He first began owning racehorses in 1810, but just 9 years later he had a desire to build stables near his family seat, and establish a stud. The racing stables now known as Spigot Lodge, but originally known as Maur's Moor, were built in 1819 by Honourable Thomas Orde-Powlett who employed Isaac Blades as his trainer. However, within 2 years Orde-Powlett owned the 46th winner of the St Leger, Jack Spigot, a brown colt by Ardrossan out of a sister to Bourbon, held on Monday 17th September 1821 over the St Leger course of Town Moor, and immediately renamed his stables Spigot Lodge in honour of his horse. A field of 13 runners contested that race, from an original 49 subscriptions of 25 guineas each, the race being worth 1225 Guineas, equivalent to £109,000 in 2017.

Jack Spigot (SR 1921) 6/1 named after one of the tenant farmers, Jack Faucet, was trained by Isaac Blades and ridden by Bill Scott. Thomas Orde-Powlett went on to win the 1837 Epsom Oaks with Miss Letty (SR 1876) 7/1 also trained by Isaac Blades and ridden by John Holmes. Jack Spigot outlived his owner, dying in June 1843, and was buried at Bolton Hall. Thomas died at his magnificent home Bolton Hall, near Leyburn on Tuesday 31st January 1843 and on his death a number of important engagements became void, as was the case in those days. He owned Wee Pet, who was favourite for the 1843 Oaks, and a colt by the Mole out of Mystery, who was strongly fancied for the Derby and St Leger, both having their entries nulled. Thomas, who was Secretary to the Duke of Rutland, then Lord Lieutenant for Ireland, for a significant part of his Parliamentary career, left behind a wife and 3 sons. Spigot Lodge was then taken over by John Fobert.
1821 St Leger at Doncaster JACK SPIGOT (SR 1921) 6/1 owned by Hon. Thomas Orde-Powlett, trained by Isaac Blades and ridden by William Scott
1822 Convivial Stakes at Newcastle JACK SPIGOT owned by Hon. Thomas Orde-Powlett, trained by Isaac Blades and ridden by Robert Johnson
1837 Epsom Oaks MISS LETTY (SR 1876) 7/1 owned by Hon Thomas Orde-Powlett, trained by Isaac Blades and ridden by John Holmes

1847-29th May 1869 John Fobert
John Fobert, born in Tyneside in 1801, was master of Spigot Lodge, Middleham for over 2 decades, training predominantly for Lord Eglinton, whose famous tartan colours will best be remembered being carried to victory by The Flying Dutchman, bred by Colonel Vansittart, who married Theresa Turner (nee Newcomen) widow of Sir Charles Turner, one time owner of Hambletonian. The Flying Dutchman (SR 2099) won the 1849 Epsom Derby and St Leger, the second St Leger victory for Fobert after Van Tromp (SR 2020) had won it two years earlier. The Flying Dutchman was later involved in the race of the century against Voltigeur at York on 31st May 1851 for 1000 sovereigns. A crowd in excess of 100,000 witnessed the race in which The Flying Dutchman defeated Voltigeur by a length, giving him 8 and a half pounds. Despite his obvious pride and pleasure at the achievements of The Flying Dutchman, whom he often spoke about in his dotage, his greatest love was the Northumberland Plate which he won on 7 occasions with Eryx, Elthiron, Underhand 3 times, Fervacques and Fortunio. In 1853 Fobert became a public trainer at Spigot Lodge, enjoying continued success, even after Lord Eglinton died in 1861. In 1867 he took Fervacques to Longchamp to land the Grand Prix de Paris, albeit after a dead-heat with Patricien before winning the run-off. In his later years Fobert was assisted by his nephew Arthur Briggs for the last 10 years of his training career. Fobert died at Spigot Lodge on Saturday 29th May 1869 aged 68 and was buried at Middleham.

1847 St Leger at Doncaster VAN TROMP (SR 2020) 4/1 owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Job Marson
1847 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle ERYX 12/1 owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Prince
1848 July Stakes at Newmarket THE FLYING DUTCHMAN 4/7 fav owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Charles Marlow
1848 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster THE FLYING DUTCHMAN 2/5 fav owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Job Marson

1849 Epsom Derby THE FLYING DUTCHMAN (SR 2099) 2/1 jt fav owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Charles Marlow
1849 St Leger at Doncaster THE FLYING DUTCHMAN (SR 2099) 4/9 fav owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Charles Marlow
1849 Ascot Gold Cup VAN TROMP 2/1 owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Job Marson

1850 Ascot Gold Cup THE FLYING DUTCHMAN 4/7 fav owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Charles Marlow
1850 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle ELTHIRON 5/4 fav owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Cartwright
1851 Great Match of 1000 sovereigns at York THE FLYING DUTCHMAN 2/11 fav owned by Lord Eglinton, trained by John Fobert and ridden by Charles Marlow defeated Voltigeur by a length

29th May 1869-April 1872 Arthur S Briggs
When the legendary trainer John Fobert died in late May 1869 his nephew Arthur Briggs, who had been a partner in the business with his uncle for 10 years, took charge at Spigot Lodge and was able to carry on training the horses previously trained by his uncle. Arthur and his wife had suffered tragedy in their life when their sixth month old son John Samuel had died on 2nd February 1865, but they also had a daughter, Mary Ann, who married F Smith of the Royal Artillery in Piccadilly on 27th November 1879, although Arthur had died by then. The best horses during his nearly 3 years in sole charge at Spigot Lodge were La Charantonne, Fortunio, Duchess of Athol, Myosotis, Cannon, Jarnac, Meringue, Newark and Lord Harewood. He died in April 1872 aged just 43 and on the 3rd and 4th May 1872 the whole contents of Spigot Lodge were sold at auction, including all of the furniture and his farm stock. Also 3 thoroughbreds were auctioned, namely a 3-y-o bay gelding by Van Galen out of Leah, a bay yearling filly by Windham out of Duchess of Athol, and another bay yearling filly by Windham out of Syren. He was replaced by George Dawon Lye, son of the former top jockey Tommy Lye.
1869 Handicap Plate at Liverpool LA CHARANTONNE 10/1 owned by A de Montgomerie, trained by Arthur Briggs and ridden by W Platt

May 1872-December 1879 George Lye
George Dawson Lye, born in 1833, was always likely to carve out a career involving horses being the son of the famour jockey Tommy Lye and nephew to the Dawson brothers. He trained in China for Sir Robert Jardine before making his way back to England, taking up residence in Spigot Lodge in May 1872 after the untimely death of Arthur Briggs. His chief backer at Spigot Lodge was Mr Jaques for whom he trained Scotch Cake amongst many others. Scotch Cake won the Stanley Cup at Liverpool in 1873 when owned by Mr Jaques, but then Jaques decided to sell all of his horses at the sales on York racecourse, forcing George Lye to become a public trainer and leaving him financially insecure. Scotch Cake was sold to J Hodson, and Lye managed to rekindle his enthusiasm to win the Welter Plate at Lincoln in 1874. Scotch Cake, by Blair Athol out of Entremet, was thought good enough to run in the Cambridgeshire, but in the end he did not take up his engagement. Other good horses trained by Lye at Spigot Lodge included Master Capp, Macedoine, Connundrum, Acrostic, Curator and Sir Arthur. George Lye ceased training at Spigot Lodge in December 1879 and went to live at nearby West Witton. However, on Saturday 13th March 1880 he declared himself bankrupt at Northallerton County Court, although he did continuing training from a different base in 1881 and 1882. He died at West Witton on 3rd November 1888.
1873 Stanley Stakes at Liverpool SCOTCH CAKE 8/1 owned by Mr Jaques, trained by George Lye and ridden by John Osborne
1874 Welter Plate at Lincoln SCOTCH CAKE evens fav owned by J Hudson, trained by George Lye and ridden by Bruckshaw

1893 Manchester November Handicap at Castle Irwell, Manchester GOLDEN DROP 40/1 owned by Matthew Dobson Peacock, trained by Harry Hall and ridden by Seth Chandley
1896 Spring Handicap at Carlisle PALLANZA 10/1 owned by J G Baird-Hay, trained by Harry Hall and ridden by Seth Chandley
1896 Cumberland Plate at Carlisle PALLANZA evens fav owned by J G Baird-Hay, trained by Harry Hall and ridden by Seth Chandley
1896 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle DARE DEVIL 6/1 owned by C Perkins, trained by Harry Hall and ridden by J Fagan
1896 Thirsk Autumn Handicap at Thirsk COTTERDALE 5/1 owned by W Winn, trained by Harry Hall and ridden by Seth Chandley

1898-1903 William Swann
William Swann, more commonly called Willie, was born in Newmarket in 1854 and was brought up in a racing family, spending his early working years as a trail jockey for Captain Machell at Chetwynd Stables, Newmarket which Machell renamed Machell Place. Swann was then appointed to the post of travelling Head Lad for the Duchess of Montrose at Sefton Lodge, Newmarket. Swann launched his training career in Newmarket for the Scot Mr A E Aston in summer 1895, but in February 1896 Swann rented the stables at Beverley recently vacated by Tom Weldon and moved Mr Aston's horses there, whilst at the same time offering his services as a public trainer. In summer 1898 he moved to Spigot Lodge, replacing the well-regarded Harry Hall who had been in charge of the stables for nearly 2 decades. Although he brought with him all of Mr Aston's horses, and had increased his string to 29 horses the following year, Mr Aston decided to sell off his horses in 1900 leaving Swann touting for other owners. He remained at Spigot Lodge until 1903 and then retired from the training ranks, and for several years kept a public house, the Lady Bob, at Coverham, which he only relinquished just before the First World War. William Swann died at Middleham on 19 February 1923 aged 68.

1903-1917 Robert Weston Colling
Robert Weston Colling, universally known as Bob, was born at Marske-by-Sea on 6th April 1872, son of a Cambridge educated farmer who farmed at Hurworth-on-Tees, County Durham.  Bob became a leading apprentice based in the north at Robert Ward Armstrong's Penrith stables, riding his first winner, Mortaigne at Newcastle in 1889 and going on to gain 359 Flat winners, culminating in victory in the 1894 Northumberland Plate on Newcourt, a race he loved, and one in which he also trained the winner 3 times. He also enjoyed success in the 1890 July Cup at Newmarket on Queen of the Fairies, and the 1892 Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood on Marvel. Eventually, when his weight put paid to his Flat riding career he switched to National Hunt racing, riding his first jumps winner on 1st February 1894. He then turned his hand to training, launching his new career at Great Habton in 1899, but 3 years later he moved to Middleham to take over from William Swann at Spigot Lodge, although some sources suggest he had made that move as early as 1900. Such was his success that he also occupied boxes at Ashgill from September 1903, initially with just 5 horses, and it is not certain whether there was some overlap with William Ridley who remained in Middleham until 1905, and later with the Smith's who were also at Ashgill between 1906 and early 1910. By 1907 his string had expanded to 21 and he remained in Middleham throughout the early part of the First World War. His winners were seldom in high-profile races, but he did win at most of the northern tracks, including Ayr, Hamilton, Manchester, Hull, Aintree and Stockton. In 1917, with a string of 40, Colling tried to move south to take over at Bedford Cottage, but his bid was unsuccessful, and he had to wait until Waterwitch House, Newmarket became available before departing Middleham, finally making the move in February 1919.
1890 July Cup at Newmarket QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES 7/1 owned by Lord Penrhyn, trained by Allen and ridden by Bob Colling
1892 Stewards Cup at Goodwood MARVEL 1000/45 owned by Duke of Devonshire, trained by Richard Marsh and ridden by Bob Colling
1894 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle NEWCOURT 5/4 fav owned by P Buchanan, trained by William L’Anson and ridden by Bob Colling
1908 Beverley Plate at Hull AGGLETHORP 2/1 fav owned and trained by R W Colling and ridden by G McCall
1914 Liverpool Nursery Stakes at Aintree PIP PIP PIP 5/1 owned by V T Thompson, trained by R W Colling and ridden by R Stokes
1914 Wolviston Handicap at Stockton PER ANNUM 10/1 owned by F Stobart, trained by R W Colling and ridden by J Thwaites

March 1919-November 1921 Oswald James Casebourne
In pre-War years the Casebournes operated from Wrsall near Yarm and Ripon, enjoying particular success at the Northern courses. In March 1919 Oswald Ossie James Casebourne took over from Bob Colling who had transferred to Newmarket the month before. At that time Ossie was a top amateur jockey, but he decided to turn professional and run his training business alongside his riding career. On Monday 4th December 1911 at Southwell Vernon Casebourne had famously trained and ridden 4 winners, one of which was owned by his younger brother Oswald. At that time Vernon was training at Worsall, near Yarm, North Yorkshire. In December 1919 Oswald gained a double at Nottingham with horses which he trained and rode. Mundela won the 3-y-o Selling Hurdle, while Sherwood Forester landed the Broughton Hurdle. He repeated the double feat the next December at Derby racecourse for loyal owner W Black with Jacksdale and Bright Shot, the former winning the Ashbourne Maiden Hurdle while the latter won the Osmaston Selling Hurdle. On Wednesday 6th April 1921 he married Hilda Jessie Dobson, daughter of F E C Dobson, a celebrated breeder of shorthorns, thoroughbreds and greyhounds in Kirkby-in-Cleveland, thus combining two influential northern racing families. In November 1921 Harry Dobson Peacock replaced him at Spigot Lodge and he moved to Thorngill to join his father George nad brother Vicent.
1911 Rainworth 3-y-o Hurdle at Southwell ROUGH & READY 3/1 owned by Mr Robinson, trained and ridden by Vernon Casebourne
1911 Craven Selling Hurdle at Southwell EVASIVE 9/2 owned by Mr H J Towler, trained and ridden by Vernon Casebourne
1911 Rolleston Selling Steeplechase at Southwell GALLERANI 10/11 fav owned by Mr H J Towler, trained and ridden by Vernon Casebourne
1911 Aslockton Chase at Southwell SULLEN STREAM 2/7 fav owned by Oswald Casebourne, trained and ridden by Vernon Casebourne
1919 Three-year-old Selling Hurdle at Nottingham MUNDELA 2/1 owned by C Ford, trained and ridden by Ossie Casebourne
1919 Broughton Hurdle at Nottingham SHERWOOD FORESTER 20/1 owned by W Black, trained and ridden by Ossie Casebourne
1920 Ashbourne Maiden Hurdle at Derby JACKSDALE 7/4 fav owned by W Black, trained and ridden by Ossie Casebourne

1921-January 1937 Henry Dobson Peacock
Henry Harry Dobson Peacock, younger son of Matthew Dobson Peacock, was born in 1889 and was brought up in a racing family, spending his childhood at Manor House, Middleham. He managed the family stud based at Spigot Lodge just after the end of the First World War between 1921 and 1930, but in 1931 he successfully applied for a trainers licence and launched his training career at Spigot Lodge. In 1932, with 23 in his string, he gained an early success by winning the Lincoln Handicap at Lincoln with Jerome Fandor. His string increased to 35 the next year, 35 in 1934, 39 in 1935 and increased further to 40 in 1936. He spent 6 years at Spigot Lodge, but in January 1937 he transferred his string to his newly built Hurgill Lodge Stables, Richmond, and shortly afterwards won a second Lincoln Handicap with Marmaduke Jinks. Later in the 1937 season he won the Manchester November Handicap with Solitaire.
1932 Lincoln Handicap JEROME FANDOR 40/1 owned by E McKinley, trained by Henry Dobson Peacock and ridden by W Christie

1946-1966 Lt-Colonel Wilfred Lyde
Wilfred Edward Lyde, born in 1893, had a distinguished War time career serving as a Lance Corporal in the 1851 Warwickshire Yeomanry, the Corps Hussars and later became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Irish Hussars. Between the War years he began training, and in 1932 took over at Thorngill with just 5 horses, remaining there until the outbreak of War in 1939 when his string had grown to 22. One of his earliest winners was Apple Green in the Earlstown Selling Handicap at Haydock, but he then began to win more worthwhile prizes in 1933, landing the Richmond Handicap Chase and Hartington Handicap Steeplechase with Toreley. In 1934 the same horse won the Stayers Handicap Chase at Birmingham and the Ashton Chase at Manchester. In the years leading up to the outbreak of War Lyde won the 1937 Chorlton Hurdle at Manchester with Ethedo, the 1938 South Durham Open Hunt Challenge Cup at Sedgefield with Nymph Errant II, and the 1939 Lambton Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield with Strong Measure. On Thursday 10th August 1939 he married Audrey Harper, only daughter of Mr & Mrs Albert Harper of The Chalets, Bradford in the parish church in Bradford. After the Second World War ended Lyde, by now a Lieutenant Colonel, and later awarded the OBE, moved to the historic Spigot Lodge, beginning with an initial string of 19, although it grew rapidly in 1947 to 30 horses, and by 1951, such was his reputation, that it had expanded to 51 horses. One of his best horses in that first year was Gay Galliard who ran creditably in the early season Lincoln before capturing some nice races later in the season. In 1948 he appointed jockey Jack Brace as his retained rider even though the jockey was, by then, in the twilight of his career, and the jockey guided Dancing Flame to some high-profile victories, including the Tweed Plate at Newcastle, the Esk Handicap at Edinburgh and the Monkgate Handicap at Bogside. Another horse who Brace did well on was the filly Besides who, in 1954, won at Hamilton and Manchester before running a promising 5th in the Lowther Stakes at York. The next year the filly won well at Newcastle amongst other places. In 1956 and 1957 Lyde struck up a good relationship with jockey Alec Russell and the pair did exceptionally well with Quorum, owned by T H Farr, a brewer of Ruddington near Nottingham. The horse was placed in all seven of its races as a 2-year-old, winning 3 times, including the Breeders Foal 2-y-o Stakes at Nottingham, but it was as a 3-year-old that it really showed its qualities. The horse won the 1957 Free Handicap at Newmarket on Alec Russell's very first ride at Headquarters, and then went on to give a career best performance in the 2000 Guineas when beaten just half a length by the exceptional Crepello (SR 2109) owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, trained by Noel Murless and ridden by Lester Piggott. Undeterred by that narrow defeat, Quorum went on to win the 1957 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. On Friday 19th July 1957 Lyde had set the ball rolling for Alec Russell when the jockey famously won all 6 races on the card at Bogside. Lancashire born Russell had served his apprenticeship in France, but on his return to the UK he had based himself in the North. The day before his remarkable Bogside achievement Russell had won the last race at Lanark, but little did he believe he could achieve all 6 the next day. He began on Wilfred Lyde's Double Up in the Middleton Stakes over 6 furlongs, landing a comfortable win at 2/5 fav, and followed that victory with a win for fellow Middleham trainer Harry Blackshaw aboard Cligarry, the 2/1 fav. There followed wins on Wage Claim 100/8, Courtlier 8/1 for Willie Hide, father of jockey Edward Hide, Newton 8/13 fav, and in the final race Roselime 11/8 fav for Middleham trainer Ernest Carr, to complete the 6 timer at odds of 1956/1. The last time such a feat had been accomplished was Gordon Richards at Chepstow in 1933, although Frankie Dettori managed all 7 at Ascot almost 4 decades after Alec Russell's wonderful triumph. In 1959, with numbers steady on 38, Lyde trained Come to Daddy to win the Cesarewitch at Newmarket when owned by Nottinghamshire brewer T H Farr, and for each of the next 2 years numbers increased to 43, although they then began to decline. In 1964, with numbers at 43, Wilfred Lyde received a real boost to his stable when asked to train Drake's Drum for Jim McCartney. Just after the premiere of 'A Hard Days Night' Beatle Paul McCartney gave a present in brown paper to his father Jim on his 62nd birthday. When Jim opened the present he saw it was an oil painting of a horse, and he expressed that it was lovely, but wondered what he wanted with an oil painting, even though he did like horse racing. Paul explained to his father that it was of a horse named Drake's Drum and that it would be running at Chester that Saturday. Paul had purchased the horse for £1050, knowing that his father liked to dabble on the horses. Although the horse did not win at Chester, it did win the Mallorie 3-y-o Handicap at Ripon in August, and less than 2 years later there was a tear-jerking moment when the horse won the Huylton Plate, appropriately enough at Aintree, Liverpool at 20/1 and was led in by Paul McCartney and his father, although by then it was no longer trained by Lyde. When the horse eventually retired it spent its retirement at Paul's High Park Farm in Scotland. In a long career, spanning 34 years, Lt-Colonel Wilfred Lyde trained more than 600 winners on the flat and over jumps, but in 1966 he was forced to retire because of failing sight, even though he dd not want to do so, although he then enjoyed 12 years of retirement before he died in September 1978.
1948 Tweed Plate at Newcastle DANCING FLAME 5/1 owned by C J Reddish, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Jack Brace
1948 Monkgate Handicap at Bogside DANCING FLAME 9/4 owned by C J Reddish, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Jack Brace
1948 Esk Handicap at Edinburgh DANCING FLAME 4/6 fav owned by C J Reddish, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Jack Brace
1954 Halleath Stakes at Hamilton BESIDES evens fav trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Jack Brace
1954 John Davies 2-y-o Stakes at Manchester BESIDES 15/2 trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Jack Brace

Alec Russell goes through the card at Bogside on 19th July 1957 at odds of 1956/1, riding for 6 different trainers, including 3 wins for Middleham trained horses
Middleton Stakes (6 furlongs) DOUBLE UP 2/5 fav owned by J B Hulme, trained by Colonel W Lyde (Spigot Lodge, Middleham) and ridden by Alec Russell
Montgrennan Selling Handicap (6 furlongs) CLIGARRY 2/1 fav owned by W Pearson, trained by Harry Blackshaw (Warwick Lodge, Middleham) and ridden by Alec Russell
Borland Handicap (1 mile) WAGE CLAIM 100/8 owned by F Bainbridge, trained by E Duffy and ridden by Alec Russell
Fairlie Handicap (10 furlongs) COURTLIER 8/1 owned by A J Allen, trained by Willie Hide and ridden by Alec Russell
Ardeer Handicap (5 furlongs) NEWTON 8/13 fav owned by J E Fisher, trained by George Boyd and ridden by Alec Russell
Dunonn Plate (12 furlongs) ROSELIME 11/8 fav owned by Arthur Smith, trained by Ernie Carr (Glasgow House, Middleham) and ridden by Alec Russell

1955 Wallsend Handicap at Newcastle BESIDES 4/1 trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Jack Brace
1956 Breeders Foal 2-y-o Stakes at Nottingham QUORUM 10/1 owned by T H Farr, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Alec Russell
1957 Free Handicap at Newmarket QUORUM 15/2 owned by T H Farr, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Alec Russell
1957 2000 Guineas at Newmarket QUORUM 100/8 owned by T H Farr, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Alec Russell second to Crepello (SR 2109)
1957 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot QUORUM 4/6 fav owned by T H Farr, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Alec Russell
1957 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood QUORUM 10/11 fav owned by T H Farr, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Alec Russell
1959 Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket COME TO DADDY 6/1 owned by T H Farr, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Doug Smith
1964 Mallorie 3-y-o Handicap at Ripon DRAKE'S DRUM 2/1 fav owned by Jim McCartney, trained by Wilfred Lyde and ridden by Russ Maddock
1966 Hylton Plate at Aintree DRAKE'S DRUM 20/1 owned by Jim McCartney, trained by Crossley and ridden by McIntosh

1968-July 1977 Sam Hall
Sam Hall, brother of Thomas Hall and W A Hall, was born in 1916 and began his working life as assistant trainer to brother W A Hall at Towton before the War intervened. He served in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War and afterwards returned to Towton. However, he moved to Brecongill, Middleham in 1948 to assist brother Tom who was suffering from a prolonged and terminal illness. When Tom died in early 1949 Sam successfully applied for a trainers licence in March 1949, sending out his first winner, Silver Border, at Thirsk in early April 1949. He trained numerous high-profile winners during his 19 years at Brecongill, but in 1968 he transferred his string to the newly rebuilt Spigot Lodge where he continued to gain big race victories. He was part owner of Spigot Lodge, along with Guy Reed and two others, but by 1977, when Sam Hall died, Reed had sole ownership. During his decade at Spigot Lodge he trained for Lord Derby, Charles St George, Guy Reed, Garfield Weston and L G Lazarus amongst many others. He won the 1971 Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar with Lady Lowndes, while Warparth became one of his best horses, winning the 1972 Extel Handicap at Goodwood and the 1973 Doonside Cup at Ayr. However, arguably his best horse was Guy Reed's Dakota who won the 1975 Ebor Handicap as well as the Group 3 St Simon Stakes at Newbury and the 1974 King George V Stakes at the Royal meeting. In May 1973 he was joined at Spigot Lodge by his young assistant Chris Thornton, and when Sam died suddenly on Sunday 3rd July 1977, Chris took over the licence.
1970 King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot CLIP JOINT 3/1 owned by Lady Clarissa Collin, trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Philip Waldron
1971 Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar LADY LOWNDES 6/4 owned by Rahda Sigtia, trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1972 Extel Handicap at Goodwood WARPATH 11/1 trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Alec Russell
1974 King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot DAKOTA 8/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Edward Hide
1975 Ebor Handicap at York DAKOTA 7/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Sandy Barclay
1975 St Simon Stakes Group 3 at Newbury DAKOTA 11/8 fav owned by Guy Reed, trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Sandy Barclay

July 1977-2000 Chris Thornton
Chris Thornton, born on 30th June 1949, was appointed assistant to the veteran Spigot Lodge trainer Sam Hall in 1973 when he was just 23 years old. He supported Sam for the next 4 years, and when Sam died on 3rd July 1977 Chris successfully applied for a trainer's licence and took over the training of Sam's former horses. In 1977 his string numbered 66, and although it dipped to 58 the next year, in 1979 it increased to 72. One of the earliest horses which he had success with was Path of Peace who was purchased by Louise Gold for 10,000 guineas in late October 1980, just 10 days before the horse landed the November Handicap at Doncaster at 14/1 when partnered by stable jockey Jimmy Bleasdale. To show the adaptability of the horse under both codes, in 1982 Path of Peace was victorious in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when ridden by Jonjo O'Neill. In 1981 there was further evidence of Thornton's undoubted training ability when he guided Shotgun, bred by Guy Reed from Warpath, to produce top class performances in some of the highest profile races in the Calendar, winning the Listed Heathorn Stakes at Newmarket, being runner-up by half a length to Beldale Flyer in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, and then was placed fourth in the Epsom Derby behind the outstanding Shergar (SR 2169). Shotgun acted as a good advert for Thornton, and in 1982 he was up to 79 horses, although by 1985 he had dipped again to 38 horses. In 1988 he trained another excellent horses Apache, owned by Millionaire owner of Spigot Lodge, Guy Reed. Apache won the 1988 Godolphin Listed Stakes at Newmarket, following up in the 1989 Listed Fred Archer Stakes at Headquarters. Almost a decade later the filly Flossy, part of the exors of the late Guy Reed, won the 1999 November Handicap and went on to win the 2000 Watergate Handicap at Chester, the NGK Spark Plugs Rated Handicap at Newmarket and in 2001 the Listed Handicap at Chester. In 2000 Guy Reed sold Spigot Lodge to Newmarket trainer Karl Burke and Chris knew that he had to find new premises. He moved, on a temporary basis, to John Weymes stable until his own new stables on part of Sharp Hill Farm were ready to be occupied.
1980 November Handicap at Doncaster PATH OF PEACE 14/1 owned by Miss Louise Gold, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Jimmy Bleasdale
1981 Heathorn Listed Stakes (now called the Newmarket Stakes) at Newmarket SHOTGUN 7/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Jimmy Bleasdale
1981 Dante Stakes Group 2 at York SHOTGUN 9/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Jimmy Bleasdale, runner up to Bedale Flyer by half a length
1981 Epsom Derby SHOTGUN 7/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Jimmy Bleasdale, fourth behind Shergar (SR 2169)
1982 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival PATH OF PEACE 4/1 owned by Miss Louise Gold, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Jonjo O'Neill
1988 Godolphin Stakes Listed race at Newmarket APACHE 6/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Jimmy Bleasdale
1989 Fred Archer Listed race at Newmarket APACHE 6/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Michael Roberts
1999 White Horse Fillies Handicap at Newbury FLOSSY 7/2 fav owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by John Lowe
1999 Tote Scoop 6 Showcase Handicap at Haydock FLOSSY 13/8 fav owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Kieren Fallon
1999 November Handicap at Doncaster FLOSSY 5/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by A Beech
2000 Watergate Handicap at Chester FLOSSY 2/1 fav owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Willie Supple
2000 NGK Spark Plugs Rated Handicap at Newmarket FLOSSY 8/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Darryll Holland
2001 Bet Direct Listed Handicap at Chester FLOSSY 6/1 owned by Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Robert Winston

September 2000-present Karl Burke (August 2009-April 2010 Alan Jarvis, April 2010-January 2011 John Weymes; 2011-2013 Elaine Burke)
Karl Richard Burke, son-in-law of former Royston trainer Alan Jarvis, was born on 17th May 1963 at the Black Swan in Rugby, moving shortly afterwards to the Red Lion in Rugby which his father ran for 16 years. In his early years Karl enjoyed watching racing and was given a pony, allowing him the opportunity to compete on the pony racing circuit, and by the age of 14 was riding out for Chris O'Neill at his Rugby stables. He became an apprentice with Alan Jarvis at Withybrook, in Warwickshire, and when Alan moved to Royston, Karl moved with him. He was given a few flat race opportunities, winning on his second mount, The Britisher, at Hamilton Park on 30th June 1980, although that proved to be his only flat winner because his increasing weight meant that only a jumps race riding career was open to him. His inaugural winner over jumps was Bloemfontein at Newton Abbot on 1st August 1983 and he went on to notch up 46 winners until 1990. He married Alan Jarvis's daughter Elaine and the couple were blessed with 2 daughters, Kelly and Lucy. In 1990 he retired from race riding, his final winner was Sohail in the Brent Walker Handicap Chase at Plumpton, and successfully applied for a training licence, when Elaine and he ran a livery and pre-training yard at their 27 box stable at Barnby-in-the-Willows, near Newark in Nottinghamshire. It was from this base that he launched his training career, saddling his first winner, Temporale, in a handicap hurdle at Towcester on 11th October 1990. Shortly afterwards the family transferred to stables in Broadway, near Cheltenham, and later transferred again to Ginge in Oxfordshire. In 1994 he won his first major race when Daring Destiny, owned by Mrs Ann Wright, won the Ayr Gold Cup 18/1 in the hands of Jason Tate, following up that success two years later with a win in the prestigious Phoenix Sprint Stakes at Leopardstown when partnered by Richard Hughes. In 1998 Karl moved to Newmarket, leasing High Havens Stables on the Hamilton Road from owner Jim Lovat after the untimely death of the popular trainer David Morley in January 1998. Karl crowned a successful first year at High Havens by winning the 1998 Ayr Gold Cup with Always Alight. He made further progress in 1999 when he saddled 50 winners on the Flat. Out of the blue in 2000, Karl was given 6 months notice to leave High Havens Stables, so he and wife Elaine departed for Middleham and purchased Spigot Lodge Stables from Guy Reed, replacing Chris Thornton, who moved initially to John Weymes' stables and from there to new stables on Sharp Hill Farm. Karl was delighted to move to the historic Spigot Lodge stables, ideally located between the High Moor and Low Moor gallops where there is access to a 7 furlong uphill polytrack on the Low Moor, while on the High Moor there is a 12 furlong carpet gallop. In 2009 Karl experienced the highs and lows of racing in quick succession, securing his first Group 1 with Lord Shanakill in the Prix Jean Prat, but then suffering a setback just a few days later when he was warned off for a period for passing on information to a disqualified person. He had to call on the experience of aged father-in-law Alan Jarvis between August 2009 and April 2010, and John Weymes, who looked after the 30 horses at Little Spigot from April 2010, with Karl's wife Elaine as his assistant, until Spigot Lodge could be relicenced so that Elaine could take charge of the stables during an unsettling time when numbers dipped. For those strong enough, out of misfortune comes triumph, and Karl certainly became a more determined, highly successful trainer after his return, although the licence was in Elaine's name between 2011 and 2013. In 2016 the stable star was Quiet Reflection who won three Group races in succession, culminating in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. In 2018 Karl secured 2 Group 1 races in as many days, starting with Laurens in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, and following up with Havana Grey in the Flying Five Stakes at The Curragh, the horse having already won the 2017 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. By then Laurens had won the 2017 Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, the 2017 Fillies Mile Group 1 at Newmarket, the Group 3 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp and the Group 1 Prix de Diane Longines. She followed up on her Matron Stakes win with victory in the 2018 Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket and the 2019 Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville for owner John Dance, brining to an end a wonderful career in which she became a household name. More recently Karl celebrated 4 winners at Royal Ascot between 2020 and 2022, the first being Dandalla in the 2020 Albany Stakes, then Significantly captured the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap, while in 2022 he enjoyed a double, initially with Holloway Boy 40/1 in the Chesham Stakes, and then Dramatised won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. With stable numbers annually exceeding 125, Karl can look forward to many more Group and Listed victories in the coming years.

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses