James Forshaw Peace was born in Delamere, Cheshire in 1852 and made his way to the Lambourn area in 1883 where he and his wife Susan Toke Peace, born in 1840, resided at Lambourn House. In 1890 they are recorded as being at The Plough at Eastbury along with his sister, Jane Elizabeth Toke Thorp and their mother. He left Eastbury in 1892 and lived at a number of locations in Lambourn for the next 16 years, including Lambourn House, College House, and Windsor Cottage, which he leased from the Kennard family, but he will be best remembered for building Delamere House on the Baydon Road, having purchased 2 cottages before converting them into a much grander house, and adding 30 stables. He was a wealthy man, purchasing 245 acres in the Lambourn area, including 100 acres of arable land and the Crowdown Gallops for £1,200. In 1899 he purchased Ronehurst in Upper Lambourn for £1,050, as well as the Farncombe Bottom Gallops off the Baydon road. He trained for a number of prominent, wealthy owners, including Lord Newton, Lord Kesteven and Sir John Thursby, and he particularly liked having a tilt at the ring at the old Newton-Le-Willows racecourse until it closed at the end of the 1898 season.
Amongst his best horses were The Tartar, True Art, Red Heart, St Noel, Canonbury and Ranald McEagh. He hit the headlines on 25th July 1896 when training 5 winners in a day at the Newton Summer meeting, winning with Carsethorn, Larkhill, Palmy, Polytheist and Pollyduck. Remarkably, he repeated the same feat 2 years later at the same racecourse and same Summer Meeting on 12th July 1898, winning with St Tudno, Marasquin, Superb, Trevor and Foxstones. James retired in 1902, and he and his wife returned to the Cheshire area to enjoy their retirement. She died in 1907, at which point he sold the Farncombe Bottom Gallops, and he died at 58 Liverpool Road, Chester in March 1908 aged 56, leaving a will of £15,141.
25th July 1896 Grand Stand Welter Handicap at Newton-le-Willows CARSETHORN 2/1 owned by L H Pilkington, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Calder
25th July 1896 Lyme Park Stakes at Newton-le-Willows LARKHILL 1/2 fav owned by L H Pilkington, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Finlay
25th July 1896 Juvenile Selling Stakes at Newton-le-Willows PALMY 5/2 owned by Mr Legge, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Calder
25th July 1896 Newton Cup at Newton-le-Willows POLYTHEIST 4/1 owned by Captain L H Jones, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Finlay
25th July 1896 St Helens Plate at Newton-le-Willows POLLYDUCK Evens fav owned by G F Fawcett, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Finlay
12th July 1898 Maiden Plate at Newton-le-Willows ST TUDNO 11/8 fav owned by L H Pilkington, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Finlay
12th July 1898 Mile Selling Plate at Newton-le-Willows MARASQUIN 5/2 owned by R A Harper, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Finlay
12th July 1898 Warrington Handicap at Newton-le-Willows SUPERB 10/1 owned by R A Harper, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Lofthouse
12th July 1898 Newton Bridge Handicap Plate at Newton-le-Willows TREVOR 5/2 owned by Sir John Thursby, trained by J F Peace and ridden by F B Black
12th July 1898 Prescott Plate at Newton-le-Willows FOXSTONES 1/2 fav owned by Sir John Thursby, trained by J F Peace and ridden by Finlay
1906-August 1912 Edwin Martin junior
Edwin Martin junior, born at Enville, Staffordshire in 1866, was son of Edwin Martin a successful jockey and Newmarket trainer. Edwin (Teddy) junior won the 1882 Goodwood Cup aboard 20/1 Friday owned by the Duke of Hamilton. Arguably his best win as a jockey was in the 1883 Cesarewitch at Newmarket when he partnered Don Juan. He began training in 1904 at Leicester, although he moved later in the year to Lawrence Stables, Royston which he owned. In 1906 he transferred his string to College House, Lambourn whilst at the same time making use of Delamere House Stables as a second yard. Two of his most prominent owners during his time in Lambourn were Robert (Bob) Sievier and Colonel R L Birkin. He won both the 1907 Great Eastern Handicap on the Flat and the 1907 Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree for the latter. By September 1912 he had moved to Chitterne, Dorset and from there back to his own stables in Royston.
1882 Goodwood Cup FRIDAY 20/1 owned by the Duke of Hamilton, trained by Richard Marsh and ridden by Teddy Martin
1883 Cesarewitch at Newmarket DON JUAN 100/7 owned by G Lambert and ridden by Teddy Martin
1907 Great Eastern Handicap at Newmarket HUKA 100/6 owned by Colonel R L Birkin, trained by Edwin Martin and ridden by F Baker
1907 Grand Sefton Steeplechase at Aintree SPRINGBOK 10/1 owned by Colonel R L Birkin, trained by Edwin Martin and ridden by J O'Brien
William Vandeleur Schroeder Beatty, son of Captain David L Beatty, was born in 1875 in Borodale, County Wexford and served with the 19th Hussars and the Mounted Infantry in the South African War, winning both the King's and Queen's Medal and earning the title of Major. He was a keen cross-country rider and steeplechase jockey. He continued to ride even after his leg was amputated in 1936 as a result of a steeplechasing accident. In 1911 he took out a Flat licence and began training at Stamford, Lincolnshire, but within a year he had made his way to Lambourn to take over from Edwin Martin at College House and, like Martin before him, used Delamere House on the Baydon Road as a second yard. He was called up again in 1914, but suffered his severe leg injury and returned to training in 1917. By April 1918 he had moved to Phantom House, Newmarket where he remained for the rest of his career. In 1925 he married the Honourable Victoria Alexandrina Fitzroy, second daughter of the 4th Lord Southampton, although the marriage was dissolved in 1941 after an acrimonious divorce battle in which Victoria alleged that her husband had 'received' Miss Gladys Knight on numerous occasions while she was away from the house. Between the 2 World Wars Major Vanda Beatty trained flat and national hunt horses at Phantom House, starting in 1918 and continuing at Phantom House until he retired at the end of the 1947 season.
1916-1917 Captain Joseph.F.Bancroft
Joseph Frederick Bancroft, born in 1882, was an apprentice between 1900 and 1904 and reached the rank of Captain in the forces. In January 1916, while his boss was recovering from a serious leg injury suffering during active service, Bancroft took out a National Hunt trainers licence, training his first winner within a month. He continued in his role until Major Beatty was ready to take over in 1917.
Between 1919 and 1932 the successful trainer Ossie Bell made frequent use of Delamere House stables as a second yard. Captain Oswald Marmaduke Dalby Bell was born in Australia and had a passion for horses and ponies. He travelled to India and was famous for importing two ponies from his native homeland to India, Idle Bell and First Bell, both winners of the Lucknow Civil Service Cup and Eclipse Pony Stakes in Calcutta. He then travelled to England where he became an extremely successful racehorse trainer, sending out scores of winners from his Stork House Stables, including 1928 Epsom Derby winner Felstead (SR 1923) at 33/1. Felstead did not show a great deal as a 2-year-old, but won a Newbury maiden at 3 and then performed with credit in the 2000 Guineas, finishing sixth behind Flamingo (SR 1969). It was only when he moved up a distance that he began to show his true ability, winning the Davis Stakes at Hurst Park, before winning the Derby.
February 1932-December 1933 Herbert Fergusson
Herbert George Fergusson was a highly successful trainer in Egypt over a number of years, and a prominent owner in Egypt, particularly during the winter when the Flat season in England had finished, was Mrs Chester Beatty. She owned many horses in England and in 1932, impressed with the way Fergusson trained in Egypt, offered Fergusson the chance to train privately for her in the UK. He agreed and took over Delamere House and stables on the Baydon Road, training exclusively for Mrs Beatty. His most prominent wins during his time at Delamere were in the 1932 Manchester November Handicap with Hypostyle, and the 1933 City and Suburban with Great Scot. After almost 2 years he departed Delamere for Bishops Canning, preferring to operate as a public trainer. In March 1935 he returned to Lambourn to continue his career at Cozey Lodge and remained until 1936.
1932 Manchester November Handicap at Manchester HYPOSTYLE 20/1 owned by Mrs Chester Beatty, trained by Herbert Fergusson and ridden by A Richardson
1933 City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom GREAT SCOT 20/1 owned by Mrs Chester Beatty, trained by Herbert Fergusson and ridden by J Collins
Marcus Maskell Marsh, son of Classic winning trainer Richard Marsh, was born in 1904 and followed in his father's footsteps, landing his first English Classic victory with Windsor Lad (SR 2100), owned by HH Maharaja of Rajpipla, in the 1934 Epsom Derby when training in Lambourn, followed just 3 months later with victory in the St Leger. By then the horse had finished third in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, and had been purchased by bookmaker Martin Benson for £50,000.
In 1950 he took the brave decision to transfer to Newmarket, taking charge at Fitzroy House Stables. It paid almost immediate dividend when he was crowned British Flat Racing Champion Trainer in 1952 on the back of a dual Derby and St Leger victory by Tulyar (SR 2075). Marcus Marsh trained for over 40 years, including a final move to Somerville Lodge, before announcing his retirement in 1964, and then enjoyed 19 years of retirement during which time he wrote his autobiography, Racing with the Gods, in 1968.
1934 Chester Vase WINDSOR LAD 3/1 fav owned by Martin H Benson, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Freddie Fox
1934 Epsom Derby WINDSOR LAD (SR 2100) 15/2 owned by HH Maharaja of Rajpipla, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1934 St Leger at Doncaster WINDSOR LAD (SR 2100) 4/9 fav owned by Martin H Benson, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1935 Coronation Cup at Epsom WINDSOR LAD evens fav owned by Martin H Benson, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1935 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown WINDSOR LAD 4/7 fav owned by Martin H Benson, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1940-1945 American Troops
During the Second World War, when Fulke Walwyn was on active service in the 9th Lancers in France, Delamere Stables were used by American troops, and it was poignant when some of them returned in 1994 and 2011 for the 50th anniversary and the 70th anniversary.
1947-1949 A.M.Wells
A M Wells took charge at Delamere House just after the end of the Second World War. He trained moderate hurdlers and chasers like Rearguard, Valorous and Zhukov, but he enjoyed few successes and left in 1949.
Robin Reed began training in 1933, holding a NH licence, while in 1934 he successfully applied for a Flat licence, training 5 horses at East Hendred, remaining there until 1935. In 1938 he renewed his Flat licence, training in West Ilsley until 1939 and the outbreak of the War. Undeterred, he continued his training career at East Ilsley between 1941 and 1943, moving to Binfield Grove between 1943 and 1944. After the War ended Reed took on Newlands Stables, Upper Lambourn, previously occupied by John Westlake, sadly deceased in 1941. Reed trained at Newlands for 4 years between 1946 and 1949, after which the new tenant was Major Tim B Fitzgeorge-Parker. Robin Reed then moved to Delamre House, Baydon Road where he operated between 1950 and 1963.
1964-1965 Basil Foster
Basil Selwyn Foster was born in Doncaster on 5th September 1926 and began training in 1951 at Rectory Farm, The Ridgeway in Enfield. In 1955 he trained a steeplechaser, Joe Holland, to victory, and he was so enamoured with the horse that when he moved to Lansdowne House Stables in 1957, he renamed the house Holland House, a name which has been maintained ever since. In December 1961 Basil gave two apprentices their chance, one was Jeremy Glover who went on to become a very good racehorse trainer, whilst the other was David Jones, a Manchester lad who left school early to join the stable. He enjoyed a few months learning his trade and riding out on the Warren Hill gallops, but left racing to make his name as one of The Monkees, Davy Jones. Basil continued to train, relocating from Newmarket at the end of the 1963 season to Delamere House, Baydon Road, Lambourn and from there to Middleham before a spell in both Canada and Florida.
J Dodd trained at Delamere House, Baydon Road throughout 1966 when his best horse was Frigolet who won the Syston Hurdle at Leicester and the Painswick Hurdle at Cheltenham. At the end of the year he was replaced at Delamere by David Hanley.
1966 Syston Hurdle at Leicester FRIGOLET 11/4 fav trained by J Dodd and ridden by Jeff King
1966 Painswick Hurdle at Cheltenham FRIGOLET 8/13 fav trained by J Dodd and ridden by Jeff King
David Louis Hanley, born on 25th August 1928, was the son of jockey and trainer Sam Hanley based at Seabright Stables, Epsom. David joined Epsom trainer Walter Nightingall as an apprentice and went on to have a successful riding career for 14 years beginning in 1944. He had to wait for almost a year before partnering his first winner, Shy Anitor on 19th October 1945 at Worcester, and then was called up for National Service which he completed by December 1948. After his riding career finished in 1958 he assisted his father before taking over the licence in 1960 and later trained at Ermin Stables, Lambourn Woodlands. In 1963 he won the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot with Marcher, completing the double in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster. By 1967 Hanley transferred to Delamere House Stables where he remained for a decade. During his time at Delamere he pulled off a gamble with Big Hat who won the 1969 Ebor at York at 40/1, having already landed the Newbury Spring Cup with Emerilo. Towards the end of his time at Delamere he won the 1975 Cambridgeshire with Lottogift, later winning the 1976 Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. In 1978 he moved back to Ermin Street Stables, while in 1981 he inhabited Lambourn House stables. His final training period was spent at Middle Pond, Lambourn Woodlands between 1984 and 1989. David died on 2nd June 2008 aged 79.
1963 Portland Handicap at Doncaster MARCHER 100/6 owned by R Zelker, trained by David Hanley and ridden by Ron Hutchinson
1969 Newbury Spring Cup EMERILO 3/1 fav trained by David Hanley and ridden by Lester Piggott
1969 Ebor Handicap at York BIG HAT 40/1 trained by David Hanley and ridden by Ray Still
1975 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket LOTTOGIFT 33/1 owned by A Richards, trained by David Hanley and ridden by Roger Wernham
1976 Bunbury Cup at Newmarket LOTTOGIFT 11/2 owned by A Richards, trained by David Hanley and ridden by Richard Fox
1977-1978 George Henry Peter-Hoblyn
George Henry Peter Hoblyn, born circa 1944, was a racehorse trainer who famously replaced George Todd at Manton in 1973 after the death of the legendary Todd. Manton was bought by John Bloomfield and he installed Peter-Hoblyn, but by 1977 Peter-Hoblyn was at Delamere House stables. He remained at Delamere until 1978 training the likes of St Terramar and Captain Flak.
1979-1981 Merrick E Francis
Merrick Francis, born in 1949, is the son of National Hunt jockey and racing thriller writer Dick Francis and his wife Mary. Merrick was always likely to carve out a career in racing, given the fame of his father, so in 1968 he began as assistant trainer in Sussex before deciding to launch his horsebox transportation business in the 1970s, starting with just one box. By the late 1970s he was training at Delamere House on the Baydon Road, and in 1982 he built Folly House and stables on the Folly Road, complete with its 27 boxes. He trained from there between 1982 and 1991, retiring for the first time in 1992, when Brian Meehan moved in a year. During that first spell he won the 1983 Northumberland Plate with Weavers Pin, its 150th running, and celebrated a Royal Ascot success in the 1987 Britannia Stakes with Genobra.
1982-1988 Ray D Laing
Ray Laing, born in Malton, the son of a flat race jockey, was a Marine Engineer during the War, afterwards becoming a much-valued member of Peter Walwyn's successful Seven Barrows team at a time when the stable star was Grundy, winner of the 1975 Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and epic contest against Bustino, one of the best races of the century. He had ridden as an apprentice and jump jockey, but in 1977 he decided to apply for his own trainer's licence. He launched his training career in 1978 at Eastbury Cottage, just outside of Lambourn, where he trained for Tony Stratton-Smith, owner of Charisma Racords who owned the stables. He later moved on to the historic Delamere Stables on the Baydon Road in 1982. He remained at Delamere until 1988, and retired for the first time in that year, but by 1991 he had transferred to Upshire Stables. His best horse by far was Roaring Riva, a 15,000 guineas yearling out Music Boy out of Elton Abbess, who was owned by Billy Gaff, one time manager of Rod Stewart. Roaring Riva won the 1985 Group 1 Phoenix Park Stakes at the now closed Phoenix Park while Ray was at Delamere Stables. Ray was associated with many famous people in the Pop music industry apart from Rod Stewart. He knew Chris Wright, Dave Robinson, Alvin Stardust, Liza Goddard and food critic Robert Morley. Another of his good horses whilst at Delamere was Crime of Passion, owned by Chris Wright, who won the 1982 Cherry Hinton Stakes and was runner-up in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. Other horses who performed well for Ray were Beggars bridge, Chukaroo and Tugoflove. Ray died in June 2012 having spent the majority of his life with wife Barbara in Lambourn, breeding budgies and zebra finches during his retirement.
1982 Cherry Hinton Group 2 Stakes at Newmarket CRIME OF PASSION 12/1 owned by Chris Wright, trained by Ray Laing and ridden by Billy Newnes
1990-1991 Thomas Patrick McGovern
Thomas Patrick McGovern hailed from Ireland and was still riding there in 1989 when he won the Glengar USB Handicap Chase for Noel Meade. Between 1990 and 1991 he trained at Delamere House stables on the Baydon Road, although his National Hunt horses usually contested hurdles and chases at Plumpton, Towcester and Southwell.
1995-2008, 2010-2014 Roger Curtis
Roger Curtis, born on 10th February 1949, excelled at steeplechase running in his early years, and began his working life in advertising in London. He then became owner and Stud Manager of Eastridge Park Stud, Bolney, West Sussex until 1986. He then decided to switch careers to training at New Lodge, Woodcote Carshalton from 1986 to 1988, sending out his first winner, Hello Georgie at Fontwell on 2nd September 1986. It was some 18 months later that he celebrated his first Flat winner, The Yomper at Doncaster on 25th March 1988. In 1988 he switched to Emyn Lodge, Epsom where he remained for 4 years before returning to his former stables, but continued to use Emyn Lodge as an overflow yard. He enjoyed his highest-profile jumps winner in 1993 when Mister Ed won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, but other jumps successes included the 1987 Glynwed International Chase with Brave Hussar, and the 1998 United House Construction Chase with Dontleavethenest. During the 1992-93 jumps season he guided St Athans Lad to no less than 9 wins, all at his beloved Fontwell. In 1995 he was drawn to Lambourn, taking over Delamere Stables on the Baydon Road. He spent 14 years at Delamere in his first stint at the stables, moving out for just one year to Hill House Stables, Folly Road, Lambourn in 2009. He returned to Delamere in 2010 and remained there for the rest of his career. Whilst at Hill House he enjoyed his best season, sending out 24 winners on the Flat on the back of taking some horses from his nera neighbour Paul Blockley, who was banned from training, and training arguably his best horse, Zafisio, who won the 2009 Prix Perth at Saint Cloud, the Hessen Pokal at Frankfurt, and was runner-up in the Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen, the German 2000 Guineas. In a career lasting 28 years he gained 183 NH wins and a further 65 on the Flat, sending out his final winner, Elegant Olive, at Huntingdon on 23rd November 2013. Roger died of prostate and bone cancer in January 2018 aged 68.
1987 Glynwed International Chase at Newbury BRAVE HUSSAR 8/1 owned by S B Glazer, trained by Roger Curtis and ridden by Carl Llewellyn
1993 Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter MISTER ED 25/1 owned by The Talking Horse Partnership, trained by Roger Curtis and ridden by Derrick Morris
1998 Burnt Oak & Special Cargo Novices Chase at Sandown DONTLEAVETHENEST 7/2 owned by M L Shone, trained by Roger Curtis and ridden by Norman Williamson
1998 United House Construction Chase at Ascot DONTLEAVETHENEST 4/1 fav owned by M L Shone, trained by Roger Curtis and ridden by Norman Williamson
2009 Prix Perth Group 3 at Saint Cloud ZAFISIO 10/1 owned by H Downs and D Looney, trained by Roger Curtis and ridden by Dominique Boeuf
2009 Hessen Pokal Group 3 at Frankfurt ZAFISIO 12/5 owned by H Downs and D Looney, trained by Roger Curtis and ridden by Graham Gibbons
WINDSOR LAD (1934 Epsom Derby, St Leger, 1935 Eclipse Stakes)
ROARING RIVA (1985 Phoenix Park Stakes)
LOTTOGIFT (1975 Cambridgeshire, 1976 Bunbury Cup)
SPRINGBOK (1907 Grand Sefton Chase)
HYPOSTYLE (1932 Manchester November Handicap)
