EXETER RIDE
STEVE AVERY
Steve riding out and, a good few years ago, at a hunter trial
JOB: Assistant trainer.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Dazinski.
YOUR BEST RACING MOMENT SO FAR: Franklin's Garden bouncing back to win the Yorkshire Cup.
BACKGROUND: Born in Devonport in Devon and grew up going to the Pony Club, hunting with the Brocklesby Hounds, show jumping, eventing, hunter trialling and riding in point-to-points.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Started as a conditional jockey for Harry Fleming. Joined Peter Taylor as head lad. Became a licensed trainer at Market Rasen. Worked for Air UK Engineering and on the oil rigs for KCA Rigs, whilst holding a permit to train at the same time. Joined Mark Wilkinson as travelling head lad. Joined MHT as assistant trainer in 1998.
DARREN DONKIN
JOB: Feedman.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Toptempo and Astrolibra.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Doing lots of good horses like Tipsy Creek, Polish Laughter and En Attendant.
BACKGROUND: I am Newmarket born and bred with my dad also working in racing.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Started helping out at Robert Amstrong's yard when I was 10 years of age, before going to work full-time for him, after leaving school. Then went to work for Ben Hanbury and John Gosden before joining the MHT in 2001.
HANNAH EDWARDS
JOB: Exercise Rider.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Barbsiz.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Finishing at the British Racing School and moving to Newmarket. Even though I have left my family and friends to work full-time in racing, I hope to make them proud of me.
BACKGROUND: I was born in Wrexham and have been riding since I was 4 years of age. My interest in racing came from when I was a little girl and my Mum and Dad took me racing all the time so, as soon as I left school, I went to the British Racing School in Newmarket.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I did 2 months' work experience before going to the British Racing School with Tom Dascombe, at Michael Owen's yard in Malpas, which is near where I live.
YASMIN BOUYI
JOB: Exercise Rider.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Blue Bounty.
BACKGROUND: I come from Littlehampton and started riding when I was six years old at a local riding school. I worked on a voluntary basis at the riding school for ten years. I went to the British Racing School as soon as I was able, at sixteen, and now have my first job in a racing yard with Mr Tompkins.
SCARLETT MAY
JOB: Exercise Rider.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Astrodiamond, because she is a lovely filly and is nice to ride.
BACKGROUND: I have been riding since I was six years old. I used to do a lot of three-day eventing and have won many competitions. I have also brought an ex-racehorse back into work.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I did a short spell of work experience at Whitwell Bloodstock, but this is my first full-time job.
JACK OSBOURN
JOB: Exercise Rider.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Locum.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Leading up my first winner at Ffos Las.
BACKGROUND: Born in Chichester and racing has been in my family from my father.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I was working part time at Henry Cecil's before moving on to Andrew Balding 's for 9 months before moving on to Mr. Tompkins.
RHEA PENNEY
JOB: Exercise Rider.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Chankillo.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Taking Ted Spread to France when he ran at Deauville.
BACKGROUND: Born in Hexham, Northumberland where I lived till I moved to Doncaster to attend the Northern Racing School.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Started working for Mark Tompkins in 2011 for 18 months. I left for 3 months to work for Ed Walker and have just returned to Exeter Ride.
NIKKI McCAFFREY
JOB: Exercise Rider
FAVOURITE HORSE: Topamichi and Brushing
BEST RACING MOMENT: Riding Astrolibra at Newbury
BACKGROUND: I was brought up in a little village called Flitton outside Bedfordshire and had a couple of ponies when I was younger. When I was 16 I went to the British Racing School and then moved to Newmarket.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I first started out riding for a point-to-point trainer before moving to the racing school to concentrate on flat racing. After leaving the racing school I came to work for MHT. I took a break for about 8 months and have just returned to work for Mr Tompkins again.
RYAN DAVY
JOB: Maintenance.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Ron was my favourite, as my grandad was called Ron and I named my 7th child after him.
BEST RACING MOMENT: As strange as it may seem, I am not really interested in horseracing and never have been but the best moment for me would have been when we won the jockey's weight in chocolate. My wife is a chocaholic and her eyes lit up when I arrived home with my share.
BACKGROUND: I was born in Newmarket and lived all my life in Exning until five years ago, when my wife, Heidi, and our children moved to Newmarket. We have eight children, Ashley (the yard's paper boy), Lauren, Charlie, Henry, Arthur, Rosie, Ronald and Ellen.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I was a roofer for 12 years before coming to work here.
EMELIE TSAMPIKAKIS
JOB: Excersise Rider
FAVOURITE HORSE (In the yard): Astroscarlet
BACKGROUND: I was born and grew up in Sweden before moving over to England to study at the British Racing School.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I have always been around horses as I have got two of my own back home in Sweden. I spent time working in a trotting stable back at home before training at the racing school. I started work for MHT in April 2012 and this is my first job in racing.
KHALED HUSSAIN
JOB: Yardman
FAVOURITE HORSE: Barwick
BEST RACING MOMENT: Khaled loved the York Ebor meeting, when leading up Brushing in the Galtres Stakes; the atmosphere and the facilities at York, along with the filly winning, made it a day to remember.
BACKGROUND: Khaled was born and brought up in the south of Pakistan in a small village, called Runel-Khurd.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: He gained his racing experience at the Lahore Race Club before coming to England in 2008 to work at Exeter Ride.
PHIL GREEN
JOB: Racing secretary.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Brushing.
BEST RACING MOMENT: There are two: Bob's Return winning the St. Leger in my first season at Flint Cottage and Staunch Friend's win at Punchestown - a day never to be forgotten, if only I could remember it after the party!
BACKGROUND: Born near Northampton and still support The Cobblers - after beloved Arsenal, of course. Class is everything. My family was much involved in horses. Father, grandfather and great grandfather were all farriers, my uncle was a feed merchant, my aunt was an illegal bookmaker (until she was 83) and my great aunt was a nun but she probably liked the odd bet if the convent's wine and honey had sold well.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Journalism. To enhance my income while a junior reporter on Northampton's daily paper, I became a very occasional pop group 'minder' (including The Rolling Stones) and also a part-time betting office clerk. Later became Chief Sub-Editor and Editor of the Northampton Chronicle. Retired and then ran MHT's syndicates, was a minor jockeys' agent and freelance writer/editor before joining Mark in 1993. Retired again in 2007 but still couldn't escape, so now very old and only part-time.
IAN BECKETT
JOB: Accounts manager
FAVOURITE HORSE: Joe The Coat
BEST RACING MOMENT: The involvement with Ted Spread in the big races has been great. Also, before Lord Gyllene won the Grand National, I just 'knew' that he would win so backed him ante-post and on the day.
BACKGROUND: I was born in Hackney and grew up in Waltham Abbey.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Spent the first 10 years of my working life as a lifeguard in a sports centre, working my way up to being assistant manager. Then in the mid-1990's, I went to work for Campbells (Bookmakers) Ltd as a counterhand, later becoming the Operations Manager. Campbells were then bought out by Tote Sport. Joined MHT in December 2008.
PAUL SMITH-ECCLES (BUTCH)
JOB: Work Rider, starting stalls handler and flying groom.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Smokey Oakey.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Being given the chance to go to Australia with Franklin's Gardens for the Melbourne Cup - it was a great experience!
BACKGROUND: Born in a little mining village in Derbyshire, called Pinxton and have lived in Newmarket for the last 22 years.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Started with Gavin Pritchard-Gordon - 1988 to 1991; MHT - 1991 to 1993; James Fanshawe - 1993 to 1995; 3 months in America - 1995; Have worked on starting stalls and ridden out for MHT since about 1996/7.
DAVID MEEKINGS
JOB: Box Driver/ Travelling.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Joe The Coat
FAVOURITE RACECOURSE: York.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB: Going racing.
BEST RACING MOMENT : Franklin's Gardens winning the Yorkshire Cup; Babodana winning the Lincoln; Saddling my first winner, when travelling - Four Miracles at York.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Started working weekends and after school in a breaking/pre-training yard - looked after Alborada, when she was out of training. MHT was my first job in racing and am now in my 11th season at Exeter Ride.
DULLINGHAM PARK STUD
DAVID WOODLEY
JOB: Stud Groom.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Five Hearts and Astromagick.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Brushing winning the Galtres stakes. Also, the 2002 Racing Post Trophy, when Brian Boru finished first, Powerscourt finished second and Illustrator finished third, as I saw all three being born.
BACKGROUND: I was born and grew up near Wincanton in Somerset.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I started helping out at Vilmoray Stud, when I should have been at school. Then I went on to work at Whitsbury Manor Stud, Meon Valley Stud, Juddmonte and Bearstone Stud before coming to Dullingham Park Stud in August 2007.
AKRAM KHAN
JOB: Second man.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Trew Class, Topatori, Nice Time, Topatoo and the teaser, Charlie.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Topatoo winning the Middleton Stakes at York in 2007.
BACKGROUND: Born in Pakistan.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I have worked at Dullingham Park for 7 years, since I came to England.
MUHAMMED YAR
JOB: Stud hand.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Fantastic Light, as I groomed him at Godolphin.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Dubai Millennium winning the Dubai World Cup.
BACKGROUND: I was born and grew up in Pakistan in the Swat Valley.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I worked in Dubai from 1988 until 1996 for Sheikh Mohammed with his camels, then I went to Godolphin until 2004. I joined Dullingham Park straight away in 2004.
ASLAM KHAN
JOB: Stud Hand.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Charlie, the stud teaser.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Topatoo winning the Middleton Stakes at York.
BACKGROUND: I come from Karachi in Pakistan.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I came over from Pakistan in 2006 to work at Dullingham Park Stud.
GUY KENNINGTON
JOB: Stud Hand.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Brushing - a good mare and good with her foal.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Frankel winning.
PREVIOUS WORKING EXPERIENCE: I have worked for Wildtracks, Cambridge Beers and Brook Stud.
CAROL CLAY
JOB: Housekeeper.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Bob's Return.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Bob's Return winning the St. Leger.
BACKGROUND: I was born in Burwell and have been married for 35 years to Colin. I have two children, Jamie and Stacey and our gorgeous, lovely granddaughter, Evie, who is two on December 15th.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I spent 23 years working in restaurants and had many enjoyable times and some not so enjoyable! I still miss some of the lovely customers we had. I have now been working for Mark and Angie for 20 years.
GARROWBY STUD
ALAN RIDGER
JOB: Team captain at Garrowby.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Mill Reef - he got me hooked on racing.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Going racing at Wincanton with my late Mum and Dad.
BACKGROUND: Brought up in Somerset on my Mum and Dad's stud. Spent my time drinking cider and listening to the Wurzles.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Started at Hart Hill Stud as stallion man, before becoming stud groom at various places, including Whitsbury Manor Stud, Colton Farm Stud and Old Buckenham Stud before starting work for MHT six years ago.
TINA RIDGER
JOB: Assistant stud groom.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Great News.
BEST RACING MOMENT: Great News winning the Victoria Cup.
BACKGROUND: Born in Germany and have lived all over the country from Scotland to Cornwall.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: Aged 16, I worked with RAF Police dogs. Then went to Hart Hill Stud, where I worked with the driving ponies, did some showing, along with my other stud duties. Co-managed Colton Farm Stud with my husband, Alan. Stud Groom at Highgrounds Stud. Then came to Garrowby.
RACHEL RAINE
JOB: Stud hand.
FAVOURITE HORSE: Kauto Star.
BEST RACING MOMENT: When my mother and father first took me racing at our local track, Hexham.
BACKGROUND: I have been brought up on our family farm in Northumberland, working with horses from a young age.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE: I did the nine-week apprenticeship course at the National Stud before coming to Garrowby Stud.
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