Racing communities around the world are mourning Tony Ives, one of the greatest and most popular international jockeys of recent decades who has died in Thailand at the age of 74 following a lengthy period of ill health. Ives was born in Westow, near Malton, in February 1952 and, although he started his apprenticeship in [...]

Most British racecourses now hold considerably more race-days than used to be the case. Salisbury, the second-oldest course in the country after Chester, is no exception. The curiosity of its calendar is that its year nowadays starts later than formerly, with its curtain-raiser now established as taking place on the Sunday afternoon on which the [...]

Since the death of Ian Balding, we have been reflecting on treasured memories not only of the highly respected trainer but also of one of Kingsclere's greatest patrons, Paul Mellon. It was fitting, therefore, that Andrew Balding should have won at Newcastle last Friday with Level Look, who was bred by Emma Balding at Kingsclere [...]

Ian Balding, who has died at the age of 87, made an indelible impression on the turf, not only as the trainer of some wonderful horses including Mill Reef, but also as mentor to many young people who subsequently graduated to success in the sport. Most notable is his son Andrew, who succeeded him at [...]

The cliche is that it only takes 40 years to become an overnight success.  Obviously it can never take that long for a horse but Starspangledbanner could be forgiven for thinking something along those lines as he ends 2025 with his status at an all-time high. There were several notable aspects to this year's Cartier [...]

News needs to be special if it is going to knock the horses off the top spot, even for a short while, during Breeders' Cup week. The story which was able to do that was the announcement of Frankie Dettori's imminent retirement and his plans for the future. That is understandable because Frankie has been [...]

Barry Hills, who has died at the age of 88, was one of Britain's most successful, skilled and respected trainers, sending out winners in each of six decades from the 1960s onwards. He was trainer and friend to some of the sport's greatest patrons, most notably Robert Sangster. Son of a great horseman and father [...]

The death of Kevin Prendergast, the doyen of the Irish trainers' ranks, at the age of 92 represents the end of an era. The Prendergast dynasty has been at the forefront of Irish racing for longer than pretty much anyone can remember and Kevin very much continued the family tradition of success. For many, Kevin [...]

Miles Henry Easterby, invariably known as Peter, who has died at the age of 95, was not only one of the best and most successful dual-purpose trainers Britain has ever known, but also one of the most popular and most respected. Peter Easterby and his younger brother Mick had good teachers because they grew up [...]

Epsom racecourse and the sponsor Betfred are to be saluted on their decision to run this year's Derby 'In Honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV'. No family has been a more constant competitor in the Derby over the past century than the Aga Khans. Most recently, HH Aga Khan IV, who died in February, [...]

The Tuesday evening of Craven Week in Newmarket was notable not only for the buoyant trade at Park Paddocks during the first session of Tattersalls' Craven Breeze-Up Sale but also for a fascinating lecture given to Newmarket's Local History Society, which meets on the third Tuesday of every month. Titled 'The History of Veterinary Practice [...]

Racing has lost one of its true gentlemen with the passing of former leading trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton at the age of 84. Fulke Johnson Houghton was born into the game as both of his parents were top-class trainers, albeit that his mother had to operate unofficially because the Jockey Club had not yet relented [...]