1894-1935 Matthew Dobson Peacock
Matthew Dobson Peacock, born on 29th February 1856 at Harmby, near Middleham (although some sources say Hornby), was a twin, the pair enjoying an actual birthday once ever 4 years, and one of his favourite jokes was to tell people he was only a quarter of his real age. Were that to be true then he died aged 19 in 1935. Associated with horses all of his life, he was only 6 when he got his first taste of hunting, and became an accomplished amateur rider over the Flat, hurdles and the larger obstacles, riding work for Harry Hall at Spigot Lodge. He rode his first winner, Charlie Boy, at Catterick Bridge in 1877. In addition to his interest in racing he was a breeder of rare sheep, farming alongside his racing duties. From 1886 he owned horses which were trained for him by Harry Hall, famously winning the 1893 Manchester November Handicap with Golden Drop, and a year later he was in a position to begin training on his own account. He and his wife had two sons, Matthew James, born in 1879, and Henry Harry Dobson, born 1889, and 4 daughters. The couple moved into Manor House, in the centre of Middleham, in 1884, and when Harry Hall stopped training at Spigot Lodge in 1894, Dobson Peacock launched his training career and took over his string. By 1897 he recorded 11 winners, repeating the feat in 1898, and increasing it to 13 in 1899. He won the 1932 Cambridgeshire with Pullover 100/1, and many of the more difficult to win Handicaps throughout his career, but arguably his favourite race was the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle which he won on 6 occasions. He won it for the first time in 1904 with Palmy Days, following up in 1909 with Sir Harry, in 1923 with Carpathus, in 1927 with Border Minstrel, the next year with Primrose League, and finally in 1932 with Pomarrel. In the 1932 season he achieved his lifetime ambition of training a century of winners in a season, landing the last of those winners at Manchester on the final day of the season when Heronslea, who had won the Wokingham Stakes at the Royal meeting the year before, won the Ellesmere Handicap. Just 12 months before he had arrived at Manchester on the final day of that season with 98 winners but was unable to increase it, so it was with relief and great joy that he achieved the century in 1932. Dobson Peacock was always interested in local affairs and cared for the Middleham community, serving on the Parish Council and Leyburn Rural Council, but was also actively associated with the Conservative branch of the Richmond Division of the party. He died on Friday 13th September 1935 aged 79, and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary & St Alkelda's Church in Middleham on Sunday 22nd September 1935, a church where he had served as churchwarden for a number of years.

At his funeral a Duke, who he had served well for a number of years, paid tribute to him, 'Those whose privilege it was to know Dobson Peacock and enjoy the honour of his friendship, will mourn an irreparable loss. Kindness of heart was indeed a dominating feature of the character of the grand old man. For the past few years, owing to indifferent health, he has been unable to take an active part in the sport he loved. He was, however, blessed with two sons who have followed devotedly in his footsteps. Thus passes on one who, full of years and honour, was rightly regarded as the doyen of his profession. A fitting tribute to Matthew Dobson Peacock was that, in all his time training for some of the best and wealthiest sportsmen in the land, it is on record that he never lost a patron'.

1904 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle PALMY DAYS 3/1 owned by J G B Hays, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by Heppell
1909 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle SIR HARRY 5/2 fav owned by Mr Jardine, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by Otto Madden
1923 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle CARPATHUS 4/1 owned by J Watts, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by J Ledson
1927 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle BORDER MINSTREL 3/1 fav owned by A Hood, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by Tommy Weston
1928 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle PRIMROSE LEAGUE 100/7 owned by J G Thompson, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by Billy Nevett
1931 Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot HERONSLEA 100/30 fav owned by W R Smith, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by J Taylor
1932 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle POMARREL 8/1 owned by J G Thompson, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by Joe Dines

1932 Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket PULLOVER 100/1 owned by Mrs C B Robinson, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by A W Richardson
1932 Ellesmere Handicap at Manchester HERONSLEA 4/1 owned by W R Smith, trained by M Dobson Peacock and ridden by J Taylor

September 1935-1951 Matthew James Peacock
Matthew James Peacock, born in 1879, oldest son of Matthew Dobson Peacock, assisted his father at Manor House Stables right up to the time of his father's death on 13th September 1935 and then successfully applied for his own trainers licence. It was a remarkably successful few years for Matt prior to the outbreak of War, winning more races between 1936 and 1939 than any other trainer in the country. He trained 78 runners in 1936, 71 in 1937, increased to 88 in 1938, but reduced to 72 in 1939. In his very first year in 1935 he won the Manchester Cup with Moneybox, and in November 1936 he captured the Manchester November Handicap with Newtown Ford.

July 1951-July 1984 Richard Dobson Peacock
Richard Dobson Peacock, born in 1924, was the son of Manor House trainer Matthew James Peacock, fully embracing a life in racing from an early age. During the Second World War Richard held a commission in the Royal Scots Greys from 1942 until 1947, and was then able to pursue a career in racing by assisting his father at Manor House Stables. However, in July 1951, when Dick was just 26 years old, he was able to apply for his own trainers licence on the death of his father, and take charge at Manor House. In 1952 he had 45 horses under his charge, which reduced to 35 the next year and 30 in 1954, but then he began to prove himself, winning the Gimcrack Stakes at York with Precast for owner F Ellison, a Bradford businessman. The next year numbers increased to 32, and by 1958 Dick was training the joint top weights in the Free Handicap, Tudor Melody, who he bought as a yearling for 610 guineas and who was crowned champion two-year-old, and Lindsay which was bred by Dick at his Manor House Stud. The pair of horses landed some very high profile races, Tudor Melody winning the Chesham Stakes at the Royal meeting, while Lindsay won the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Carrying on the family tradition, he trained for the Duke of Roxburghe, winning the 1961 Free Handicap for him with Erudite, and 5 years later winning his grandfather's favourite race, the Northumberland Plate with Sweet Story, owned by Local Newcastle Steward the Duke of Roxburghe. Peacock's string reached a peak in 1969 when it numbered 41, but thereafter it declined to the mid-30s, then throughout the 1970s it was in the 20s before diminishing to the mid-teens towards the end of his career. He did win the 1982 Kings Stand stakes at Royal Ascot with Fearless Lad, but just 2 years later he died on Tuesday 3rd July 1984 at Manor House aged just 60, having been ill for some time.
1954 Gimcrack Stakes at York PRECAST 25/1 owned by F Ellison, trained by Dick Peacock and ridden by Billy Nevett
1958 Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot TUDOR MELODY 4/5 fav owned by F Tattersall, trained by Dick Peacock and ridden by Edward Hide
1958 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket LINDSAY 100/8 owned by F Ellison, trained by Dick Peacock and ridden by Manny Mercer
1961 Free Handicap at Newmarket ERUDITE 100/6 owned by Duke of Roxburghe, trained by Dick Peacock and ridden by Jimmy Etherington
1966 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle SWEET STORY 100/7 owned by Duke of Roxburghe, trained by Dick Peacock and ridden by Jimmy Etherington
1968 Yorkshire Cup at York SWEET STORY 3/1 owned by Duke of Roxburghe, trained by Dick Peacock and ridden by Jimmy Etherington
1982 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot FEARLESS LAD 10/1 owned by G Soulsby, trained by Dick Peacock and ridden by Edward Hide

June 1985-April 1989 Harry Wharton
Harry Wharton, born in 1937, entered a family steeped in racing history; his brother Walter was a successful jockey before taking up training, his other brother Terry also trained, and Harry was a good amateur rider. In 1960 he became assistant to Bernard Van Custem in Newmarket, remaining there until moving to Clifford Watts in the same capacity in 1963. He spent 5 years with Clifford before successfully applying for his first licence in 1967 as private trainer to Clifford Nicholson at Limestone Stud, Market Rasen. He saddled his first winner, Flying Orb, at that local track the same year. He then spent 5 years training at Doncaster, followed by 6 years at Wetherby, but in June 1985, ably supported by his wife Roxy, he took over at Manor House Stables in Middleham. One of his highest profile horses was Burrough Hill Lad who he trained to 2 hurdle wins in October 1980, the first in the Staffordshire Regiment Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter, the second the E C Burton Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, both times partnered by Phil Tuck. Of course, Burrough Hill Lad later moved on to Jenny Pitman for his chasing career and won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Some of his best horses, apart from Burrough Hill Lad, were Phil The Fluter, who won the 1987 Roland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby, General Moselle, who won the 1977 Greenall Whitley Chase at Haydock Park, Emendar, Amber Rambler, Snowfire Chap and Inishpour. On 29th March 1986 at Southwell Harry provided Jamie Osborne with his very first winner as a jockey when sending out Fair Bavard to win the Calverton Handicap Hurdle for Amateur Riders. Harry was a well-loved, respected trainer in Middleham, so it was terribly sad that he died so suddenly on Thursday 20th April 1989 at Pontefract racecourse, although he had experienced coronary problems earlier in the year for which he spent some time in hospital. In 1987 he had won the Cattal Chase at Wetherby with Amber Rambler, and as a mark of respect, Wetherby renamed the 1989 running of the event the Harry Wharton Memorial Chase.
1977 Greenall Whitley Chase at Haydock GENERAL MOSELLE trained by Harry Wharton and ridden by Ian Aatkinson
1980 Staffordshire Regiment Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter BURROUGH HILL LAD 9/2 owned by Stan Riley, trained by Harry Wharton and ridden by Phil Tuck
1980 E C Burton Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham BURROUGH HILL LAD 4/1 fav owned by Stan Riley, trained by Harry Wharton and ridden by Phil Tuck
1986 Calverton Handicap Hurdle for Amateur Riders at Southwell FAIR BAVARD 3/1 fav trained by Harry Wharton and ridden by Jamie Osborne
1987 Roland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby PHIL THE FLUTER trained by Harry Wharton and ridden by Shaun Keightley

May 1989-1990 Roxy Wharton
Roxy Wharton moved to Manor House Stables, Middleham in June 1985 with her husband Harry, and had supported him for the final 4 years of his training career, so when he tragically died at Pontefract racecourse on Thursday 20th April 1989, aged just 51, Roxy was faced with some difficult decisions. Should she support her loyal staff and continue training and, if not, where would she move to and what would she do? She applied for a trainer's licence so that Manor House stables could continue to operate, and the Jockey Club granted her a licence in May 1989. She had her late husband's string of 17 horses to train and was supported by Head Lad Andy Crook, who later became a Middleham trainer in his own right. There were a few doubters, but surprisingly, the next year the string increased to 19, and in January 1990 she managed to send out two winners at Sedgefield. On 3rd January The Maltkin won the Spennymoor Handicap Chase, while on 25th January Snowfire Chap landed the Downhill Novices Handicap Chase. Alas, it did go downhill afterwards, for Roxy called it a day in 1990 and Manor House Stables were taken over by Mrs Joan Jordan in 1991.
1990 Spennymoor Handicap Chase at Sedgefield THE MALTKIN 10/1 trained by Roxy Wharton and ridden by A Orkney
1990 Downhill Novices Handicap Chase at Sedgefield SNOWFIRE CHAP 5/1 trained by Roxy Wharton and ridden by A Orkney

1991-April 1992 Mrs Joan Jordan
In 1991 Mrs Joan Jordan took over Manor House stables with a string of 10 horses, although it is believed she may have lived in Clarendon House. She trained Marlingford to win the Gillie Brothers Bookmakers Hurdle at Perth when owned by J Low and ridden by Derrick Morris. The string increased to 15 the next year, but in April 1992 she moved to Lambourn, taking over at the historic Stork House, replacing Terry Casey where she remained for 3 years, after which the property was bought by Mrs Merretta Jones. Joan Jordan won her first race from her Lambourn stable when Doctor's Remedy won the Northern Upholstery Furniture Group Handicap at Redcar in July 1992. Joan Jordan was replaced at Manor House Stables by James Bethell with his string of 19 in 1993.
1991 Gillie Brothers Bookmakers Hurdle at Perth MARLINGFORD 6/4 fav owned by J Low, trained by Mrs Joan Jordan and ridden by Derrick Morris

1992-October 2000 James Bethell
James David William Bethell, son of David, 5th Baron Westbury, was born on 22nd February 1952 and was always likely to forge a career in racing given that his father was a prominent Member of the Jockey Club. After completing his compulsory education, James gained experience of training, initially with Bruce Hobbs in Newmarket, and then Arthur Budgett at a time when Budgett won the Epsom Derby with Morston in 1973, having already won it in 1969 with Blakeney before Bethell had joined him. In 1975, at the tender age of 23, James took over from Arthur Budgett and very soon celebrated his first winner, Baffin Bay at Bath on 28th April 1975. Within 2 years he had landed his first prestigious prize, the 1977 King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot with Celtic Pleasure. Two months later James sent Daring March to Newcastle to capture the Northumberland Sprint Trophy, having run well when 5th in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood a few weeks beforehand, and was a key part of James's best season in terms of winners when he totalled 25. Celtic Pleasure was to do James another favour in 1978 when he won the Rosebery Stakes Handicap at Kempton, while Daring March won the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at the rewarding odds of 25/1. In 1992 James transferred his string to Middleham to take over at Manor House stables, and knew that he had a high standard to maintain. In his first season at his new premises he had a string of 19, but the next year it increased to 28 and the year after to 29. At some stage the premises became known as Sunsque Cottage and the famous yard was labelled the Dante Yard after the 1945 Derby winner. In 1996 Bethell became linked with Clarendon House, a grade II Listed building on the south side of the market place in Middleham when his string decreased to 20. However, in 1997 Sally and James Bethell launched Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing from their Manor House Stables, a group which went on to enjoy tremendous success. James won the Group 2 July Stakes in 1996 with Rich Ground, and in 1998 won the early season Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster with Hunters of Brora owned by Robert Gibbons. At the end of 2000 James transferred to Tupgill Park, taking over stables previously occupied by Micky Hammond who had relocated to Oakwood Stables, on the outskirts of town. Manor House stables were purchased by Patrick Haslam who moved just across the road from his Castle Stables.
1977 King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot CELTIC PLEASURE 12/1 owned by Miss F Rigden, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Richard Fox
1977 Northumberland Sprint Trophy at Newcastle DARING MARCH 11/4 fav owned by Mrs D Shirley, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Bruce Raymond
1978 Rosebery Handicap CELTIC PLEASURE 4/1 fav owned by Miss F Rigden, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Willie Carson
1978 Criterion Stakes Group 3 at Newmarket DARING MARCH 25/1 owned by Mrs D Shirley, trained by James Bethell and ridden by George Duffield
1978 Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar ABERCATA 12/1 owned by Mrs Neville Napier, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Richard Fox
1981 Bovis Handicap at Ascot MARYLAND COOKIE 11/2 trained by James Bethell and ridden by Lester Piggott
1985 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket DOMYNGA 20/1 trained by James Bethell and ridden by Steve Dawson
1986 Silver Seal Handicap at Epsom GAY CAPTAIN 8/1 owned by J Galvanoni, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Cash Asmussen
1996 July Stakes Group 2 at Newmarket RICH GROUND 40/1 owned by Mrs J E Vickers, trained by James Bethell and ridden by John Reid
1998 Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster HUNTERS OF BRORA 16/1 owned by Robert Gibbons, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Jason Weaver

2000-2009 Patrick Haslam
Patrick Haslam was born on 10th January 1948 and assisted Alec Kerr, George Todd and Gordon Smyth before taking out his first trainer's licence in 1971. He began training at Lynchets in Lambourn, training on both the Flat and National Hunt racing. Indeed, one of his two main claims to fame was that he trained a winner at every racecourse, although Ffos Las and Chelmsford City opened after he had retired. He transferred to Neardown Stables in 1977 where he remained for a year. He left Lambourn in 1979 to take over at Pegasus Stables, replacing Michael Jarvis. He won the 1981 Singleton Handicap with Pencil Point and the Bunbury Cup in consecutive years in 1983 and 1984 with Mummy's Pleasure, and the 1983 Richmond Stakes with Godstone. In 1984 he achieved a Royal Ascot success in the Royal Hunt Cup with Hawkley. At the end of the 1988 season he handed back his licence and took a sabbatical from training, but 2 years later he purchased Warwick House stables from Neville Crump who had retired, moving to Middleham in North Yorkshire in February 1991. Thus, he achieved the second of his claims to fame, which is that he trained in all 3 principal training areas in the country, Lambourn, Newmarket and Middleham. Arriving in Middleham, he was impressed by the gallops, the attractive town and the spectacularly beautiful Wensleydale countryside, with 9 flat racecourses within an hour's drive of Warwick House. He began 1991 with a string of 30 horses, but rapidly expanded to 40 in 1992 and 44 in 1993, although it was reduced to 38 in his final year at the historic stables. His best horse during his time at Warwick House was Pipe Major who won the Soham House Stakes at Newmarket in 1994. In 1994 he sold Warwick House to Mark Johnston, who needed to expand across the road from Kingsley House, and Patrick moved to Castle Stables where, in his first year he trained 32 horses. His numbers remained steady throughout his 6 years at Castle stables, although they had increased to 42 in 2000 and he thought the time was right to take on larger premise. During his 6 years at Castle Stables he enjoyed further success with Pipe Major in the Group 3 Van Geest Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, but the stable star was undoubtedly Nigel's Lad who won an incredible 23 races on the Flat, over hurdles and jumps. Patrick was very good at placing his horses; Nigel's Lad won 4 consecutive races and, on another occasion, won 3 in a row. He won the 1998 Crowther Homes Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock and shortly afterwards the Christopher Saul Memorial Handicap on the flat at Ripon. In 2000 he purchased the historic Manor House stables, just across the road from Castle stables, and revelled in the history associated with the 1945 Derby winner Dante. By 2001 his string had increased to 54, increasing in each of the next 3 years when it was reported in Horses in Training that he trained 59 horses.

2012 Racing UK Handicap at Redcar KUWAIT STAR 7/2 fav owned by Miss Vivian Pratt, trained by Jason Ward and ridden by Tony Hamilton
2012 Conference & Banqueting Handicap at Pontefract SWEETNESSANDLIGHT 9/2 owned by Mrs Jill Ward, trained by Jason Ward and ridden by Dominic Fox
2013 32Redbet Handicap at Wolverhampton ROMATICIZE 5/1 owned by Miss Vivian Pratt, trained by Jason Ward and ridden by Graham Lee
2018 Totesport New Customer Handicap at Hamilton MAIFALKI 6/1 owned by Lamont Racing, trained by Jason Ward and ridden by Rossa Ryan
2018 Alec Scotter's 70th Birthday Handicap at Beverley MAIFALKI 7/1 owned by Lamont Racing, trained by Jason Ward and ridden by Rossa Ryan
2018 Premier League Handicap at Haydock MAIFALKI 7/4 fav owned by Lamont Racing, trained by Jason Ward and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2018 Prix Dirickx Listed race at Craon, France MAIFALKI 66/10 owned by Lamont Racing, trained by Jason Ward and ridden by Alexis Badel

2021-present Neil Mechie
Neil Mechie, ably supported by his wife Lucy, took over the Sunsque House/Dante Yard, previously part of Manor House Stables, in 2021 and has, to date, enjoyed two season as a dual-purpose trainer. He received an excellent grounding in the art of training whilst working for 8 years as a vet for the Kingsley Park Mark Johnston team, but in 2021 he thought the time was right to launch his own career and successfully applied for a licence. In his first two seasons he celebrated 19 successes, some in point-to-point races and others under rules, and is presently content with his small yard of just 16 boxes. On 5th June 2021 he landed the Racegoers British Horseracing Handicap Hurdle at Hexham with Coolnacritta, while in 2022 he won the Mill Hill Handicap at Catterick Bridge with Gold Ring. More recently, in 2023 Gold Ring won the Better Value with Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap ar Redcar for the 4 person syndicate of Mechie, Kerr, Tate and Lawson. Neil Mechie's advertising literature rightly emphasises the personal attention given to each horse, with just 16 boxes, and the extensive facilities he has access to on Middleham Moor. Furthermore, as a qualified vet he can boast 24 hour on site veterinary care by 2 experienced equine vets included as part of the training fee.
2021 Racegoers British Horseracing Handicap Hurdle at Hexham COOLNACRITTA 40/1 owned by Finian O'Toole, trained by Neil Mechie and ridden by Ross Chapman
2022 Mill Hill Handicap at Catterick Bridge GOLD RING 22/1 owned by Mechie, Kerr, Tate and Lawson, trained by Neil Mechie and ridden by Andrew Breslin
2023 Better Value with Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap at Redcar GOLD RING 22/1 owned by Mechie, Kerr, Tate and Lawson, trained by Neil Mechie and ridden by Andrew Breslin

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses