GRiY Blog

Racing was not the dream until some of his friends pursued the jockey career path and he thought, “this looks fun!” So how was a 16-year-old, with no riding or equine experience going to make this happen? Oisin strikes you as the person that will make things happen and isn’t afraid of hard work to […]

According to Jackie and her sister Bernie, dresses are always a first choice for the racing calendar and it would seem anything goes!  Prints, florals, block colour or classic monochrome.  Hem lengths can be mini to midi but they would never advise long – this is more suited to summer weddings, garden parties and the […]

At LoveVintageDiamonds, we say ‘a Woman without diamonds is like heaven without stars’, but we would not be politically correct to exclude men from this scenario and nor should we. Many gentlemen enjoy diamonds, not to mention jewellery, to a greater extent than is credited. Those gentlemen who appreciate the virtues of a high-quality and […]

Mount Pleasant Hotel has always moved with the times, without losing touch with the finest traditions of a country hotel, which has been owned and managed by the same family since 1938. It provides the perfect setting for welcoming guests before and after they attend the races in Doncaster which is only a short distance […]

Paddy Aspell had grown up around horses and having completed his compulsory schooling, was determined that he was not going back to the classroom, so his father agreed that he could leave school, provided that he got in job in England. “I was a bit of a boy in my teenage years and Dad knew […]

Name: Adrian Nicholls Training Location: Sessay, Thirsk  Single/dual license: Flat How long have you held a license: 3 years Training Facilities:   Paddocks, Lunge Area, 1.5 furlong canter ring Number of horses in training/capacity: 20 What is your background/introduction to racing: I was a successful jockey when my dad Dandy was a leading trainer. My wife […]

Name: Grant Tuer Training Location: Birkby, Northallerton Single/dual licence: Flat How long have you held a licence: 4 Years Training facilities/team: Partner/Assistant Kath, 5 staff, 6f straight sand gallop, 3.5f fibre sand round gallop, walker, lunge ring, lots of grass turnout. Number of horses in training/capacity:  Previously 19 but just completed a new 20 box […]

Name:   Mark Johnston Training Location: Kingsley Park, Middleham  Single/dual license? Dual How long have you held a license? Since 1987 Training Facilities, including how many in the team: 125 – 145 staff. Train on private facilities at Kingsley Park. 10f Tapeta all-weather, further 4f wide (stalls) all-weather. 10 furlongs of grass gallops. 2 Swimming pools. […]

Name: Mr Karl Burke Training Location: Middleham, North York’s  Single/dual license:  Dual – mostly flat How long have you held a licence:  Since 1992 Training Facilities, including how many in the team 130 Stables, 6 horse walkers, 5 lunge rings, covered ride, outdoor hacking / trotting ring. All facilities can be viewed on www.karlburke.co.uk Number […]

Name: Ruth Jefferson Training Location: Newstead Stables in Norton, North Yorkshire  Single/dual license? Dual How long have you held a license? Just over 2 years  Training Facilities, including how many in the team: 48 boxes, a TheraPlate, Halo-Therapy (Salt room) Nebulisers, Ultrasound machine to treat muscle injuries. Turn out paddocks, horse walker and use of […]

Name: James Bethell   Training Location Middleham Single/dual license? Dual license How long have you held a license? 40 years Training Facilities, including how many in the team Polytrack gallop 7F 1m 4F Carpet gallop Extensive grass gallops Number of horses in training/capacity 35 What is your background/introduction to racing? Started in racing at 16 […]

Name: Karen Tutty   Training Location: Osmotherley, Northallerton Single/dual license?: Flat Licence How long have you held a license? Since 2011 Training Facilities, including how many in the team: Two members of staff, professional flat jockey/assistant trainer my daughter – Gemma Tutty. Also, Charlotte Revell who has her own point to pointer which she rides […]

Name   Andy Crook   Training Location: Ashgill Stables, Middleham Dual Purpose licence Training facilities: Middleham gallops High Moor: A 12 furlong carpet gallop and grass gallop plus a five furlong grass gallop. Low Moor: Three furlong all weather gallop which once a week gets brush hurdles put on and roll on starting stalls; a seven […]

Name: Ann Duffield    Training Location Leyburn North Yorkshire  Single/dual license? Dual but I rarely have a jumper!  If single flat/jump? How long have you held a license? – 20years Training Facilities, including how many in the team We have a brilliant Up hill all weather (woodchip) gallop, grass uphill gallops, fibresand round canter, Water […]

Name: Ruth Carr   Training Location;  Stillington, 10 miles north of York Single/dual license? Dual but a long time since I had a NH runner How long have you held a license? 12 years Training Facilities, including how many in the team; 6f circular carpet gallop Multiple loose exercise facilities including our unique “two at […]

Name: Bryan Smart Training Location: Hambleton, North Yorkshire Single/dual license? Duel, but have no jumpers at present How long have you held a license? 30 years Training Facilities: Own all weather and grass gallops Trotting ring Indoor and outdoor schools Two horse walkers Jacuzzi spa Infra-red heat lamps Vet box Physiotherapist on site 11 full […]

On 13th June 2020, I will be undertaking the daunting but exhilarating challenge of racing 1 mile and 1 furlong around York Racecourse in front of a 20,000+ crowd.  Riding at York Races will be a dream come true – many happy days have been spent on the Knavesmire and I have to pinch myself that […]

I worked Christmas Day and then spent the rest of the time with my girlfriend Keely, celebrating and relaxing.  It was quiet in terms of runners over the Christmas period and as we hit January the stables started to fill up.  Lots of old favourites and new recruits made their way to Spring Cottage Stables […]

Well the driving test is booked and hopefully I’ll be able to make my own way to the races after Christmas – I owe a lot of people lifts and they will be looking to cash in! In general, I do prefer travelling with other people, it’s at least a couple of hours from my […]

I can’t believe that I’ve done it for the second year in a row!  Winning back-to-back series of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Series is something that has never done before.  It’s a big achievement that I’m very happy with, as it has been a bit of a mixed season for me. […]

Well it’s always one of the dangers of the job but you put it to the back of your mind.  Then when it happens, you remember that it is part of the job and you have to deal with it. I had a fall at Nottingham on Thursday 1st August.  It wasn’t even during a […]

It’s been a while since my last update.  The amount of racing over the summer months is quite relentless and I have been all over the county and country in search of rides and winners. I’m currently without a car which means that if I can’t get a lift with one of the other jockeys […]

My sponsorship with Go Racing in Yorkshire seems to be involving me in a few things, not just riding the horses! Earlier this month (May) I went to help the team with a litter pick around Langton Wold Gallops in Malton. This was part of Racing Together’s Community Engagement Day, which provides racing with an […]

With the flat season now in full swing, Go Racing in Yorkshire’s sponsored apprentice Kieran Schofield gives us an insight into his racing world. I’m getting very busy with racing now, although my ride on Tonquin Valley at Beverley’s opening meeting didn’t last too long.  He veered erratically left on leaving the stalls and we […]

Go Racing in Yorkshire’s sponsored apprentice, Kieran Schofield, updates us with life on the yard. Although I’ve been ticking over on the all weather, the start of the turf season is fast approaching which I’m really looking forward to. We were all gutted to see Definitly Red brought down in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham […]

The winner of the 2018 Future Stars Apprentice Series, organised by Go Racing in Yorkshire was 25-year-old Kieran Schofield. Finishing eight points clear of his nearest rival, Kieran earned 53 points and a prize of a saddle from White Rose Saddlery, plus sponsorship for 2019 from Go Racing in Yorkshire. Initially, it wasn’t racing that […]