About:
After an education at Rockwell College and University College Dublin I came to England to work as assistant trainer to Toby Balding in 1981. Having spent further years with Jim Old and Jimmy Fitzgerald, I set up my own Point-to-Point training business in 1985.
Always riding as an amateur I was lucky enough to ride plenty of winners under rules and “between the flags” and crowned off my riding career by winning the 1989 Nation Hunt Chase at Cheltenham festival for my good friend Toby Balding. Having built up my Point-to-Point business and moved to Hatherden Stables near Andover I took out a public trainer’s license in 1991.
Moving to Wilsford Stables in 1995 I have built up my business to train over fifty horses both flat and jumping. Wilsford stables is owned by the “Bailey Family,” and is where my good friend Peter Bailey trained many big race winners during his career.
Stables: Wilsford Stables is part of the Lake Estate which was bought by Lady Janet Bailey in 1912 and is still owned by the family today. Lady Janet Bailey's grandson Peter Bailey converted the dairy in 1981 to form a training yard consisting of 29 stables and hay barn. He ceased training in 1991 after 27 years.
Peter Bailey trained many winners including: a Grand Annual, an Arkle, 2 Welsh Champion Hurdles, The Whitbread and The Hennessy. Peter lives at Springbottom Farm, and allows Seamus, who moved to Wilsford Stables in 1995, the use of 1200 acres of riding for the yard across the Woodford Valley and the use of the Water Meadows for summer grazing.
Gallops: Set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside we have a 7 furlong grass gallop on a slight incline overlooking Stonehenge. We installed a 3½ furlong Eurotrack gallop, which has a good incline. This surface never freezes and provides an excellent all year round gallop. Many outside trainers and eventers use the gallops on a regular basis. Adjacent to the all weather gallop is a 3½ furlong grass gallop, which is used for schooling over hurdles during the winter months.
Situated next to the stable yard is a 3 furlong oval sand and rubber mix gallop which has many uses. All the preparatory breaking and schooling is done on this gallop, as well as summer jumping when the grass schooling ground is unsuitable.
Loose School: Adjacent to the yard we have a 30m x 60m all weather loose school which is great for breaking youngsters and loose schooling.
Schooling Fences: Situated at the top end of Wilsford Estate is the purpose built schooling grounds which consist of three small warm up fences and three full size fences. This idyllic location lends itself well to getting horses relaxed and jumping naturally and is praised by all jockeys who use it, the ground is always good even in the wettest weather.
Paddocks: There is an array of turn out paddocks, which enables the horses to be turned out on a daily basis.
Horse Walker: A five horse Roscoe Fabrications walker is set adjacent to the yard, this enables horses to exercise frequently throughout the day in view of the yard.
Services:
Racehorse Training