TARQUINIUS  – (ran for The Stars and Diamonds in 2014 – 2015)

2003 – Gelding – TURGEON (USA) – SHANNON BELLS (FR) (NASHAMAA (IRE))

Tarquin’s racing career highlight would be to finish 8th in 2013 Grand National for trainer Gordon Elliott and he gave me my first Cheltenham runner as a point to point trainer at the Hunter Chase Evening meeting in 2015. Unfortunately, he sustained a career ending injury and was fully retired. Since 2021, Tarquin had to come out of retirement to look after and teach the youngest members of the equine team Elara, Rosie and  Jimmy, he also likes to  keep an eye out for the rest of the horses on the yard.

STARLETTE – (ran for the Stars and Diamonds in 2018)

2011 – Mare – WINKER WATSON – IMAGINEMYSUPRISE (MUDADIL (USA))

Star had a difficult start to her training career at just turning 4 years old, I was her 3rd home in 6 months, she showed aggression which was anxiety.  It took a long time to zone in this behaviour which is why Star didn’t run until she was a lot older. She sustained a tendon injury whist running under rules which finished her racing career. Starlette has very good breeding lines with the magnificent Secretariat being Star’s great great grandad, so it was a very easy decision to continue this bloodline. Star gave birth to ‘Light of Elara’ in May 2021 and full brother Orion in 2023.

CARUMBA – (ran for the Stars and Diamonds between 2018-2022)

2010 –  Gelding – (GOLD WELL – SARAH MARSHALL (IRE) (FLEMENSFIRTH (USA)).

Carumba has run in 37 races over 6 point to point seasons finishing in the winners enclose 14 times. During covid years he ran under rules and took the racing club to many great days out. After racing, Carumba was semi retired into the showing ring – in hand for 4 years, picking up plenty of rosettes.  He retired fully from showing in 2024 after a hock injury, since then he has done a stint of looking after the younger ones coming through the yard, but now enjoys a quieter life with his safety blanket that is Paddy the Shetland.

CULVERWELL  – (ran for the Stars and Diamonds between 2018-2024)

2011 – Gelding – MIDNIGHT LEGEND – GIVE ME STRENGTH (IRE) (FLEMENSFIRTH (USA))

“Lewis”, as he has been known as since a 4-year-old, has finished in the point to point winner’s enclosure 10 of his 15 runs pointing. Having ran under rules finishing 4th at Market Rasen March 2022. He might be little but is a tough. Lewis never showed how good he was on the race track due to an ulcer in his throat which was blocking 80% of his wind pipe for most of his career. Lewis would give 110% in his races, its just a shame the weakness in his respiratory system wasn’t found till later on in his career. At 13 years old, late 2024, Lewis still had the fire in his belly to race but his breathing and body was letting him down, while he still wanted to ‘do’ after retiring from racing, the decision was made to send him to the National Racehorse College, in Doncaster to teach the youth of today how to ride racehorses. He is now home and enjoying full retirement, having also looked after a few of the young ones coming through the yard. 

PADDY

2000 – Gelding – Shetland Pony

Paddy has been at the yard since 2015. He originally came to the yard as a companion for the rehabilitation horses on box rest and restricted turnout. He is a rescue Shetland pony from World Horse Welfare, very little is known about his history but Paddy is brilliant with children, he will stand beautifully for them to groom and brush him. He used to enjoy walking up to the local infant school to see the children for pet week and also takes part in walking the streets with a bucket raising funds for the schools PTFA during scarecrow weekend. Even though he is loaned from World Horse Welfare he has a home for life with us.