David Hastings launched his training career at Blandford, Dorset in 1937, recording his first winner, Sweet Will, at Ludlow soon afterwards.
During the War his training career was interrupted when he joined the RAF, but after the War he resumed his career at East Ilsley, and it was from that base that he sent out Magnetic North (SR 1954) to win the 1956 Irish St Leger. In 1957 he moved to Seven Barrows, replacing Ian and Rosemary Lomax who had occupied the historic stables for a little over a year. Hastings remained at Seven Barrows for 8 years, transferring to the newly built Weathercock House, Upper Lambourn, with 18 boxes, in February 1965 after Peter Walwyn bought Seven Barrows. Weathercock House had 20 boxes and was completed in March 1965. He remained at Weathercock House until August 1968 when he brought his 32-year training career to an end and was replaced in November by Simon Morant.
1956 Irish St Leger at the Curragh MAGNETIC NORTH (SR 1954) 8/1 owned by W A Phillips, trained by David Hastings and ridden by Bill Elliott
November 1968-75 Simon Morant
Simon Morant, born on 19th June 1943, has always been closely associated with racing, for his father, John Morant, owned the 1946 Grand National winner Lovely Cottage 25/1 trained by Tommy Rayson and ridden by Captain Robert Petre. Before launching his own training career he rode 4 winners under rules, and then gained a good grounding in the art of training by assisting Henri Van der Peole in France. He then moved to Neville Dent, Bob Turnell and Wilfred Lyde before applying for his own licence. In November 1968 Weathercock House and Stables in Upper Lambourn became available once David Hastings decided to retire, providing the ideal opportunity for Simon. He remained at Weathercock House for 6 years, recording over 60 winners across both codes, but in 1974 he brought his training career to an end and sought an alternative role in racing. However, he did not close the business until March 1975, when an Industrial Tribunal had to decide how to define a business. Head Lad Patrick Curran, who had also been Head Lad to David Hastings since 1955, claimed 20 years redundancy, even though he had only been Morant's Head Lad for 6 years. Curran claimed that, because Simon Morant had bought the business, Weathercock House and Weathercock Stables, from David Hastings in 1968, and did not even have one day off work between Hastings finishing and Morant taking over, that he was entitled to 20 years redundancy. The Tribunal were unable to make an immediate decision, reserving judgement until a later date. The alternative role which Morant sought in racing was to become a racecourse starter in 1976, but it was not until 1993, on the retirement of Keith Brown, that Simon got his dream job as Grand National starter. Brown was in charge of the infamous 1993 Grand National start when the race had to be declared void after 2 false starts, with Esha Ness, finishing first past the post only for his disappointed jockey, John White, to be told the race was void. Simon also took charge of his first Epsom Derby in 1994, when he became the Jockey Clubs Senior starter.
September 1976-30th June 1999 Jenny Pitman
Jennifer Susan Pitman OBE, born in Hoby, Leicestershire on 11th June 1946, was one of 7 children who grew up on a farm where she had access to horses and rode a pony from an early age. She was educated at Hoby Primary school before attending a Secondary Modern School in Melton Mowbray, but her real love, even at that early age, was horses. She entered local gymkhanas and experienced showjumping, although she suffered an unfortunate accident which required prolonged treatment. It did not prevent her from working at weekends and during the long school holidays at Brooksby Grange Racing yard. Her work at the yard convinced her that this what was she wanted to do when schooling finished. She left school earlier than the norm, working full time in the Brooksby Racing yard of T Venn, where one of the fillies she did was Star Princess who won the 1962 Diomedes Handicap at the old Manchester Racecourse at 100/8 when partnered by Keith Temple-Nidd. After spending 2 years with Venn she moved to a stable in Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire where she spent a further 2 years. It was while at Bishops Cleeve that she first encountered the jockey Richard Pitman who literally bumped into her while riding his bike. She never forgot that first meeting, and when Richard took up a post at Uplands with Fred Winter, Jenny gained employment in Major Champney's Church Farm Stables in Lambourn in 1964 when she was 18. Jenny married Richard in 1966 when she was 19, and their first son Mark was born in August 1966, with Paul following a year later. Although she was a housewife, she yearned to get back to stable life, and in 1968 the couple purchased 6 acres of land complete with stables and an indoor schooling shed at Hinton Parva, near Swindon, although the family had to live in a caravan until Richard rode Steel Bridge into second place in the 1969 Grand National behind Highland Wedding, earning him sufficient money for the couple to build a bungalow. As well as running Parva Stud Jenny began training a few point-to-point horses in 1974, winning with the first horse, Road Race partnered by young apprentice Bryan Smart, which she saddled in February 1974. In 1975 she successfully applied for a trainer's licence, sending out her first winner under rules in the same year.
1982 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow CORBIERE 12/1 owned by Bryan Burrough, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Ben de Haan
1983 Aintree Grand National CORBIERE 13/1 owned by Bryan Burrough, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Ben de Haan
1983 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow BURROUGH HILL LAD 11/4 fav owned by Stan Riley, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by John Francome
1984 Anthony Mildmay & Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase BURROUGH HILL LAD 11/8 fav owned by Stan Riley, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by John Francome
1984 Gainsborough Chase at Aintree BURROUGH HILL LAD 11/8 owned by Stan Riley, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by John Francome
1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup BURROUGH HILL LAD 7/2 owned by Stan Riley, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Phil Tuck
1984 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby BURROUGH HILL LAD 10/11 jt fav owned by Stan Riley, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Phil Tuck
1984 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury BURROUGH HILL LAD 100/30 fav owned by Stan Riley, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by John Francome
1984 King George VI Chase at Kempton BURROUGH HILL LAD 1/2 fav owned by Stan Riley, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by John Francome
1985 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot MISTY DALE 9/4 fav trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Phil Tuck
1986 Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree STEARSBY 11/4 owned by Terry Ramsden, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Graham Bradley
1989 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot ROYAL ATHLETE 33/1 owned by Gary and Libby Johnson, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Dean Gallagher
1990 Reynoldstown Novices Chase at Ascot ROYAL ATHLETE 11/4 owned by Gary and Libby Johnson, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1990 Sun Alliance Chase at Cheltenham GARRISON SAVANNAH 12/1 owned by Autofour Engineering, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Ben de Haan
1990 Mumm Club Chase at Aintree ROYAL ATHLETE 5/2 fav owned by Gary and Libby Johnson, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1991 Philip Cornes Novices Chase at Newbury ESHA NESS 7/2 jt fav owned by Patrick Bancroft, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1991 Cheltenham Gold Cup GARRISON SAVANNAH 9/1 owned by Autofour Engineering, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1991 Souter of Stirling Novices Chase at Ayr ESHA NESS 7/4 fav owned by Patrick Bancroft, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1992 Reynoldstown Novices Chase at Ascot DANNY HAROLD 2/1 owned by Mrs Shirley Robins, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1992 Lord Stalbridge Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Wincanton ESHA NESS 9/1 owned by Patrick Bancroft, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1995 Aintree Grand National ROYAL ATHLETE 40/1 owned by Gary and Libby Johnson, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Jason Titley
1996 Sun Alliance Chase at Cheltenham NATHEN LAD 7/1 owned by J Shaw, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Warren Marston
1st July 1999- April 2006 Mark Pitman
Mark Andrew Pitman, first son of Jenny and Richard Pitman, was born in Swindon on 1st August 1966 and became an apprentice with David Nicholson before riding for his mother for a number of years. He notched up his first winner at Nottingham on 10th December 1993 aboard Queen's Ride. However, his most memorable ride was on Garrison Savannah 9/1 in the 1991 Cheltenham Gold Cup, although he did partner Royal Athlete to success in the 1990 Reynoldstown Novices Chase at Ascot and the 1990 Mumm Club Chase at Aintree. He then prepared for his own training career by working for David Nicholson and Martin Pipe before acting as assistant trainer to his mother for 4 years from 1993 to 1997. Mark applied for his trainers licence in 1997, taking over part of Saxon House Stables at the start of his career, landing his first winner, Sailin Minstrel, at Worcester. On 1st July 1999 he took over Weathercock House Stables after his mother, Jenny, announced her retirement, and was ably supported in August 2005 by Grand National winning jockey Carl Llewellyn, but Mark retired from training in April 2006.
Carl Harries Llewellyn, born at Pembroke Dock on 29th July 1965, is the son of a farmer, Eryl. He enjoyed riding ponies as a boy, but then progressed to point-to-point races before working for former champion National Hunt jockey Stan Mellor. He won the Conditional Jockeys Championship, and then landed a huge number of wins in the most prestigious races in the National Hunt Calendar. In 1988 he won the Mildmay of Flete Chase on Smart Tar, but his greatest success came a year later when he won the 1992 Aintree Grand National on Party Politics. Tipping Tim was one of his favourite horses on whom he won the 1992 Mackeson Gold Cup and National Hunt Chase. Successes at the Cheltenham Festival include the 1993 Sun Alliance on Gaelstrom, the 1994 Supreme Novices on Arctic Kinsman, and the 1998 Triumph Hurdle aboard Upgrade. Towards the end of his riding career, whilst already training, he landed the 2006 Scottish Grand National on Run For Paddy. In August 2005 he acted as assistant trainer to Mark Pitman at Weathercock House, and when Mark decided to retire in April 2006 Carl was appointed trainer by owner Malcolm Denmark. He trained for 3 seasons at Weathercock House, training 79 winners, two of which were Demsey in the 2007 Celebration Chase, and Hennessy in the 2009 Bet365 Gold Cup, formerly the Whitbread Gold Cup. In June 2009 Carl and Malcolm agreed to part company, with Carl returning to assist Nigel Twiston-Davies for whom he rode so many good winners.
2007 Fraser Steel Handicap Chase at Sandown DEMSEY 8/1 owned by Mrs T Brown, trained by Carl Llewellyn and ridden by Timmy Murphy
2007 Celebration Chase at Sandown DEMSEY 5/4 fav owned by Mrs T Brown, trained by Carl Llewellyn and ridden by Timmy Murphy
2009 Bet365 (Whitbread) Gold Cup at Sandown HENNESSY 13/2 owned by Malcolm Denmark, trained by Carl Llewellyn and ridden by Tony McCoy
Warren Greatrex, born in Norwich on 22nd February 1975 is the youngest son of Julian and Valerie Greatrex. His father was a farmer, while his mother taught, and the family lived in Dartmoor. He loved being around horses from an early age, taking part in activities organized by the Spooner and West Dartmoor Pony Club, but he was also an accomplished sportsman whilst at school, particularly enjoying rugby and hockey. After completing his sixth form studies he joined David Nicholson's Jackdaw Castle stables, gaining invaluable experience from a recognized master of his trade. He rode as a conditional jockey for Josh Gifford and David Gandolfo, partnering 13 winners in total, and then joined the Lambourn stable of Bryan Smart who had been training in the village since 1990. In 2002 Bryan Smart moved to Hambleton House Stables in Thirsk, but Warren wanted to remain in Lambourn. He gained further experience working for Jamie Osborne before working for Oliver Sherwood for almost a decade at Rhonehurst Stables. In 2009 he was offered the opportunity to train in his own right by racehorse owner Malcolm Denmark and took over at Weathercock House stables, made famous by Grand National and Gold Cup winning trainer Jenny Pitman. Warren remained at Weathercock House until the 2012 season when he moved further in to Lambourn, taking charge of Uplands stables which Charles Egerton had recently purchased.
Richard Hughes, son of legendary National Hunt jockey and later trainer Dessie Hughes, was born in Dublin on 11th January 1973 and was brought up surrounded by horses. He began pony racing at the age of seven and remembers his first winner, riding Chestnut Lady in a 6-furlong race at Wexford. He came to England in 1996 and won the Italian Derby on Bahamian Knight, although he was riding under both codes and rode the winner of the 1997 Irish Champion Hurdle on Cockney Lad.
He was stable jockey for Richard Hannon for a good number of years and married Hannon's daughter Lizzie, the couple being blessed with 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. On 15th October 2012 he rode 7 winners, out of 8 races, at Windsor, winning the Joe Ward Hill Memorial Stakes on Pivotal Moment 13/8 jt fav, the Davis Bakery Nursery aboard East Texas Red 5/2 fav, the Ladbroke Maiden Stakes on Embankment 7/1, the Ladbroke Mobile Handicap Division 1 aboard Magic Secret 4/1 fav, the Ladbroke Mobile Handicap Division 2 partnering Links Drive Lady 5/2 fav, the Ladbroke Handicap with Clarence Lady 7/4 fav and the Skybet.com Handicap on Mama Quilla 15/8 fav. The 7-timer paid 10.169/1, but in the 8th race on the card he came 3rd on the 2/1 fav, and had that also gone in then a £30 accumulator would have paid £1 million. Although Richard was crowned Champion Jockey 3 times, he did not record his first English Classic winner until 2013 when he won the 1000 Guineas on Sky Lantern (SR 1848), and also won the Epsom Oaks on Talent (SR 1766). However, by then he had already notched up victory in the 2010 Irish 2000 Guineas on Canford Cliffs (SR 1934). In 2015 Richard retired from the saddle after 25 years as a top jockey and was ready to launch his training career from his base in Salisbury from where he saddled his first runner, Bank of Gibraltar 7/4 fav, on 11th September 2015 but it was unplaced. Richard then bought Weathercock House stables in Upper Lambourn in November 2015, from where his first runner, Duchess of Marmite, was his first winner on 4th November 2015. He has continued to be successful, sending out winners to Chantilly, Cagnes-Sur-Mer, Goodwood and Chester.
2015 32Red on the Apple Store handicap at Kempton DUCHESS OF MARMITE 9/4 fav owned by the Rathordan Partnership, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Shane Kelly
2015 Coral Handicap at Lingfield BARYE 7/1 owned by Anthony Hogarth, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Shane Kelly
2016 Coral Handicap at Lingfield BARYE evens fav owned by Anthony Hogarth, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Shane Kelly
2016 Charlton Hunt Fillies Handicap at Goodwood PACOS ANGEL 8/1 owned by Biddestone Racing XIII, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Shane Kelly
2016 Prix de L'allee Massine at Chantilly ADMIRALTY ARCH 16/5 owned by The Queens & Partner, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Alexis Badel
2017 Prix Des Arums at Cagnes-sur-Mer ADMIRALTY ARCH 7/10 fav owned by The Queens & Partner, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Maxime Guyon
2018 Liverpool Organic Gin Handicap at Chester GOLD FILIGREE 13/2 owned by Galloway, Lawrence, Merritt & Mrs Blake, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Nicola Currie
2018 Double Delight Handicap at Chelmsford GOLD FILIGREE 4/1 owned by Galloway, Lawrence, Merritt & Mrs Blake, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Shane Kelly
2019 Betway Casino Handicap at Lingfield GOLD FILIGREE 20/1 owned by Galloway, Lawrence, Merritt & Mrs Blake, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Shane Kelly
2019 British EBF Premier Fillies Handicap at Ripon GOLD FILIGREE 4/1 owned by Galloway, Lawrence, Merritt & Mrs Blake, trained by Richard Hughes and ridden by Shane Kelly
BURROUGH HILL LAD (1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Hennessy Gold Cup, King George VI Chase)
GARRISON SAVANNAH (1991 Cheltenham Gold Cup, 1990 Sun Alliance Chase)
CORBIERE (1983 Aintree Grand National, 1982 Welsh Grand National)
ROYAL ATHLETE (1995 Aintree Grand National, 1990 Mumm Club Chase)
HENNESSY (2009 bet365 Gold Cup)
