An a to Z of Racehorse Trainers at Epsom
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The text for this page has been reproduced from part two of the book RACEHORSE TRAINING AT EPSOM Over 400 trainers, over 50 stables, over 300 big race winners. By BILL EACOTT ISBN 978-0-9548278-1-6 with the kind permission of the author. PART 2. RACEHORSE TRAINERS AT EPSOM A-Z Name Address Known Dates ....... ADAMS, Frederick Pitt Place 1877-1879 (c.1844-1893) The Parade 1881-1889 Born at Cranbourne in Dorset, and the elder brother of William James Adams; Frederick Adams was listed as a trainer at The Parade, Epsom in the 1881 census. He trained Scamp to win the International Hurdle Handicap at Croydon in 1877. The York Herald lists 48 horses in training with Adams in 1877. Name Address Known Dates ....... ADAMS, Thomas Woodcote Road 1911 (1871-1923) Son of William James Adams; Tom Adams was born at Bourton on the Hill, and rode for his father. He was declared bankrupt in 1896, (his father had cited his sons’ gambling debts as a cause of his own bankruptcy the previous year). In the 1911 census Tom Adams is described as a racehorse trainer living in Woodcote Road. Name Address Known Dates ....... ADAMS, William James Turf Cottage, 1875-1882 (c.1846-1912) Bruce Lodge 1883-1897 The Cottage 1889 Priam Lodge 1890 The Cottage 1898-1911 William James Adams was born in Cranbourne, Dorset. Adams appears on four different census returns giving a different year of birth on all four. He always signed documents as Jimmy Adams, and was also known as “Jem”, or “Bones” having reputedly broken “every bone” in a series of falls. An accomplished jockey under both codes, he rode in the Derby eight times, and the Grand National nine times; his best finishing position was third in both © BILL EACOTT 1 races. He took up training in 1875 when based at Turf Cottage in Sutton. The York Herald 4th August 1883 noted: “Jas. Adams has leased Bruce Lodge, Epsom from Robert Wyatt.” In Kelly’s Directory 1889 he is listed at The Cottage, and in 1890 he is at Priam Lodge. In the 1891 census he was employing fourteen staff. In 1892, the Yorkshire Post recorded that Adams had a large string of jumpers for the forthcoming season, and had a private steeplechase course erected on Walton Heath., “The going is admirable and all the fences made up to regulation pattern.” He is listed in the 1893 Horses In Training Annual as training twenty-seven horses at Bruce Lodge. Financial difficulties led to a decline in his training career. In 1895 he appeared at Croydon Bankruptcy Court, where he outlined his problems: Nottingham Evening Post 24th October 1895 “WILLIAM JAMES ADAMS, trainer of racehorses at Bruce Lodge, Epsom, “ attributed his insolvency to losses from bad debts, betting, and expenses incurred in connection with the illness if his wife”. The accounts showed gross liabilities of £3402, and assets £1541, deficiency £1860. Adams said that he had trained racehorses for 20 years, the last 12 years at Epsom. Sometimes he had 15 – 20 horses in training but he had been unable to get on without borrowing money. His present liabilities had been incurred since 1889. The debtor [Adams] also explained that he had paid at least £500 for betting losses incurred by his sons.” Before his court hearing Adams put Bruce Lodge, comprising a residence, 18 loose boxes, 12 stalled stable and one acre paddock up for auction, but it failed to reach its reserve, bidding stopping at £2,600. In the 1898 Ruff’s Guide Jim Adams is listed as training at The Cottage, by this time he was only training a few horses. His son, Robert Adams (1875-1943), moved to Europe and was six times Champion Trainer in Austria and Hungary. Name Address Known Dates ....... AKEHURST, John South Hatch 1991 (1961-2012) Shifnal Cottage 1996-1997 South Hatch 1998-2004 Tattenham Corner 2005-2008 Clear Height 2008-2012 Son of Reginald Akehurst, after spells training in Lambourn (1991-1996), and at Shifnal Cottage, Epsom; John Akehurst succeeded his father at South Hatch Stables. He achieved his first Pattern Race success with Mac Love who won the 2004 Supreme Stakes, and also won a Group 3 race in Germany with Capricho. His handicap successes include the 2002 Wokingham Handicap won by Capricho, and with Marsad who won the valuable Ladbroke Handicap at Newmarket in 2001 and 2003. His last runner was with his own horse Prince of Sorrento, which won at Lingfield on 7th March 2012. He relinquished his licence on 13th March, after a long battle against illness, and died the following day. At the time of his death Akehurst was chairman of Epsom Trainer’s Association (founded 1934). © BILL EACOTT 2 Name Address Known Dates ....... AKEHURST, Reg. Hillcot 1968-1971 (1929- South Hatch 1985-1990 South Hatch 1991-1997 In 1968, former National Hunt jockey, Reg Akehurst moved from stables at Wiltshire to take over the lease at Hillcot with some National Hunt horses and a couple of unfashionably bred two year olds. Among the juveniles was Gold Rod, who won three races as a two year old, and then with Lester Piggott on board won the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, and the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. In three seasons Gold Rod ran in thirty-one races, and apart from his debut, was only out of the frame once, he won races from six to ten furlongs, and campaigned against the best in England and France. Notable places included second to Brigadier Gerard in the 1972 Eclipse Stakes, second in the 1971 Prix du Moulin, and second in the 1970 Sussex Stakes. Akehurst’s best National Hunt horses at this time were Moyne Royal who won the 1969 HSS Hire Shops Hurdle, and Rabble Rouser who won the 1969 Tote Placepot Hurdle. Reg Akehurst left Epsom in 1971 and moved to Lambourn, despite saying that he realised it was a mistake after three months; it would be fourteen years before he returned. After winning the 1973 Coventry Stakes with Doleswood, Akehurst’s career slowly declined. In 1984, his tally fell to two winners, however a return to Epsom, where he purchased the historic South Hatch stables rekindled the passion. Racehorses of 1994 noted: “The Epsom handler, who briefly gave up training in the early eighties and at one stage had his string down to nine, is now an acknowledged master in the art of preparing handicappers and setting alight hitherto latent talents. Some of the most striking examples of this have come with animals in the lower grades, but at the 1993 Newmarket Autumn Sales one of his owners purchased the three year old Urgent Request, a colt which has done so well since that he took his connections to top international races on three continents.” Urgent Request, who won the Rose of Lancaster Stakes, was second in the International Vase at Sha Tin, and was beaten two lengths at Woodbine in the Rothmans International. Numerous big handicap winners trained by Akehurst included Sarawat in the 1993 Ebor Handicap, when the owner was reputed to have won £250k by backing the horse, and an even larger amount when Urgent Request was backed from 14-1 into 8-1 for the Northern Dancer Handicap at Epsom. Akehurst resisted the temptation to bet his charges during this successful period, “I have seen too many trainers go broke due to gambling. I am happy with my lot-I make a decent living without gambling.” Other notable handicap wins included the Ascot Stakes, Lincoln, Victoria Cup on three occasions, the Schweppes Golden Mile, the Royal Hunt Cup twice, the Wokingham,The William Hill Cup and the Queen Alexandra. Over the Jumps, Reg Akehurst was equally prolific; winning Grade One events with Bimsey in the 1996 Aintree Hurdle, and Dare To Dream in the 1992 Finale Junior Hurdle. Grade Two successes came with Jazilah in the 1994 Seagram Top Novices Hurdle and the 1994 Dovecote Novices Hurdle, Gaasid in the 1994 Kennel Gate Novices Hurdle; plus the Tote Placepot Hurdle twice, and the Summit Junior Hurdle twice. He also trained the winner of the Free Handicap Hurdle twice with Nebris in 1985, and Coe in 1990. Steeplechase successes included Solidasarock in the SGB Chase; and the Welsh National during a year commencing March 1990 that Akehurst spent training at Whitcombe in Dorset. © BILL EACOTT 3 Seb Sanders the 2007 champion Flat jockey served his apprenticeship at South Hatch with Akehurst. Reg Akehurst retired in 1997; he won with his last runner on the Flat and the last runner over Hurdles. His final reflection on his career was, “I love Epsom. It’s been good to me. But it’s strange they don’t send top class horses there. Fashion, I suppose.” Name Address Known Dates ....... ALDRIDGE, Thomas The Durdans 1889-1891 (1856?-1920) Born in Staines, Aldridge was primarily a jockey, but briefly trained at The Durdans. The 1901 census shows him as living at Park Cottages, Epsom. His son Private William Aldridge died in 1917, aboard the ship “Transylvania” that was torpedoed en route to Salonika. The Western Times, 22nd June 1920 recorded: “Coming off the Downs at Epsom, Mr A. Wildey’s Esplanade fell. Tommy Aldridge the old- time jockey who was riding was killed.” Aldridge, who was living at The Durdans stable at the time of his death is buried in Epsom cemetery. Name Address Known Dates ....... ALFORD, Alfred 1903 Alford also held a National Hunt jockey’s licence c.1904. Name Address Known Dates ....... ALLDEN, George Langley Bottom 1922-1923 (1898-1973) Woodlands 1936-1937 Brother of Percy Allden; George was apprenticed to Thomas Schofield, who trained at The Cottage for owners including Allden’s father.