Young trainers
Signs of
PROMISE For those trainers in the early stages of their careers the past few months have been especially challenging yet with racing now in full flow there is plenty still to look forward to in 2020 Words: Graham Dench
James Ferguson: patient approach
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young guns are full of optimism for the future.
TOM WARD
Neardown Stables, Upper Lambourn tomwardracing.com The lockdown frustratingly delayed not only the completion of the new yard Tom Ward is building next door to the Neardown Stables he is renting from Charlie Mann, but also his wedding to Alex Lowe. In other respects, however, it did not hit him half as hard as it might have done. Ward, who had his first runner last August after four years assisting Richard Hannon, reckons the toughest part was keeping owners in the loop and staying positive about the future
Tom Ward: high hopes for his debut winner Vintage Rascal
AMY LANIGAN
I
n racing, just as in the wider world, some have been hit very much harder than others by the Covid-19 pandemic and its repercussions. One group that one might have expected to have been particularly vulnerable is young trainers only just embarking on their new careers, However, when we spoke to five primarily Flatorientated trainers in just their first or second seasons, we found they have coped well. None of us know quite how damaging the pandemic will prove in the longer term, with the viability of some racecourses threatened, prize-money inevitably reduced, and the likelihood of some owners being forced out of the sport, but with racing back in full flow our
for so long without a specific date for racing’s resumption. That remains just as important, with owners still not allowed at the yard or on the racecourse even though racing is back. However, he is full of optimism for the remainder of 2020. He says: “There have been a lot of phone calls, and we’ve sent out a lot of videos and photos, but the owners have all been great, despite having their own businesses to worry about. We haven’t lost anyone.” As he hasn’t lost any horses he hasn’t had to make any difficult decisions about staff, as they all needed exercising every day whether or not they were racing. Ward, who still hopes to be in his new yard by the end of June and has pencilled in September for the wedding, currently
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