Tag: racehorses

  • Trevor Hemmings CVO

    Trevor Hemmings CVO

    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 in his collection have variously numbered Blackpool Tower and Preston North End Football Club. He also harbours a love for vintage Rolls-Royces and was considered a “surrogate son” by the equally shrewd late businessman and holiday camp owner Sir Fred Pontin (1906 – 2000).

     

    Of his success, in a rare interview in 2015, this cloth capped “earthy” gent modestly remarked:

     

    “In my business life I’ve had to climb the business and financial ladder by doing better next year than I did last year and that’s what life’s about. You have to work longer hours than everybody and you have to be on site seven days a week. Today I’m available seven days a week, people contact me seven days a week, let’s put it like that”.

     

    Reclusive “leisure entrepreneur” and racing obsessive Trevor HemmingsPictured above: Trevor Hemmings with Grand National winners Hedgehunter and Ballabriggs at Ballaseyr, Andreas.

     

  • Laffitte and Longchamp

    Laffitte and Longchamp

    New contributor trainer Victoria Haigh reports from Longchamp (more…)

  • Stabling Frankie

    Stabling Frankie

    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. (more…)

  • Ascot hits Yorkshire

    Ascot hits Yorkshire

    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 its banks but this year it seems we are blessed with perfect ground. (more…)

  • Models required

    Models required

    Renowned sculptor Jonathan Wylder seeks models

     

    Talented sculptor Jonathan Wylder is setting himself up as the “artist at work” at Belgravia’s The Osbourne Gallery between 7th and 22nd September. He is looking for individuals to model for him during this period and we thought we’d offer up this opportunity to readers of The Steeple Times. (more…)

  • Rich Ricci

    Rich Ricci

    Rich RicciThis “ebullient” American’s name is most apt. A former Barclays bank executive who likes to wear sunglasses come rain or shine, Ricci retired to a Kentish mansion at 49 and supposedly travels by private jet to Dublin every weekend as he “just love[s] Irish racing”. With 40 horses in training and a take home total of £44 million in 2010 alone, he needn’t and doesn’t do things by half and even once named a horse Fatcatinahat in honour of an article The Independent ran on him. Whilst Bob may have had the Diamond position during their days at the bank, it is Ricci who remains truly Rich.

     

  • Michael Scudamore: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Michael Scudamore: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    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.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “Keep a leg either side and his head off the floor” – Michael Scudamore Snr.

    (more…)

  • Trebled by The Tout

    Trebled by The Tout

    Three out of four for our man, The Tout

     

    The first day of Cheltenham has been kind to our mysterious friend, The Tout.

     

    Quevega wins at the Cheltenham Festival 2013
    Quevega wins at the Cheltenham Festival 2013

    His predictions of Hurricane Fly to win the Champion Hurdle, Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle and Simonsig in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase all paid off and no doubt a few of you will be celebrating tonight.

     

    Be sure to check The Tout’s tips for tomorrow. His form will hopefully be just as good.

     

    The Tout’s tips for the week: http://thesteepletimes.com/today/the-theatre-of-dreams-and-the-home-to-real-men-and-horses

     

    For more information on the Cheltenham Festival 2013, go to: http://www.cheltenham-festival.co.uk

  • The theatre of dreams and the home to real men and horses

    The theatre of dreams and the home to real men and horses

    The Tout’s tips for the Cheltenham Festival 2013

     

    Finally, after a long and harsh winter we have arrived at the greatest show on earth for National Hunt fans. The Tout feels his blood pressure rise and a keen sense of anticipation as this week looms and now that it is upon us we are about to be presented with four of the greatest days of sport imaginable.

      (more…)

  • Picture of the week: “I am the bullet in the chamber”

    Picture of the week: “I am the bullet in the chamber”

    The tragic story of Oscar Pistorius and the death of Reeva Steenkamp

     

    Oscar Pistorius was a man many rightly came to admire. He achieved the unthinkable on the track and was, as his father, Henke, pointed out “a man strong beyond his years”. In an advert for Nike, he himself is quoted as saying:

     

    “I was born without bones below the knee. I only stand 5ft 2. But this is the body I have been given. This is my weapon. How I conquer. How I wage my war. This is how I have broken the world record 49 times. How I became the fastest thing on legs. This is my weapon. This is how I fight”.

     

    Picture of the week: Oscar Pistorius in Nike's "I am the bullet in the chamber" advertisement
    Picture of the week: Oscar Pistorius in Nike’s “I am the bullet in the chamber” advertisement
    Athlete Oscar Pistorius and his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (19th August 1983 - 14th February 2013)
    Athlete Oscar Pistorius and his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (19th August 1983 – 14th February 2013)

     

    Our picture of the week is of another advertisement in which Pistorius featured for Nike. Titled, rather unfortunately, “I am the bullet in the chamber”, these are words that will now haunt the athlete forever more.

    Whatever the truth is behind this tragic story, one person is dead and another’s life and career is now ruined. May the case of Oscar Pistorius be a lesson to us all.

     

    Read statements from the family of Oscar Pistorius on his official website at: http://www.oscarpistorius.com