Why listen to the whispers when this comes straight from the horse’s mouth?

With our website going ‘live’ we've been amazed by the response with testimonials/feedback from horse trainers, journalists, racing fans & welfare groups among those who have a love of everything equine.

What makes our website so impressive is the ease you can navigate 100s of resources with our user-friendly features. Three simple ‘Quick button’ allow access to trainers of both codes, including our latest development the ‘Track’ facility which highlights every racecourse website & twitter link so you need never miss a day’s racing, promotions or news.

Come join the community spirit by exchanging links to your equine-related websites for free. Help support your favourite charities by telling us about their work, appeals & successes promoting racing welfare.  In addition, we have some wonderful deals for advertisers from a cool full page to a tiny chilled-out text link.               

Don’t waste time searching the Internet high & low when the Horse Trainer Directory is the easiest way to keep you in the know. With regular updates you won’t miss a stride because we’ve gone the extra furlong. 

      ''NEED TO FIND A TRAINER ON YOUR DOORSTEP?''

Racing Charities 

Australia Set For Bright Future

After his spectacular victory on Saturday in the Derby at Epsom, connections of Australia will be considering the next steps for their Classic winner Australia this year.

The three-year old improved from a step up from 1m in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket to 1m4f at Epsom for the biggest race on the British flat calendar. He was able to score by just under two lengths ahead of Kingston Hill and Romsdal, respectively after going off as the favourite at Betfair.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has already hinted that a shot at the Irish Derby is a likely option next, if ground conditions fall right. The Irishman will not risk his superstar colt on soft side at the Curragh though.

O’Brien has been successful in the Irish Derby in seven of the last eight runnings and if Australia was to win the Curragh showpiece event, it would be the trainer’s 11^th win in the contest.

Looking further ahead into the season and the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe is often the destination for the Derby winner from Epsom. Run over 1m4f at Longchamp, Australia would be taking on the best middle distance horses in Europe with betting currently available with Betfair.

O’Brien has only won the Arc once in which Dylan Thomas gave him success in 2007 to reward backers in the race market. In 2012, Camelot attempted to win Europe’s premier race after victory at Epsom but fell short, while 12 months ago his hopes were on Ruler of the World and Leading Light but neither could get in the frame.

Another option for the Derby winner could be to step back down in trip as the 1m2f Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on the calendar this summer. Sea The Stars won that prestigious Group One contest in 2009 after his victory at Epsom and before later success in the Arc in France.

Your Guide To Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes (Group 2): Adaay Looks A Hot Tip For William Haggas

Paul Hanagan will pilot Adaay

Purchased for a whopping 240,000gns at Tattersalls  Breeze-Up Sale 2014 (17th April) by Shadwell Estate Company, Adaay looks a live prospect to win the Coventry Stakes Group 2 at Royal Ascot, Tuesday, 17th June. This handsome colt, racing in the ownership of Hamdan Al Maktoum, has been very much a talking horse. 

Royal Ascot betting sees many big punters taking on the bookmakers so check out the best odds over the racing spectacle where the best thoroughbred horses race for victory.    

This March foal was fancied to go well on debut at Newbury when starting at 3/1 when sent off second favourite behind hot-pot debutante Alediad, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Frankie Dettori. However, Adaay ran on strongly to take that maiden over 6f 8y in ready fashion. 

William Haggas was quoted as saying he was pleased with that introduction but proposed a second start before the big race as he showed signs of inexperience. Paul Hanagan [jockey] said this two-year-old colt was quite noisy behind the stalls in contrast to his calm nature at home on the gallops. 

His trainer said he was confident of making a winning return.

Second start saw him face an equally impressive debut winner with lofty claims:  Mind Of Madness. This bay son of Azamour - trained by David Brown for notable owners Qatar Racing Ltd - contested the EBF Stallions / 4 Head Novice Stakes at Yarmouth (3rd June) over 6f 3y on good-to-firm ground. 

Adaay won comfortably by three-quarters of a length from Mind Of Madness, with debut winner, Natural Order, in third. 

At present, Adaay is priced 6/1 for the Coventry Stakes (Group 2),behind Aidan O'Brien's The Great War, who won easily on both his starts to date. This American-bred son of War Front cost a staggering $1,000,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sales. 

O'Brien is now represented by War Envoy. 

The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) is one of the leading two-year-old races in Great Britain over a distance of 6f on the opening day of Royal Ascot. Both colts & fillies can take part and it is a race won by a number of outstanding juveniles.

Aidan O'Brien is joint leading  trainer of this race with 7 winners, since Harbour Master won in 1997. Other victors include: Fasliyev (1999), Landseer (2001), Statue Of Liberty (2002), Henrythenavigator (2007), Power (2011) & last year's impressive winner War Command.   

Get ready for the 3:05 Coventry Stakes Group 2, Tuesday, 17th  June 2014. 
     

Sadly Missed - John Hills

John Hills

I would like to pass on my condolences to the family and friends of John Hills who sadly lost his battle against pancreatic cancer at the age of 53. As a racing fan, I never actually had the opportunity to meet John in person but followed his success and admired him. He came across as a good, kind man who loved the people and horses he trained - ultimately the sport of kings which he made his life. 

His brother, Michael Hills, said on Sunday: "I really can't believe it. I can't believe the speed of the whole thing. I saw him during the Greenham meeting [in April] and you wouldn't have thought he had got a cold. It just grabbed him so quick. We are all so shocked."

As well as Richard, Michael and Charlie, John was also brother to George Hills, a bloodstock insurer, who wrote on Twitter on Sunday: "He put up a big fight for the girls. Devastated. We're going to miss him."

John, who trained from Kingwood House Stables in Lambourn, started his training career in 1987 and sent out over 500 winners including the likes of dual Group 2 winner Docksider, Dark Islander, a Grade 2 winner in the USA, and Broadway Flyer, winner of the Group 3 Chester Vase and Group 3 Gordon Stakes before finished second to Moonax, trained by Barry Hills, in the 1994 St Leger. However, his best performer was Group 1 Aral Pokal winner Wind In Her Hair, who also finished second in the 1994 Oaks at Epsom and is the dam of Japanese superstar Deep Impact.

He is survived by his wife Fiona and his four children Jessica, Olivia, Martha and Isabella.

His father, Barry, has been given a temporary licence to train at Kingwood House Stables.   

Sadly missed.

Sir Alex Ferguson Looking for Royal Ascot Success with Red Icon

Sir Alex Ferguson with Harry The Viking

Sir Alex Ferguson is no stranger to football success but his interest in horse racing is highlighting an equine passion with potentially two classy two-year-olds in Red Icon & Snap Shots.

Both horses are in training with Tom Dascombe, and his connection with Michael Owen has worked its magic with the True Reds syndicate, which the ex-manager of Manchester Untied is part.

Red Icon made his debut when finishing fourth at Chester in a competitive maiden. This bay colt a son of Acclamation - a good-looking juvenile racing in his familiar red silks with white stars - ran out a tidy winner at Haydock next start when stepped up to six furlongs priced 6/5 favourite. Sir Alex Ferguson commenting on Racing UK stated that this January foal is likely to be targeted for the Coventry Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot, in June. Unfortunately the Scot will not be able to make the meeting as he said he always holidays at that time. 

The True Reds syndicate had a successful couple of days when Snap Shots won on debut at the course the following day, out battling Roger Varian's Maljaa in testing ground over the minimum five furlong trip. This two-year-old son of Kodiac was purchased for 55,000euros at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. 

Both horses could well be heading for Royal Ascot.

A Fruity Little Number For Clive Cox

Qatar Racing Ltd are no stranger to purchasing expensive horses having a number in training with leading handlers. Clive Cox has a two-year-old debutante running in their familiar maroon and gold silks. This bay filly, named Fruity, is a daughter of Camacho, purchased by David Redvers at Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sales for 40,000 EUR. Starting her career at Haydock (2:50), connections will be looking for a nice introduction on testing ground conditions.   

Racehorse Owners: You're Invited to Luke Dace's Open Day

I’m pleased to announce that on Sunday 8th June 2014 I’ll be hosting a very special open morning at my West Sussex training yard, for racehorse owners. The event, which will take place in Pulborough, will feature special appearances from champion flat jockey, Richard Hughes, and this year’s Grand National winner, Leighton Aspell. After the open morning, guests are invited to follow me and the team on to Goodwoord Racecourse for that afternoon’s racing fixture. 

Guests attending the open morning will be offered the chance to meet my top racehorses including American Spin (who recently broke a track record at Kempton Park Racecourse), Echo Brava and Bobby Benton.

The morning will begin with a Champagne reception, followed by tours of my world class racehorse training facilities, including the gallops, indoor arenas and the equine swimming pool. Alongside viewing the training facilities, racehorse owners can learn about our racehorse breeding services.

I’m very proud of the work I do in training winning racehorses, but it’s also great to be able to show off our facilities to racehorse owners, who may be looking for a new trainer, or looking to making an initial investment in a racehorse.

My ultra-modern, world-class facilities are situated on the beautiful Sussex Downs — and that means that our gallops are a simply beautiful place to be. Our gallops, including turf gallops, 6-Furlong Gallop and Valley Gallop provide the regular workouts that are an essential part of a horse’s training.

The Indoor Canter Way provides an all-weather facility to warm up the horses at a walk or trot and to assess them on a daily basis, and the horse walker facility means that our racehorses can be exercised regardless of weather conditions.

A unique feature here is the American Bend, which has an interesting history. Some years ago (before I took over the facility) a highly-successful race horse called ‘Dancing Brave’ was trained here by Guy Harwood. Dancing Brave’s owner (Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah) had the American Bend built to replicate the track at Epsom (considered to be one of the toughest tracks in the world) to give Dancing Brave experience on the steep camber. Today our horses can follow in his stride!

Our equine swimming pool offers many and varied benefits to a training programme – and the horses enjoy it! A water-based workout provides resistance without pressure on joints or tendons and helps in developing muscular strength as well as maintaining cardiovascular fitness. The pool is also essential to our work in rehabilitating injured horses.

I’m looking forward to welcoming Richard Hughes and Leighton Aspell along to speak to guests at the opening morning, which promises to be an exciting event! Racehorse owners wishing to attend the free event, which will take place from 9.30am to 11.30am, should register their interest with Louise Dace on 07974 765506, or email lukedace@yahoo.co.uk Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

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