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6 Feb 2025

Horse Trainer Directory - Update (Flat Blog Links Completed)

Horse Trainer Directory - Update (Flat Blog Links Completed)
Good news for Horse Trainer Directory fans. 

I'm pleased to announce Flat Horse Trainer Blog/News links have been completed. If there is a horse trainer with a blog or news to tell then it is on this list. To be fair, if there is ever going to be a broken link it will be with these pages for trainer websites. They seem to change pages at a drop of a hat. 

It is fair to say that many horse trainers start blogs with the best of intentions and one day it simply stops in its track - dead as a dodo.

There's only so much time in a day and I guess half an hour writing about the latest stable news doesn't show much of a return for the profit line.

I know the feeling working on this beast of a website. 

If a trainer hasn't updated a blog for a time I don't add them to the list. It looks poor on a horse trainer if you go to the blog or latest news and their last entree was back in 2015. I usually check to see if they are still in business. It isn't a good look and I imagine it has put off a few potential owners. Who knows, but I would say to trainers even updating a blog once a month is better than not at all. If you've given up the ghost, I'd delete the whole thing. 

So what next?

The updates continue. It's a long old road to get to our destination - completion (whatever that means). 

Next, we will be updating the Flat horse trainer X links for trainers big and small. It shows how needed this is because we still have the heading as Twitter. Elon Musk came along like a cheap aftershave. So I will need to make a little graphic too. Anyway, that was a cheap joke at his expense. He can afford it!

So over the next two weeks I will be updating the X links for trainers. I have noticed a lot more trainers use social media platforms to detail their news, winners, gripes and well-placed bets (strangely, I've never read a trainer detail a good bet). 

Here's to progress.  

5 Feb 2025

Directory Of Horse Trainers

Directory Of Horse Trainers
So why is this Directory of Horse Trainers better than most?  

I often check to see where Horse Trainer Directory features in the Google searches. Sometime it's at the top of the tree positioned number 1 or a featured snippet. Other times it is so far down the search I wonder why I bother to waste my time. 

However, we have to remain positive and if something can be done to amend such bias then I'll crank out another article to fill the void. 

Searching for Directory Of Horse Trainers, this website seems halfway down page one. I saw it and felt slightly irritated. So here I am writing a post to target that exact search term and I will see if I can appear higher in the rankings.

I'm probably one of few people who write a post half complaining about the situation to usurp the competition. If I need motivation to write something then it makes sense to me to detail my complaint or annoyance to hit the highs. 

I searched for the term: Directory of horse trainer websites and we are number 1. 

I think Google hates Blogger. Considering it owns the platform you'd think they'd give you a leg up rather than a kick in the guts but I think they are interested in the latter. 

Are we heading for the disaster of Google+ which was wiped out a few years back because the powers that be realised it was a dead duck. Like most of these ridiculous Google updates which seem manufactured to destroy people's websites. 

I will probably be targeted like a page or two of George Orwell's 1984 by Big Brother. I always wonder what big sister looks like? 

Anyway, I've written this 2-minute hate to stroll up the search engine for the term: Directory of Horse Trainers. 

It's nothing to do with keyword stuffing. 

I'll be checking to see if I'm at the top of the tree. 

We live in hope. 

Big up the Blogger. 

4 Feb 2025

Cheltenham Gold Cup Winning Favourites

Cheltenham Gold Cup Winning Favourites.  

You know who I'm talking about. 

Galopin Des Champs

Recent winner at Fairyhouse, heading to Prestbury Park for the Festival which takes place on the 14th March 2025. Willie Mullins' super horse put Fact To File in his place on the 1st February in the Irish Gold Cup Chase. The odds-on shot, lengthened well in the closing stages to pull clear by four and three quarter lengths. 

Full result

Bookmakers rushed for cover and Galopin Des Champs' odds shortened from 1/1 to 4/7. 

Can anything stop this gelding from making it 3 Cheltenham Gold Cup victories on the bounce? 

By 4:10 pm, I'll be counting my shekels.   

This son of Timos out of the mare Manon Des Champs is no stranger to this 3m 2 1/2f and 22 fences. Mrs Audrey Turley must be sipping her cup of earl grey tea in quiet comfort. With a win prize of £351,688 this exceptional horse could have total earnings of just under £2M. 

I know one thing for certain, Willie Mullins is much better in the Gold Cup than Grand National, which has been dire.  

I remember my old gran used to say: 'Don't count your chickens...' 

I'm here counting bundles if not Boodles of cash. 

He has been a winning favourite in his last two Gold Cups. 

2023 - Galopin Des Champs 7/5f

2024 - Galopin Des Champs 10/11f

In recent years, the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourites have performed well. Although in the last 50 years since 1974 there have been just 13 winning favourites. 

Who doesn't love to back the good old jolly? 

Sometimes it has been a long wait. 

Who could forget wonder mare Dawn Run, won in 1986 at 15/8f. 

Punters had to wait 16 years for the next favourite to scoot home! 

No one minded waiting for this superstar: 

2002 - Best Mate 7/1

2003 - Best Mate 13/8f

2004 - Best Mate 8/11f

Henrietta Knight was the last trainer to have three wins on the trot for owner Jim Lewis. 

We have to go back to Arkle (1964 - 1966) to see the last horse to show the way with a trio of wins. 

If you have a long memory you may just about remember Cottage Rake did the same from (1948 - 1950).

The greatest winner of all time being Dorothy Paget's Golden Miller (1932 - 1936) who won an unprecedented 5 times on the bounce. 

Since 2003, there have been 12 favourites win. A fair percentage (57%). Perhaps that figure will add to the confidence of Galopin Des Champs. 

Good luck on the day. 

3 Feb 2025

Horse Trainers Love Social Media

Image by ibrandify on Freepik

I'm still updating the Flat Trainer Blog Links. They should be completed in the next few days. That's not the end of the updates. Far from it. I have lots more to do on the Flat trainer info before moving onto the National Hunt.

All these things take time. I just keep working until the work is done. 

A number of Horse Trainers have given up on their websites and blogs focusing on social media. For example, John Berry used to love his blog but now he's all over X (formerly known as Twitter). All we can do is follow their lead (which we have done) and detail horse trainer social media platforms. 

In fact, we've always detailed X and Facebook. 

I've noticed a lot of horse trainers are using Instagram as it's an ideal way to get the message across with photos of all and sundry. Beautiful photos of thoroughbreds are a sight to behold and especially at the races. Instagram is a very good platform to promote and we are please to say that another page will be added to Horse Trainer Directory detailing both codes of racing: Flat & National Hunt. 

So we will have an Instagram page so all the info whether websites, blog/news and social media is just a click away. 

This will take a week or two to complete but the best things are worth the wait and when the Flat trainer info (followed by the National Hunt trainers) is complete the website will be exceptional. The work is long over due and I have noticed the traffic to this website is doing a bit better of late which motivates me to press on. 

Anyway, we are getting there.  

Photo: Freepik 

28 Jan 2025

Earth Summit - The Ultimate Grand National Mudlark

Earth Summit - The Ultimate Grand National Mudlark
Do you remember Earth Summit?  

I doubt I would have thought too much about this thoroughbred horse if it wasn't for writing more articles for my brother's website (www.grandnationalwinners.co.uk). It puts a few quid in my pocket and it gives me a chance to remember a few old warriors. 

Anyone who loves their Grand Nationals, is likely to remember Earth Summit. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies in the ownership of The Summit Partnership. This son of Celtic Cone out of the mare Win Hill Green was a mudlark. As they say in horse racing vernacular 'he liked to get his toe in'. To be honest, this bay gelding didn't need Wellington boots. I remember someone saying a horse that goes well on testing ground has hooves the size of dinner plates. I'm not sure if Earth Summit was nicknamed Big Foot but we can all agree he liked to get stuck in. He was a warrior of the turf if not the bog.

When you talk about Grand Nationals it's a challenging race. A true test of stamina. Some horses run down hills fast, some run up them slower but never stop. They finish the race covered in mud. 

That's my definition of a mudlark: A horse that finishes a race looking a slubby mess. Two white eyes, nostrils flared with more steam than the Flying Scotsman. 

The jockey shoveling on the coal. A couple of logs at the ready when they see a giant fence looming large. 

Earth Summit fell once in his career. Some said he did it just to get closer to the mud. 

His splattered silks had little colour left to see. The cheering crowd knew who they were looking at!

There have been many great horses win the Aintree Grand National. The greatest of them all needs little introduction. 

[Red Rum: 19734, 1974 & 1977]

Earth Summit won the Aintree Grand National in 1998. 

It was the cherry on the cake for this ten-year-old. That day, he won at the odds of 7/1. Soft ground must have terrified most of the opposition. Not Earth Summit. This was his day and bar Suny Bay endeavouring to chase him home, the rest of the runners were a distance behind. Only six of the thirty-seven completed the course. If there was a mountain to climb, Earth Summit was the horse holding his hoof up wanting to have first go. 

If he knew the answer to one question it was how to get out of a muddy hole.

The interesting point about Earth Summit is the fact most people don't remember how good he was. And they don't remember his greatest achievements which, in my opinion, makes him the Greatest National horse of them all. 

He did something that even Red Rum couldn't achieve. 

Earth Summit won all three Nationals: English, Scottish, Welsh.  

Just think about that for a moment. No other horse has won 3 Nationals. 

That's why Aintree was the icing on the cake. 

1994 Scottish Grand National - The six-year-old was given a brilliant ride from David Bridgwater. He was virtually forgotten on the day starting at odds of 16/1. He quickened clear to win by 14-lengths. 

1997 Welsh Grand National - The nine-year-old loved the heavy going, ridden by Tom Jenks. The 25/1 winner held the late charge from Dom Samarai by just under 2-lengths. 

Earth Summit was one of the men against the boys, and the boys were tough. He ran in 6 Nationals from 1994 - 1999. In fact, he ran his last race in the Welsh National. 

He was retired in 2000. 

Earth Summit passed away in 2005 at the age of 17. 

12 Jan 2025

Willie Mullins Terrible Aintree Grand National Record

Willie Mullins Terrible Aintree Grand National Record
My brother has a new website called Grand National Winners (.co.uk). 

Well, I've been writing original articles rather than using AI, which to be fair doesn't seem to know much at all unless it is prompted to the point of almost writing the article yourself. Anyway, I've written about 20 articles with many up to 1000 words. I don't mind writing so its not too much of a chore. 

However, I happened to be researching the performance of Willie Mullins Aintree Grand National runners since his first which dated back to 2000. It wasn't a labour of love, more like finding myself halfway down a very long road and thinking when will this end... 

I didn't quite realise how many horses the Carlow trainer had sent to the most famous steeplechase of them all. By the time I'd finished the article I felt like I'd ridden one of his National runners, which fell at The Chair. 

At points I was almost asleep in the chair.

The things you do to put a few quid in your pocket. 

To be fair, by the time I had finished, I felt like I needed a cup of tea in my big horse racing mug.  

I shouldn't complain, hey. Even Mr Mullins started somewhere working for his father, Paddy. 

Anyway, I was shocked how many horses he had sent to the Aintree Grand National. If my research is correct, he's sent 63 runners to Aintree from 2000 - 2024. For all you anoraks out there, his first runner was Micko's Dream a 14/1 shot ridden by Jason Titley who fell at the first fence. After looking at his Aintree Grand National record it may have been an omen for future years. 

Willie Mullins is a fantastic trainer, which is seen with 17 Irish champion trainer titles, the leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with over 100 winners, and putting the cherry on the horse racing cake he was crowned British jump racing trainer' championship in 2023-24. 

Exceptional. 

The last Irish trainer to do this was Vincent O'Brien some 70 years ago (1952-53). 

I don't think Willie Mullins will detail the Aintree Grand National as his blue ribbon event. In fact, his performance has been pretty dire with just two winners from sixty-three horses and just eight from sixty-three win and place. A percentage rate of just 3% and 13% respectively. 

Willie Mullins Aintree Grand National Winners: 

2005 Hedgehunter 7/1, ridden by Ruby Walsh. A very popular win for owner Trevor Hemmings. 

2024 I Am Maximus 7/1jf, ridden by Paul Townend for J.P.McManus. 

Willie Mullins Aintree Grand National Place: 

2006 - Hedgehunter 2nd 5/1jf

2008 - Snowy Morning 3rd 16/1  

2018 - Pleasant Company 2nd 25/1 

2019 - Rathvinden 3rd 8/1 

2021 - Burrows Saint 4th 9/1

2023 - Gaillard Du Mesnil 3rd 10/1 

In 2024 he sent 7 horses to compete, which was a fair proportion of the field considering only 32 took part. 

It will be interesting to see how he fairs in 2025.

4 Jan 2025

Horse Trainer Website Vanished

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise. 

As I continue to update the Flat horse trainer blogs I've notice a few anomalies. To be fair, horse trainer blog and news pages are notorious for disappearing, updated five years back or domains curled up and died. 

Anyway, I have been updating the list from A - Z. 

I don't think there are any trainers with a surname beginning with Z. 

Wait a minute, what about that new trainer Eric Zoopla!

However, he doesn't exist. I can't find his website anywhere. Perhaps I was mistaken. So back to the horse trainers and their websites. Now, I don't want to be one of these website shamers because there may be many and varied reasons why a trainer does or doesn't have a website (or a blog or news page). I understand it. Perhaps a website isn't at the top of your list. The rich list have the money, the glamour, the horses to put on a show. While others don't have much to sing and dance about. It's a strange thing why some very high-profile trainers don't bother with a website. 

It is also quite surprising that others have given up the ghost on their domain. Whether it just slipped off the radar or was given up as a bad job. 

And then you get a few trainers (and I won't point them out) their website looks like it was build at the dawn of the dotcom bubble and sadly it burst. I'm not sure which platform some of these are on but they look as old as the hills. Scarily old. Perhaps they don't have the money to update or can't be bothered. However, when you consider it may be the first and last thing a prospective horse owner may see I can't imagine the conversion rate is very high. 

In fact, it probably does their business more damage than not.

I'd love to give a few examples of websites which fall flat but its not about picking on people. 

I'm continuing to update the Flat horse trainer blogs. I must apologise for snail-like progress. 

Slowly, but surely, it will get there. 

If I have one message for horse trainers big and small, make sure your website looks like it was made this century. 

5 Dec 2024

Flat Turf Horse Trainer Blogs (Updating)

Flat Turf Horse Trainer Blogs (Updating)
The second round of updates for the Horse Trainer Directory is in progress.

What does that mean?

In short, the Flat Turf Horse Trainer Blogs are being refreshed. This will take a week or two, as I'm juggling several other tasks at the moment. However, rest assured, the links to all the Flat Turf Trainer Blogs will be updated in a timely manner.

It's worth noting that while many trainers do maintain blogs, a lot of them prefer to use news pages instead. News pages tend to be simpler to manage and more concise compared to a traditional blog format.

It's clear that many horse trainers begin with good intentions, but often struggle to keep their blogs updated. It seems that the return on time spent writing these posts doesn’t always justify the effort. That said, many trainers do make the effort to regularly update their blog or news pages, and these trainers deserve recognition. As I’ve mentioned before, these pages provide invaluable first-hand insights directly from the trainers themselves. Over time, I’ve discovered plenty of useful tips, behind-the-scenes information, and even some industry secrets that aren’t easily found elsewhere. They’re a great way to stay connected with your favorite trainers, track stable news, and keep an ear to the ground for any interesting developments.

So, taking the time to check out the Flat Turf Trainer Blogs is well worth it. Once the updates are complete, they’ll serve as an invaluable resource.

Once this phase is done, I’ll also be updating the Flat Turf Horse Trainer Facebook pages, X (formerly Twitter), and launching a new Instagram page where you can enjoy a visual journey through the world of horse racing.

Thanks for your continued support! 

4 Dec 2024

Flat Horse Trainer Website Links (Updated)

Flat Horse Trainer Website Links (Updated)

I've been busy working away, and I have some great news to share.

The Horse Trainer Directory has successfully completed its first stage of development. The links for Flat horse trainers' websites have been updated. I've removed several broken links and added new trainers or handlers who have either launched new websites or changed their domain names. With hundreds of horse trainers listed, this directory serves as a valuable resource, consolidating all the information on a single page, so you no longer need to search the web to find it.

This marks the first phase of development.

Next, I will focus on updating the blogs and news links for Flat horse trainers, which often provide valuable primary data.

Following that, I will update the trainers' social media profiles, including Facebook, Twitter (X), and a new page dedicated to Instagram, ensuring that every angle of information is covered.

I will continue making updates over the next few weeks. Once the Flat horse trainers are fully updated, I will move on to the National Hunt trainers (and those involved in both codes).

It's an exciting time to provide this detailed information for readers.

At least this page is now updated and accurate.

If you know of any horse trainers we've missed, please feel free to contact me, and I will make sure to add them.

As always, I'm here to support British racing.

30 Nov 2024

Horse Trainer Analysis to Improve Your Gambling Success

Horse Trainer Analysis to Improve Your Gambling Success
I know what you’re thinking: “Years of barely any updates, and now three posts in one week?!”

Honestly, I’m not counting.

Believe it or not, I’ve been passionate about horse racing for forty years. I still tell myself I look relatively young. Maybe that’s thanks to finding a bottle of Oil of Ulay (back before they rebranded it to Olay) in my mum’s drawer.

Remember when Colonel Sanders called it Kentucky Fried Chicken? That was before “fried” became one of those devil-words no company dares to utter.

As if the letter F means it doesn't exist. I guess to many that's how it works. I think a lot of people would use a different F word in explanation. 

Anyway, let’s steer this back to the horses before I lose your attention.

Horse Trainer Directory is just your average website. When it’s up to date, though, it’ll be worth your time.

There are literally hundreds of horse trainers. Some have websites, others use social media, and a few are like lone wolves, operating without much public communication at all. That’s one of the things I love about horse racing—you get all types of people pursuing their passion. Many are striving, and perhaps struggling, to turn it into a profitable business. I have equal admiration and sympathy for them.

While updating my lists of trainers, I always leave links to deceased trainers for a year or two out of respect. It feels wrong to remove them too quickly. In our fast-paced world, death is often hurriedly swept under the rug, but these names deserve to be remembered. When we talk about those who’ve passed on, we keep their legacies alive. It feels like a fitting memorial.

Every year, I update my horse trainer list, cataloging every two-year-old horse they’ve trained. I focus on this niche because it provides the foundation for my research and helps me gain insight into all aspects of juvenile racing.

Take Roger Varian, for example. I’ve tracked all of his juvenile runners since he began training. My research is specific to the Flat turf season, running from March to November. From late November to January, when two-year-olds officially turn three, I pause this work.

Some might argue this skews the data slightly, but the truth is that data can be shaped and interpreted in countless ways. How it’s measured and presented often depends on the perspective of the analyst.

Nevertheless, having this data reveals fascinating patterns. It’s surprising how much you can learn about horse trainers from their performance metrics. It often becomes clear where the winners begin and where the losers trail off. Without such detailed information, you wouldn’t have the same depth of understanding I do—and that should concern you. Of course, it probably doesn’t, because you either have your own method for picking winners, or you simply don’t follow two-year-old racing.

Someone once told me: “You must be mad to focus on two-year-old racing!”

They said it as if they knew some profound truth I didn’t. But let me tell you, that wasn’t the case. I replied: “You only think that because you don’t understand—and that’s due to a lack of knowledge.”

Why wouldn’t anyone want to master a subject that can make them money? Their dismissive attitude revealed they’d probably bet and lost in the past. Limited thinking—that was their downfall.

I could tell you things you’ve never heard before. Insights that highlight both high and low success rates among trainers. And here’s the thing: you can make money from either end of the spectrum, as long as you know what you’re doing.

Make no mistake: you get out what you put in. If you lack knowledge, you’re already at a disadvantage. But if you commit to understanding horse trainers through in-depth analysis, you’ll improve your chances of achieving gambling success.

Good luck.

27 Nov 2024

Horse Trainers With Very Outdated Websites Or None At All

Horse Trainers With Very Outdated Websites Or None At All
Everything happens for a reason, or so they say.

As I continue updating the Horse Trainer Directory—specifically the Flat Trainers’ website links—I'm struck by how many trainers either have outdated websites or none at all. Working through my list of over 200 trainers, it's surprising to see such a wide gap in digital presence among professionals competing for business.

To be fair, a quality website with all the bells and whistles from an SEO company is a significant investment. Flashy websites like Roger Varian’s must cost upwards of £5,000, and when you add social media management across platforms, the expense can be daunting.

I won’t name names, but some trainers’ websites look like they were built 20 years ago. I can relate—I’m sure people visiting my platform might think the same! This project is a labor of love, and I simply don’t have the budget to spend thousands on it.

Interestingly, none of the trainers featured on my website pay a fee, and only a handful have ever even said thank you. Once, Rose Dobbin messaged to ask if there was a cost for adding her website and social media. It made me smile because she took the time to ask. I replied, “It’s all free!”—and it truly is, for every trainer, no matter their size.

Over the years, it’s been rewarding to see our site feature in search engines and send visitors to trainers of all levels. I’ve always had a soft spot for helping the smaller stables. Whether right or wrong, I’ll always root for the underdog.

Moments like Pam Sly’s incredible 2006 win with Speciosa in the 1000 Guineas make it all worthwhile. Seeing a smaller trainer soar with a superstar horse is what keeps me going. Pam doesn't have a website. 

Victory

If any trainers need help with websites, social media, or SEO, I know just the person—a great friend who can help them shine online.

Keep those horses galloping fast. 

The Demise Of Horse Trainer Blogs

The Demise Of Horse Trainer Blogs
When I first started Horse Trainer Directory many years ago, one of the most fascinating aspects of UK horse trainer websites was their blogs. It seemed that trainers, both prominent and lesser-known, took the time to share their thoughts on various topics related to horse racing—particularly updates on their horses and upcoming entries. To be fair, these blogs often offered nuggets of wisdom and occasional glimpses of "inside information." The trainers’ passion for both horse training and writing shone through in their prose, and I especially enjoyed reading posts from smaller trainers, who often provided deeply insightful accounts.

However, in today’s increasingly busy world, it seems that many horse trainers no longer have the time to blog. This is entirely understandable—after all, spending an hour writing can feel like unpaid work. Yet, you never know who might be reading. It could be a wealthy owner or someone with deep pockets who thinks, "I like their style!"

One of my favorite bloggers was John Berry. The Newmarket trainer had a remarkable way with words, consistently finding the time to write about his horses, their chances of success, and the many connections he had forged with owners, breeders, and others in the racing world.

I’m sure many of our readers also enjoyed Stable Life, John Berry's blog. He used the Blogspot platform, much like we do with Horse Trainer Directory (albeit with our own domain), and it served him—and us—well.

It was a sad day when, on July 28, 2021, John published his final blog post under the title Dis. His departure from blogging marked the end of an era for his readers. Still, we understand that time is limited, and there are only so many hours in a day. I'm pleased to say Emma Berry updates the News and Blog on his website but I do miss the independent blog with its lengthy word count.  

Currently, we are updating Horse Trainer Directory, which has been neglected for far too long. As I refresh the Flat Horse Trainer Website Links (still ongoing), I paused to reflect on how much has changed over the years. Many trainers have retired, some have gone out of business, others have pursued different careers, and sadly, a number have passed away. This realization highlights the demanding nature of a horse trainer's life. It’s a challenging and often unpredictable business where the support of a wealthy owner can determine whether a stable thrives or struggles to survive. For the fortunate few, success is abundant, but for others, the road can be fraught with difficulty and decline.

I look forward to updating the Flat Horse Trainer Blogs over the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see if any of our old favorites have found inspiration to write again, or if new trainers have discovered a passion for blogging.

Best of luck to them all.