IAIN WILLIAMS
JOB: Travelling Head Lad
FAVOURITE HORSE: No Rules
BEST RACING MOMENT: Steenberg, winning The Duke of York Gp.2, as I used to ride him out and we had had him for years.
BACKGROUND: Born in Leamington Spa but we soon moved to a village, just outside Banbury in Oxfordshire, which was where I was brought up.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE:
Went to work on a stud, on leaving school but the owner retired after a couple of months.
Joined John Webber, as a conditional jockey, in 1976, where I stayed for about 5 years.
Came to Newmarket and rode out for various people before joining MHT in 1985, as Travelling Head Lad.
Still here 25 years on!
PHIL GREEN
JOB: Racing secretary
FAVOURITE HORSE: Brushing for now but could easily become Ted Spread.
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 the Flint Cottage staff in 1993. Retired again in 2007 but still couldn't escape, so now very old and only part-time.
ASHLEY MORGAN
JOB: Apprentice jockey
FAVOURITE HORSE: Toparichi
BEST RACING MOMENT SO FAR: Winning a £40,000 race for Paul Cole at the St. Leger meeting
BACKGROUND: Born near Cardiff and lived there until I was four years of age, when we moved to Camarthen in West Wales. Grew up riding in hunter trials and hunting and wanted to become a jump jockey. As I was so light, I decided to ride on the flat and so took out my apprentice licence.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE:
Started working for Peter Bowen when I was 14.
Went to work for Mark Usher, who took out my apprentice licence and gave me 6 rides.
Moved to Flint Cottage in 2007
STEVE AVERY
Steve riding out and, a good few years ago, at a hunter trial
JOB: Assistant trainer
FAVOURITE HORSE: Kinsya and 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 Fleming 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
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
HORSE TO FOLLOW THIS SEASON: Dazinski
FAVOURITE RACECOURSE: York
FAVOURITE HORSE: Imjin River / Brushing
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 10th season at Flint Cottage.
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