Combining a mix of society's last word and both wit and wisdom, The Steeple Times covers food, drink and fine dining as well as luxury, travel, the arts, individuals of influence and current affairs in the United Kingdom, America and elsewhere. We are best described as being akin to "a cross between The Huffington Post and Private Eye".
The magazine's following is affluent, engaged and international. With 41% of readers coming from the UK and 38% from America, The Steeple Times also has strong presence within Canadian, Italian, German and Australian territories.
November 21, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Well-equipped 0.5-mile harness racing track in Yorkshire for sale for £1.5 million; it was the scene of an “ear biting incident” by a traveler in 2009 A dream property for harness racing enthusiasts has been put up for sale in Yorkshire. Its star feature is a 0.5-mile all-weather racetrack and it also comes with … Continue reading “Harnessing a Horse Track”
August 18, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Orange County mega-estate sold last for £14 million on an original asking price of £67 million offered for sale again for £43 million after death of owner The largest residential estate on the Newport Coast of California is back on the market. One Pelican Hill Road North in Newport Beach – alternatively known as … Continue reading “Flying a White Elephant”
July 26, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Designer Reed Krakoff slashes the price of his Hamptons mansion; Jackie Kennedy Onassis spent her childhood summers there A Hamptons mansion named Lasata – meaning: “Place of Peace” in Native American – where Jacqueline Bouvier (later Kennedy and later Kennedy Onassis) spent her childhood summers has recently been reduced in price from £41.5 million … Continue reading “A Peaceful Reduction”
June 4, 2017
by General
Reclusive yet charming “leisure entrepreneur” Trevor Hemmings owns over 100 racehorses, lives primarily on the Isle of Man and generously funded the SAFE centre to help victims of sexual violence in Preston, Lancashire. This “publicity averse” self-made father of four’s Grand National winning horses have included Ballabriggs, Hedgehunter and Many Clouds and other assets … Continue reading “Trevor Hemmings CVO”
May 18, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Fat former boxer and Toad of Toad Hall-like figure of fun Fergus Wilson and his equally badly dressed Hyacinth Bucket-like wife, a former maths teacher named Judith, banned “coloured people” from renting the 1,000 properties they own in Kent “because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy”. They were also revealed to … Continue reading “Fergus and Judith Wilson”
April 27, 2017
by Jon Vine
Racing enthusiast Jon Vine takes a look at the five most famous horses to ever run at Royal Ascot Royal Ascot is approaching and as excitement begins to build, we take a look at a five of the greatest superstars to have previously graced the meeting. Brown Jack Between the years of 1929 … Continue reading “Five of the Best – Royal Ascot’s Finest”
April 3, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Essex “neo Georgian Palladian” residence created from an ordinary detached house marketed for £5.4 million; it is a bit of a mish-mash and described as “over-engineered” Estate agents normally wax lyrical about properties they are marketing but in the case of £5.4 million ($6.7 million, €6.3 million or درهم24.8million) Threshers House at Threshers Bush, … Continue reading “Over-Engineered”
March 12, 2017
by Jon Vine
Jon Vine offers tips for this week’s Cheltenham Festival The horse racing world was plunged into a wave of disappointment when Colin Tizzard confirmed Thistlecrack had suffered a minor tendon tear and would be forced to miss the rest of the season. The Gold Cup favourite had been wowing fans throughout his first season … Continue reading “The Superstars Set To Clash”
March 6, 2017
by Jon Vine
New contributor Jon Vine previews next week’s Cheltenham Festival There is no sound in sport that evokes more tension and excitement than the hooves of twenty equine athletes thundering around the final bend at Prestbury Park. Simply remembering all the great names who have bolted up the Cheltenham straight to claim Festival glory makes … Continue reading “The Excitement Builds”
January 22, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Berkshire country house named “Gays” for sale Not connected with the LGBT community in any way, but in fact named after a man named John Gays, “Gays” at Holyport, near Maidenhead in Berkshire dates to around 1456 and is currently for sale for £5.95 million ($7.36 million, €6.88 million or درهم27.05 million). … Continue reading “A Happy House”
December 21, 2016
by The Tout
The Tout’s tips for The King George 2016 Sometimes the leftovers taste better second time around on Boxing Day and this year there is a real treat in store at Kempton Park while we sit in the armchair getting over the festivities. If you’re not scheduled to go already, you will have to watch … Continue reading “A Boxing Day Treat”
October 17, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
An image of quite possibly the best tailgate bar ever (and two images of the consequential behaviour) On Monday, Guest of a Guest featured what could quite possibly be the finest tailgate drinking setup ever. In a series of slides about the 96th Far Hills Running Race Meeting in New Jersey on Saturday, … Continue reading “Picture of the Week – Tailgating Par Excellence”
August 1, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
Dorset racing stables and stud for sale Horse racing fans with £4.75 million ($6.26 million or €5.64 million) to spare could do worse than buy Whitcombe Monymusk Racing Stables & Stud, near Dorchester in Dorset. Offered for sale after the death of its owner, Liz Nelson MBE, in 2014, the stud and training … Continue reading “Racing on”
March 17, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
The Tout’s first tip at the Cheltenham Festival – Sprinter Sacre – romps home in spite of all the hurdles he faced
November 27, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
South Kensington communal garden offered for sale for the staggering sum of £175,000
August 20, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks former jockey turned racehorse trainer Victoria Haigh: What’s on your mantelpiece?
August 10, 2015
July 9, 2015
by General
Devoted to her dogs and the widow of a tycoon named Frank V. Brach (1890 – 1970), Helen Brach inherited a significant portion of a $23 million estate (the equivalent of $135 million or £87.8 million today) in 1971.
June 17, 2015
by General
The second son of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai
June 16, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
A £25,000 top hat suitable for a gent who wants to stand out at Royal Ascot
June 4, 2015
June 3, 2015
by steepleadmin
Trainer Victoria Haigh reports on recent events in French racing and on the prospects for Treve
March 9, 2015
December 24, 2014
October 10, 2014
by General
Based in San Francisco and the co-founder of the Tal-y-Tara tea and polo shop
October 8, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Reconfigured Lancashire estate for sale for £4.25 million Businessman Martin Higginson and his wife Maggie have reversed what has happened to most English country estates in buying back properties and land around their Lancashire home, Hay Carr at Bay Horse, near Lancaster. They are now selling the whole property with a price of offers … Continue reading “Northern glory”
September 5, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Frankie Dettori puts his Voysey designed country house up for sale Champion jockey Frankie Dettori is best known for his “flying dismounts” and for having won seven out of seven races at Ascot in 1996. He currently lives at Stetchworth on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border near Newmarket but is now selling his home there.
September 2, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
This “famed show jumper” began riding at the age of three and competed at the 2010 World Championships aged just 19. He was fourth in the 2011 Pan Arab Games team event with Valentino Balia and hosted the British Polo Day in Abu Dhabi in March 2014. Sheikh Shakhboot aims to represent his nation at the … Continue reading “His Highness Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan”
August 20, 2014
by steepleadmin
The Tout’s tips for the York Ebor meeting During the reconstruction of Ascot, The Royal Meeting was held at York and what a great success it was. This meeting is one of the summer highlights and The Knavesmire, as the course is known, never disappoints unless there is heavy rainfall and the River Ouse bursts … Continue reading “Ascot hits Yorkshire”
January 23, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Frankie Dettori’s triumph at Lingfield marks a great start to his return to racing Frankie Dettori’s win at Lingfield on Wednesday is to be celebrated and marks a most welcome return for Britain’s favourite jockey.
August 30, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The daughter of the billionaire publishing magnate and politician Michael Bloomberg and his Yorkshire born wife, this passionate equestrian divides her time between New York and Florida. A New York University graduate and generous philanthropist, Bloomberg has written three “young adult” novels: The A Circuit, My Favorite Mistake and Off Course. She featured in Jamie … Continue reading “Georgina Bloomberg”
July 31, 2013
by The Tout
The Tout’s tips for Wednesday’s racing at Goodwood We’ve arrived at the mid summer festival to beat all others at Goodwood but without the heatwave and some of the ingredients that give Goodwood the pseudonym “Glorious”.
June 20, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Queen’s horse wins the Gold Cup at Ascot The Queen is no doubt deservedly raising a glass tonight after her first ever Gold Cup win at Royal Ascot.
June 18, 2013
by The Tout
The Tout’s tips for Royal Ascot Finally for all fans of horse racing the greatest week of the year has arrived and even the ladies look forward to it with anticipation as their outfits come together in time for the greatest parade of horse flesh that any punter can see at any single meeting. … Continue reading “Royal Ascot 2013”
June 17, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Frankie Dettori signs with Your Golf Travel Champion jockey Frankie Dettori is back in the saddle and back in business. As well as performing his trademark flying dismount after winning at Goodwood on Friday on Stormy Paradise, the Italian has signed a five-figure sponsorship deal to become an ambassador for the world’s largest golf … Continue reading “Dettori drives forward”
May 31, 2013
by The Tout
The Tout’s tips for the Oaks and the Derby Frederico Tesio, a pre-eminent Italian breeder, who owned and bred Ribot one of the all time greats maintained that there is only one important piece of wood in the world and that piece of wood is the winning post at Epsom on the downs just … Continue reading “Epsom: The Oaks and the Derby”
March 26, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks Welsh National winning racehorse trainer Michael Scudamore: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? Grandad Scu, a tough man when he was riding and an absolute gentleman. He is the person that dad, Tom and I look up to the most. … Continue reading “Michael Scudamore: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
March 18, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks author Alex Preston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? Books, cooks and good looks. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? “Do no harm; or if you do, make sure it’s beautiful … Continue reading “Alex Preston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
February 27, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks “Made in Chelsea’s” Jane Felstead: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? My conscience. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? Revenge is a dish best served cold.
February 18, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The sale of the home of a circus heir and the revival of Billy Smart’s Circus Billy Smart, Sr. (1894 – 1966), a travelling showman and father of 10 children (he was himself one of 23), bought a circus in 1946 and quickly became known as an extraordinary entertainer. One of his son’s, Billy … Continue reading “A Smart move”
January 31, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
She’s been named the “most fascinating person in the public eye” by Tatler and a “21st century role model” by The Telegraph. This superb TV presenter and journalist is also a retired amateur jockey, has beaten thyroid cancer and is in a civil partnership with Alice Arnold, the BBC Radio 4 continuity announcer.
January 3, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times backs Frankie Dettori to win Celebrity Big Brother 2013 Though Frankie Dettori split from Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin in October and was banned from racing for six months in December 2012, he began his comeback last night by entering the Celebrity Big Brother house.
December 4, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Jilly Cooper’s state of the nation style summary strikes chords with Matthew Steeples Best-selling bonkbuster author Jilly Cooper might be best known for novels such as Riders and Jump! but in the 1980s and 90s she was equally lauded as “one of the Conservative Party’s most ardent supporters.” Cooper, born in 1937, showed … Continue reading “The Woman Who’ll Make Politicians Jealous”
November 30, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The Tout gives his take on this weekend’s racing at Newbury Winter has officially arrived and traditionally The Hennessy is the first of the major National Hunt events for the purists who love this sport. Sadly the race is a handicap and generally The Tout despises a contest such as this because those greedy … Continue reading “Striking Gold at The Hennessey”
November 16, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks the journalist and equestrian expert Victoria Spicer: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force? Sat nav, usually. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? I’m stealing my motto from someone else – “Don’t … Continue reading “Victoria Spicer: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
November 15, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This mouthpiece was born in Rettendon, Essex in 1958 and vents bile on all manner of subjects. Articles such as: “Why don’t more women moan like me?” and “Liz Jones’ baby craving drove her to steal husband’s sperm in ultimate deception” are frankly illustrative of why she’s so unpopular. After she got banned from the … Continue reading “Liz Jones”
November 12, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples examines the truth behind Liz Jones giving up on her “rural idyll” The Mail’s Liz Jones is a waspish woman who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Those who’ve paid even a moment’s attention to her bleating, will be familiar with lines such as: “Last week, my brand … Continue reading “The battleaxe in the Beemer”
November 1, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This Swiss born son of a printer has spent over £85 million buying up properties in the Henley-on-Thames area of Oxfordshire. Schwarzenbach also owns 123,000 acres in Australia, 26,000 acres in Scotland and has his own polo team, the Black Bears. This financier’s foreign exchange dealership, Interexchange, is the biggest in Switzerland and betting against … Continue reading “Urs Schwarzenbach”
October 16, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Richard Hughes achieves a “Magnificent Seven” On the 28th September 1996, Frankie Dettori, at odds of 20,095-1 rode seven winners on seven horses in the seven races of the day at Ascot. His achievement cost the betting industry some £40 million and became known as the “Magnificent Seven.” Dettori even named his Chelsea restaurant, … Continue reading “Another Magnificent Seven”
October 4, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Nicky Haslam adds another string to his bow Nicky Haslam is a man of many parts. He’s best known as an interior designer and author but over the years, in chameleon like fashion, he’s variously styled himself as Liam Gallagher, bought a house in Transylvania on the net and once told Vanity Fair he’d … Continue reading “Video of the Week: Total Control”
September 26, 2012
by steepleadmin
Georgea Blakey shares her experiences of Miss World 2012 “Welcome to the holly [sic] land of Genghis Khan. The city of green and pleasant cool.” These are the words written on the side of the car collecting me from Ordos airport. The light summer breeze blowing through this wealthy oil and mineral rich … Continue reading “I’m Miss World, don’t hate me!”
July 27, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks Frankie Dettori MBE: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force? My faith, my family and my self-belief. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? I’ve never held a grudge in my life. … Continue reading “Frankie Dettori MBE: What’s on your mantelpiece?”
July 19, 2012
by The Tout
The Tout’s tips for The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes The second most prestigious race for three year olds and upwards is run at Ascot on Saturday and it is known as The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over a mile and a half. It sounds harsh to say that … Continue reading “Don’t desert Nathaniel for The King George”
July 5, 2012
by The Tout
An analysis of the Eclipse by our latest columnist, The Tout The Eclipse is a Group One race named after one of the great thoroughbreds that we have ever seen in this country. It is a key event in establishing the reputation of any good horse and is run over a mile and a … Continue reading “Who will win the Eclipse?”
May 30, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
“The Voice of Racing” was undoubtedly the most charming gent in England and was the first sports broadcaster to have been knighted.
May 13, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
“Britain’s ultimate interior designer” is a man of many talents and guises. Haslam flits from party to party by night, but by day writes, edits and designs. He’s performed cabaret at The Savoy and Bellamy’s and interior watercolour renderings by him are held by the Victoria & Albert Museum. This trendsetter’s life is indeed summed … Continue reading “Nicky Haslam (Nicholas Haslam)”
April 9, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Profile: Sculptor Edward Waites Continuing my series of profiles of up and coming talent, it was a pleasure to recently meet the extremely talented Suffolk based sculptor Edward Waites. A specialist in animal sculpture, 24-year old Waites is largely self-taught. Leopards, lions, rhinos, horses and bulls are a firm favourite as subjects and … Continue reading “The worthy Mr Waites”
April 3, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
A review of Roberto Cavalli Vodka The Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli is best known for using exotic wild animal prints in his creations and for giving jeans a “sand-blasted look” that has become the standard style for the majority of brands. Born in 1940 in Florence, Cavalli sells his main lines in … Continue reading “A chic serpent”
