February 1910-1926 G W Smith, G E Smith, Etienne De Mestre, James Hayes, Sam Ambler
In February 1910 a new training establishment was completed on the site of Warwick House, Kirkgate, Middleham for the well-known sportsmen G W Smith and G E Smith of Leeds. Up to that point they had occupied Ashgill Stables on the edge of the Tupgill Estate, but decided that a more central location was preferred. In the 1911 Census Warwick House named Mrs Claxton, 51, as Head Housekeeper, with Edward McCormack as Head Groom, but also at the House were James Jemson, 30, a jockey from Australia, Arthur Reader 26, a jockey, John E Drake 18, apprentice jockey who later trained at Warwick House in the late 1920s, and 7 more apprentice jockeys. The new yard had 20 boxes at that point, but had sufficient room for the number of boxes to be increased. Australian trainer Etienne George de Mestre, born 1874, was the eldest son of the legendary Australian trainer Etienne de Mestre, and moved to England in early 1900 serving as assistant to Australian Richard Wootton at Epsom. In 1910 he began his training career at Warwick House, Middleham, to take charge of Mr G W Smith's horses, before moving to Knaresborough and from there to Danby House, Malton in 1912. His father, Etienne, in Australia's Hall of Fame, owned and trained Archer, winner of the first two Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862, both ridden by John Cutts. He later won the 1867 Melbourne Cup with Tim Whiffler, ridden by John Driscoll, and then achieved back-to-back wins in 1877 and 1878 with Chester and Calamia respectively. He died in Moss Vale, New South Wales on 22nd October 1916 while his son was in England. Etienne junior gained early success at his Malton Stables in 1912, purchasing Junior for just 500 guineas in December 1911. The colt went on to win the Manchester Cup (£2560), Ebor Handicap (£850), Chesterfield Cup (£577), Bibury Cup (£827) and the Limekiln and Atlantic Stakes (£1719) giving his owner a handsome return on his investment. At the same time as Junior was beating all before him, de Mestre was sent horses by Sir William Tatem. De Mestre felt the location and size of his Yorkshire stable was limiting his progress as a trainer, so he upped sticks and relocated to stables in Bishop's Canning, Wiltshire, before moving on to Green Lodge Stables in December 1916.
September 1911-July 1912 James Patrick Hayes
In September 1911 Smith appointed James Hayes to take charge at Warwick House. James Patrick Hayes, born in New Zealand in 1877, was a jockey in his native country, although in 1902 he was warned off the turf in Tasmania.
The disqualification was subsequently withdrawn and he travelled to England where he met up with Richard Wootton in Epsom. He had first made friends with Wootton in 1890 in Australia, and in early 1911 he began training at Worple Road, Epsom, but the arrangement was short-lived. He then travelled north to Middleham, working at Warwick House for owner and Leeds commission agent G W Smith, where he replaced Etienne de Mestre. Once again, the arrangement was terminated after a disagreement in July 1912, but in April 1913 Hayes sued Smith for slander, citing Smith's comments about being warned off. Smith countersued and the court ultimately decided in Smith's favour, awarding Smith £5 and costs. It is believed that Hayes died in 1916 aged just 39.
1914-September 1914 Sam Ambler
In early 1914 the Smith's appointed Sam Ambler, born in Bradford in 1881, as private trainer. He had served as an apprentice in Malton before turning his hand to training in 1903, basing himself at Priam Stables in Epsom where he trained 6 winners in 1903. He enjoyed early success, winning the 1903 Champion Chase with Rose Wreath and the next year he trained Puerto to win the Grand International Hurdle. In 1906 he successfully applied for a Flat trainers licence and relocated to Yew Tree Cottage, Chilton to train privately for Jimmy Bell. He remained at Yew Tree Cottage until moving to Ireland to train for J J H Peard at Ashtown, but in February 1913 he was appointed private trainer to James Lonsdale at Waterford Lodge, the Curragh. Almost before the excitement of his new appointment had sunk in Lonsdale died on Wednesday 27th August 1913, leaving Ambler searching for a new training post. In the early part of 1914 Ambler accepted an appointment of private trainer for the Smith's at Warwick House, but then War struck and he became a Sergeant in the armed forces. Later in his career he trained in the 1930s at Maisons Laffitte for an American sportsman, Lewis Chanler. In 1932 Chanler and Ambler enjoyed a remarkably successful campaign at Dieppe races over a 20 day period. They sent two horses, Irritative and Polybana to the meeting and the pair won all 9 races they contested, Irritative won 4 hurdle races and once on the Flat, while Polybana won once over hurdles and 3 times on the Flat. Ambler returned to Bradford where he died in 1936.
1903 Champion Chase at Aintree ROSE WREATH 3/1 owned by V T Thompson, trained by Sam Ambler and ridden by Percy Woodland
1904 Grand International Hurdle at Gatwick PUERTO 9/2 owned by V T Thompson, trained by Sam Ambler and ridden by Piggott
1915-1940 John 'Jack' Edward Drake, G W Smith
In 1915, after the departure of Sam Ambler for War duties, G W Smith, better known in the racing world as bookmaker George Drake, promoted his nephew John Jack Edward Drake junior as his trainer at Warwick House even though Drake was only 20 at the time, although at that stage Smith probably resided at Warwick Hall while Drake lived at Warwick House. Smith also owned neighbouring Warwick Cottage, later named Warwick Lodge, where he had installed Edward McCormack as his trainer from 1912. John Edward Drake junior, born in London on 27th January 1895, was apprentice to George Drake from an early age, enjoying his first ride in public in 1909 at Ripon. He continued to ride whilst training, sending out Shanballymore to win the 1915 North Yorkshire Handicap Plate at Stockton after putting the money down in each of its 3 previous races. Drake won the 1919 Victory Hurdle and Jubilee Hurdle at the so called peace meetings at Manchester aboard John Jackett, although the horse was trained at Warwick Lodge by Edward McCormack. Later, in 1925, Drake won the Victory Hurdle for a second time, partnering George Crag. In 1924 Drake oversaw a string of 20 at Warwick House, which increased to 25 in 1925, although some of Smith's other horses were based at Warwick Lodge overseen by McCormack. In 1926 G W Smith died and his son, G Smith, inherited the horses, houses and the stables, and young Smith was impressed with the training abilities of his cousin Drake, so kept him on as trainer at Warwick House, although the string was reduced to just 12. In 1926 Jackie Drake moved to Warwick House to live, vacating Warwick Cottage, and G Smith appointed Arthur Skelton to take charge at Warwick Cottage (Lodge), although it is uncertain whether McCormack was kept on in some capacity, but the horses under his charge were greatly reduced, numbering 5 in 1927 and just one in 1928. Drake's string in 1926 reduced to 12, but did contain useful horses like Staunch, Irish Tango, Car Topics and Melibeus, the latter being Drake's Lincoln horse. Although Melibeus did contest the 1927 Lincoln, it was unfancied at 33/1, was ridden by W Christie and finished last behind J B Joel's Priory Park 20/1 partnered by Freddie Fox. From 1927 to 1939 Drake trained just a small string, seldom numbering more than 10, and in 1939, at the outbreak of War and with a string of just 8, Drake gave up training and he and his wife moved to Manchester. In March 1949 their only daughter, Barbara, announced her engagement to Thomas Jack of Dumbartonshire, and the couple married later in the year. John Jack Drake died on 11th December 1979 in Sussex aged 84. It appears that during the War years Warwick House nor Warwick Lodge were used as training bases.
1915 North Yorkshire Handicap Plate at Stockton SHANBALLYMORE 6/1 owned by G W Smith, trained by John E Drake and ridden by Killean
1919 Victory Hurdle at Manchester JOHN JACKETT 8/1 owned by G W Smith, trained by Edward McCormack and ridden by John Edward Drake
1919 Jubilee Hurdle at Manchester JOHN JACKETT 8/1 owned by G W Smith, trained by Edward McCormack and ridden by John Edward Drake
1946-1989 Neville Crump
Neville Franklin Crump, born at Beckenham, Kent on 27th December 1910, was the son of a Master of the Foxhounds in England after first being employed as a rancher in Australia. Neville was educated at Marlborough College before taking up his place at Balliol College, Oxford, but he then served in the 4th Hussars, working with horses as a riding instructor. He was assistant trainer to Sonny Hall before deciding to branch out on his own in 1937 in stables on Salisbury Plain, although the War interrupted his career and he returned to the 4th Hussars. He spent a year training in county Durham, but in 1946 he took up residence in Warwick House, which had seen little action during the War, and had been occupied by Jackie Drake prior to the outbreak of War. He was to remain at Warwick House for over 4 decades, and in that time he was crowned Champion National Hunt trainer for 2 seasons, firstly in the 1951/52 season and again in 1956 to 1957, he landed 3 Grand Nationals, 3 Whitbread Gold Cups, 2 Welsh Grand Nationals and won the Scottish Grand National on no less than 5 occasions. Not only was he an excellent trainer, but he was well-respected by all who knew him or worked for him, and he was like a father to many of the jockeys whose careers he moulded, notably Gerry Scott, Johnny East, Pat Buckley, Arthur Thompson and Colin Hawkins. In his first year at Warwick House his string numbered 8, but it increased to 22 in 1947 and 23 in 1948, the year he won his first Grand National at Aintree with John Proctor's Sheila's Cottage 50/1 ridden by Arthur Thompson, the first mare to win the great race for 46 years, and that victory acted as a springboard for his career as, by 1950, his string had increased to 40, and the next year to 45. His reputation was enhanced further in 1949 when Wot No Sun won the first of his 5 Scottish Grand Nationals, and in 1952 he was double-handed in the Aintree Grand National, saddling Teal and Wot No Sun. Teal 100/7, owned by Harry Lane and ridden by Arthur Thompson, won by an impressive 5 lengths from Legal Joy, but the 33/1 outsider Wot No Sun claimed third place. One of the best horses he trained was Merryman II who won the 1959 Scottish Grand National which, at that time, was still run at Bogside, and a year later Crump captured the headlines in the first televised Grand National when Merryman II was made favourite at 13/2 and duly obliged by 15 lengths for owner Miss Winifred Wallace. Three further Scottish Grand Nationals, all at Ayr, were secured in 1968 with Arcturus, in 1980 with Salkeld, and in 1983 with Canton. Despite his obvious successes, his numbers fluctuated; in 1962 he trained 27 horses, but by 1966 he was up to 44; in 1970 he had 30, but the next year he had 59, and yet the next year he trained just 22. He won the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown in 1957 with Much Obliged, and then gained back-to-back wins in 1963 and 1964, firstly with Hoodwinked and then with Dormant who received 3 stone from the runner-up Mill House. There was a 29 year gap between his first Welsh Grand National win in 1951 with Skyreholme, ridden by Arthur Thompson, and his second win in 1980 with Narvik ridden by John Francome. In 1985 his string had shrunk to 22, but reduced still further in the next two years to 17, and by 1989 it was down to 15 when he announced his retirement at the end of that season. He was supported throughout his career by his wife Sylvia (nee Bradley) and they had one daughter, but Sylvia died in 1992 and Neville died on the 18th January 1997 at Scotch Corner.
1948 Aintree Grand National SHEILA'S COTTAGE 50/1 owned by John Proctor, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Arthur Thompson
1949 Scottish Grand National at Bogside WOT NO SUN 2/1 fav owned by Captain T D Wilson, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Arthur Thompson
1951 Welsh Grand National SKYREHOLME trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Arthur Thompson
1952 Aintree Grand National TEAL 100/7 owned by Harry Lane, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Arthur Thompson
1957 Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown MUCH OBLIGED 10/1 owned by H Draper, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Johnny East
1959 Scottish Grand National at Bogside MERRYMAN II 100/8 owned by Miss Winifred Wallace, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Gerry Scott
1960 Aintree Grand National MERRYMAN II 13/2 fav owned by Miss Winifred H S Wallace, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Gerry Scott
1963 Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown HOODWINKED 100/7 owned by Lady Joicey, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Pat Buckley
1964 Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown DORMANT 11/4 owned by Mrs D W Kendrew, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Pat Buckley
1968 Scottish Grand National at Ayr ARCTURUS 4/1 owned by Lady Hay, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Pat Buckley
1980 Scottish Grand National at Ayr SALKELD 14/1 owned by E Bell, trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Denis Atkins
1980 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow NARVIK 15/1 trained by Neville Crump and ridden by John Francome
1983 Scottish Grand National at Ayr CANTON 16/1 trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Kevin Whyte
1991-1994 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. Later 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 premises. 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 95 horses. At the end of the 2009 season he decided to retire and hand over the licence to son Ben who had assisted him for some time. Around this time Manor House Stables, which was very large, was divided between Sunsque Stables including the Dante Yard, and Castle Hill Stables a few hundred metres away. Ben Haslam took over Castle Hill Stables, while Sunsque Cottage, which had been occupied by James Bethell prior to Haslam buying it, was taken over by Jason Ward in 2011. Patrick Haslam trained 988 winners in the UK, 778 on the Flat and 210 over jumps, his final winner being Bateau Bleu at Nottingham on 30th September 2009, but sadly died on 14th October 2017 after a long illness.
1983 Bunbury Cup MUMMY'S PLEASURE 9/1 co fav trained by Patrick Haslam and ridden by Lester Piggott
1983 Richmond Stakes GODSTONE trained by Patrick Haslam and ridden by Graham Sexton
1984 Royal Hunt Cup HAWKLEY 10/1 trained by Patrick Haslam and ridden by Tyrone Williams
1984 Bunbury Cup MUMMY'S PLEASURE 11/2 trained by Patrick Haslam and ridden by Tyrone Williams
1994 EBF Maiden Yorkshire Stakes at York PIPE MAJOR 33/1 owned by Lord Scarsdale, trained by Patrick Haslam and ridden by Jason Weaver
1994 Soham House Conditions Stakes at Newmarket PIPE MAJOR 11/4 owned by Lord Scarsdale, trained by Patrick Haslam and ridden by Jason Weaver
Mark Johnston was born on 10th October 1959 at Bellshill Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, third child and first son of Ron and Mary Johnston, who both worked as Steward and Stewardess for the British Overseas Airline Corporation before Ron later worked in Hotels. Arriving before him were his sisters Lyn and Sharon, and from his early years Mark showed a keen interest in animals, so it was no surprise that he took a seven-year veterinarian degree at Glasgow University, and would be followed about 3 decades later by his son Charlie, who chose the same degree at the same seat of learning. In the autumn of 1986 Mark launched his training career with 12 horses at Bank End Stables, North Somercotes near Louth in Lincolnshire. More often than not his gallops took place on the nearby beach, and it was not until 1st July 1987 that he got his inaugural winner, Hinari Video at Carlisle for owner Brian Palmer and main work rider Bobby Elliott.
It was to be his only winner in that first season. In November 1988 Johnston, backed by partner Brian Palmer, purchased Kingsley House for £162,500 and brought his horses and head lad Declan Condell with him from Lincolnshire. It was a partnership with Palmer which was to last until 2001 when Johnston was able to buy him out. Johnston increased the number of winners per season each season, but until 1994 a Classic win had eluded him. That all changed in 1994 when Mister Baileys (SR 2004), owned by Paul Venner of Baileys Horse Feeds captured the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at the rewarding odds of 16/1. Up to that point, when Johnston had needed extra boxes he had rented 20 from Chris Thornton at Spigot Lodge, but on the back of Mister Baileys success Johnston was able to purchase Warwick House, just across the road from Kingsley House, for £240,000 from Patrick Haslam who moved to Manor House Stables. This added an additional 75 boxes, bringing the total to 142, and enabled Johnston to turn Warwick House into a hub for his 2-year-olds as well as providing much needed accommodation for his increasing number of staff. Further details of Mark Johnston's incredible training career are given in the Kingsley House section, and some of the 2-year-olds listed below were probably stabled at Warwick House stables throughout their 2-year-old careers.
1998 Sirenia Stakes Listed race at Kempton ATLANTIC DESTINY 13/2 owned by Atlantic Racing Ltd, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Darryll Holland
2000 Mill Reef Stakes Group 2 at Newbury BOUNCING BOWDLER 10/1 owned by Paul Dean, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Richard Hills
2000 Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot CELTIC SILENCE 15/8 fav owned by Peter Savill, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Kieren Fallon
2001 Richmond Stakes Group 2 at Glorious Goodwood MISTER COSMI 7/1 owned by Miss Elisabetta Tulliani, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Kevin Darley
2003 Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot PEARL OF LOVE 11/10 fav owned by M Doyle, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Darryll Holland
2003 Queen Mary Stakes Group 3 at Royal Ascot ATTRACTION 13/8 fav owned by Duke of Roxburghe, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Kevin Darley
2004 Dewhurst Stakes Group 1 at Newmarket SHAMARDAL 9/2 owned by Gainsborough Stud, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Kevin Darley
2004 Acomb Stakes Listed race at York ELLIOTS WORLD 5/2 owned by Atlantic Racing Ltd, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Kevin Darley
2007 Champagne Stakes Group 2 at Doncaster MCCARTNEY 8/1 owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Ryan Moore
2008 Royal Lodge Stakes Group 2 at Ascot JUKEBOX JURY 8/1 owned by A D Spence, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Royston Ffrench
2009 Mill Reef Stakes Group 2 at Newbury AWZAAN 11/4 owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Richard Hills
2009 Middle Park Stakes Group 1 at Newmarket AWZAAN 4/1 owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Richard Hills
2012 Richmond Stakes Group 2 at Glorious Goodwood HEAVY METAL 9/1 owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Ryan Moore
2014 Sweet Solera Stakes Group 3 at Newmarket MURAAQABA 7/1 owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Dane O'Neill
2015 Coventry Stakes Group 2 at Royal Ascot BURATINO 6/1 owned by Godolphin, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by William Buick
2016 Dragon Stakes Listed race at Sandown THE LAST LION 10/11 fav owned by John Brown & Megan Dennis, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Franny Norton
2016 Sirenia Stakes Group 3 at Kempton THE LAST LION 11/8 owned by John Brown & Megan Dennis, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning
2016 Molecomb Stakes Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood YALTA 8/1 owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by James Doyle
2016 Middle Park Stakes Group 1 at Newmarket THE LAST LION 25/1 owned by John Brown & Megan Dennis, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning
2017 Woodcote Stakes Listed race at Epsom CARDSHARP 7/4 owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
2017 July Stakes Group 2 at Newmarket CARDSHARP 8/1 owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by James Doyle
2018 Sweet Solera Stakes Group 3 at Newmarket MAIN EDITION 7/4 fav owned by Saif Ali, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by P J McDonald
2019 Queen Mary Stakes Group 2 at Royal Ascot RAFFLE PRIZE 18/1 owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2019 Sweet Solera Stakes Group 3 at Newmarket WEST END GIRL 11/2 owned by A D & M B Spence, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Franny Norton
2020 Acomb Stakes Group 3 at York GEAR UP 9/1 owned by Teme Valley 2, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
2021 Royal Lodge Stakes Group 2 at Newmarket ROYAL PATRONAGE 7/2 owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Jason Hart
2021 Acomb Stakes Group 3 at York ROYAL PATRONAGE 25/1 owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Jason Hart
January 2022-December 2022 Charlie & Mark Johnston
At the start of 2022 Mark and Charlie took out a joint licence to share the training responsibilities, Charlie having served as assistant to his father for a number of years. The team continued to win Group and Listed races, notably the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at Saint-Cloud with Dubai Mile. Living Legend won a valuable Conditions race at Newcastle in addition to the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton and the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket for owners Barbara & Alick Richmond. Although technically the win counter was reset to zero once they began training on a dual licence, Mark Johnston passed the magic 5000th winner milestone on 24th August 2022 when Dubai Mile won at Kempton. After notching up 176 winners during the season, in December 2022 Mark decided to retire and hand the licence completely over to Charlie, marking the end of a glittering, record breaking career. Their final winner was Asdaa on 28th December 2022 at Newcastle, and it is probably fitting that the same horse should provide Charlie with his first winner at Kempton just a week later.
2022 Sweet Solera Stakes Group 3 at Newmarket LAKOTA SIOUX 100/30 owned by Gallop Racing, trained by Charlie & Mark Johnston and ridden by James Doyle
2022 Criterium de Saint-Cloud Group 1 at Saint-Cloud DUBAI MILE 49/10 owned by Ahmad Al Shaikh, trained by Charlie & Mark Johnston and ridden by Daniel Muscutt
2022 Magnolia Listed Stakes at Kempton LIVING LEGEND 12/1 owned by Barbara & Alick Richmond, trained by Charlie & Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning
2022 Easter Classic Conditions Stakes at Newcastle LIVING LEGEND 7/1 owned by Barbara & Alick Richmond, trained by Charlie & Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning
2022 Jockey Club Stakes Group 2 at Newmarket LIVING LEGEND 11/1 owned by Barbara & Alick Richmond, trained by Charlie & Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning
2022 Chesterfield Cup at Glorious Goodwood FOREST FALCON 14/1 owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2022 Sweet Solera Stakes Group 3 at Newmarket LAKOTA SIOUX 100/30 owned by Denford Stud, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by James Doyle
5000th winner 24th August 2022 at Kempton DUBAI MILE 6/5 fav owned by Ahmad Al Shaikh, trained by Mark & Charlie Johnston and ridden by Daniel Muscutt
Final winner 28th December 2022 Sunderland Handicap at Newcastle ASDAA 100/30 owned by Owners Group 045, trained by Charlie & Mark Johnston and ridden by Jason Hart
January 2023-present Charlie Johnston
Charlie Johnston, eldest son of Deidre and Mark Johnston, was born in Middleham on 4th October 1990. Although he was always likely to take over from his father when the time came, nevertheless, Charlie and his parents thought it prudent to gain his degree first. He followed in his father's footsteps by gaining a veterinary degree at Glasgow University and shortly afterwards began working at Kingsley House. Charlie was assistant to Mark for a number of years and moved into a house on Kingsley Park, the main hub of the training estate. For a single year, 2022, Mark and Charlie held a dual licence, but on 1st January 2023 Charlie, at the age of 32, took over the full licence. It seems only right that their last winner as dual trainers was Asdaa at Newcastle on 28th December 2022, and that Charlie's first winner was the same horse exactly a week later at Kempton.
First winner 4th January 2023 Unibet Horserace Betting Operator of the Year Handicap at Kempton ASDAA 2/1 fav owned by Owners Group 045, trained by Charlie Johnston and ridden by Jack Mitchell
MERRYMAN II (1960 Aintree Grand National, 1959 Scottish Grand National)
TEAL (1952 Aintree Grand National)
JOHN JACKETT (1919 Victory Hurdle, Jubilee Hurdle)
NARVIK (1980 Welsh Grand National)
ARCTURUS (1968 Scottish Grand National)
