There have been racehorses trained in this area for over 200 years but the Cistercian monks of nearby Jervaulx Abbey were breeding horses long before this. The first documented reference to racehorses in Middleham was the establishment of Isaac Cape as a jockey in 1733 and he eventually became the first specialist racehorse trainer here. Racing was established on the High Moor as early as 1739 and meetings were held regularly during the 18th century.  The last race to be held on the Moor was in June 1873 after disputes between trainers and local gait owners (landowners with grazing rights on the moorland). From then onwards the High Moor has been used only for training. By then though racing was an important part of Middleham's life and so began the history of famous trainers settling here and sending out winners at all of the leading meetings in the country. One of those trainers was Captain Neville Crump who turned out three Grand National winners from his famous yard Warwick House Stables (Now part of Mark Johnston's training establishment) - Sheila's Cottage (1948), Teal (1952) and Merryman II (1960). He also trained five Scottish and two Welsh National winners! Captain Crump died in 1997 aged 86 and is buried in Middleham cemetery.
Another outstanding trainer was Sam Hall with winners of the Ayr Gold Cup, Ebor Handicap (three times) The Yorkshire Cup, the November Handicap (five times) the Cesarewitch, the Lincoln Handicap, the Magnet Cup and the Royal Hunt Cup, to name a few - His niece Sally Hall now occupies Brecongill Stables.

At this moment in time there are some fifteen training establishments. With good modern facilities it continues to prosper as a leading training centre. There was a time in the late 70s and 80s when Middleham suffered a downturn in fortunes and there were some empty yards during that period. However the training facilities were improved and Middleham now boasts its own grass and all-weather gallops on the Low and High Moors.
 

THE MIDDLEHAM TRAINERS        Click on their names to visit their own Websites:

Chris and Judy Fairhurst  -  train at Glasgow House Stables one of Middleham's famous old yards ~ which in 1822 sent out the first four in the St Ledger!

George Moore - Warwick Lodge Stables are the home of this National Hunt and Flat trainer with 
over 600 winners to date - another who played a leading role in Middleham's racing revival.

Simon West - Castle Stables is now the yard of this new trainer - a small, friendly yard with successes in National Hunt racing. Syndicates and partnerships available and welcome.

Chris Thornton - Sharp Hill Farm is a yard of modern American Barn style stabling with boxes
 for 27 horses with excellent facilities and private access to Middleham Moor gallops

Jedd O'Keeffe  - High Beck, Brecongill, Coverham is the yard of this thriving Middleham trainer of both National Hunt and Flat racehorses. Former assistant to Micky Hammond.

Kate Walton - trains out of Sharp Hill Farm - another very successful National Hunt yard.

John Weymes  - Ashgill Stables were for 42 years the yard of Ernie Weymes and now his son John has taken over the reins already with many successes. The yard has been re-furbished and restored and can boast excellent facilities as well as being handy for the local Gallops.

Ferdy Murphy - trains out of Wynbury Stables the well known National Hunt yard at West Witton - with a string of successes including Cheltenham..

Micky Hammond - Oakwood Stables is the yard of this ex jockey now a successful National Hunt trainer

Mark Johnston - Kingsley House is probably the best know yard here today, home of trainer . With around 180 horses in training and winners of some of the most prestigious Flat races in the world.
Their logo says 'Always Trying' and they are doing just that - putting Middleham firmly on the racing map since arriving here in 1988! He is the first trainer ever to have 100 winners in ten consecutive
Flat seasons!

Patrick Haslam - with runners all year round on the flat, jumping and especially renowned for his successes on the All-Weather.

Andy Crook   - Trains out of Ashgill Yard 2

Karl Burke  - of Spigot Lodge where thoroughbreds have been trained since the 1800s

James Bethell  - trains out of Thorngill, Coverham - once the yard of the late Don Enrico Incisa.

Sally Hall - Brecongill, Coverham, Middleham - One of the oldest training yards in Middleham dating from the 18th century and where  has trained since 1969. (no website)

Middleham Horse Racing Appreciation Society

A group of like-minded horse racing folk who have a passion for Middleham, North Yorkshire-trained racehorses . Some work in Middleham training yards, others just love horses and go racing, many study the form and like a bet, some are serious anoraks and in to the amazing heritage and history, others just enjoy a quiet pint in a Middleham pub.

From Dante to Attraction, magnificent and mighty Middleham has trained a host of wonderful winners. Celebrate the High Moor and the dedicated people who make it happen in Wensleydale!

Click on the link below to visit this interesting Facebook site

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=64145477203&id=568016252&view=user#/group.php?gid=64145477203&ref=ts

STABLE VISITS
For those interested in racing, the training of racehorses or possibly interested
in how to become an owner you can visit some of our local racing yards accompanied
by our knowledgeable guide
These stable tours are only available mornings and have to be pre-booked.
Available now from £10 per person
For more details or to Book please telephone 07775568374
E-mail address: middlehamracingbreaks@hotmail.co.uk
(Please note minimum age 16yrs ~ Also unsuitable for disabled persons)

 2 Night Racing Breaks ~ details -  www.middlehamracingbreaks.co.uk
 

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Caring for Racing's People

RACING WELFARE
Helping Racing People overcome life's hurdles

Registered Charity 
No. 1084042

  `Racing Welfare` is an amalgamation of the Stable Lad`s Welfare Trust, The Jockey Club Charitable Trust and Racing Welfare Charities whose aim is to provide support for anyone currently, or previously employed in the thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries and their dependants. They have Welfare Officers throughout the country. Support comes in the form of help with a wide variety of problems, such as injury, illness, homelessness, claiming benefits, form filling and re-training for those who can no longer work in the racing industry ~ this is the other side of racing ~ For the lads and lasses riding out day in and day out in all weathers takes its toll and premature arthritis and rheumatism are just some of the occupational hazards they have to deal with ~ it is all too easy to take their essential work for granted but, unfortunately, if they become ill or injured few of them have anything to fall back on !  Many aspire to become jockeys but few will make it.  The care, patience and time that stable staff invest in a horse's life can be invaluable and pay enormous dividends but their own life in breeding, training and caring for racehorses is neither glamorous nor highly paid and their contribution goes largely unseen and unsung !

Raye Wilkinson
March 2008 saw the retirement of Raye Wilkinson a well known and very well liked, long serving, fully qualified Social Worker who had been involved with the Stable Lads Welfare Trust for over 23 years - which earned him the respect and trust of all those who came to him for his help and advice....

We all wish him a long and happy retirement
~ his shoes will be hard to step into!

To receive information on how to make a much appreciated donation please contact:

North & Scotland Welfare Office, The Town Hall, Middleham, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4NR Telephone/Fax 01969 624123