Ollie Pears
Ollie Pears
Ollie Pears
The son of a farmer from near Barnsley, Ollie Pears was riding out for family friend trainer Steve Norton by the age of 11. He became apprenticed to him when leaving school.
The son of a farmer from near Barnsley, Ollie Pears was riding out for family friend trainer Steve Norton by the age of 11. He became apprenticed to him when leaving school.
He achieved his biggest success as a teenage apprentice when winning the 1992 John Smith’s Magnet Cup at York on the Steve Norton-trained Mr Confusion.
He achieved his biggest success as a teenage apprentice when winning the 1992 John Smith’s Magnet Cup at York on the Steve Norton-trained Mr Confusion.
For a while he held a dual licence and rode under National Hunt rules before focusing solely on the Flat.
For a while he held a dual licence and rode under National Hunt rules before focusing solely on the Flat.
He gained a reputation for being a tough and powerful jockey as an apprentice and enjoyed his fair share of success as a professional but, in his own words, he was essentially a “middle of the road” jockey.
He gained a reputation for being a tough and powerful jockey as an apprentice and enjoyed his fair share of success as a professional but, in his own words, he was essentially a “middle of the road” jockey.
He went on to ride a total of 168 winners before being forced to retire on medical grounds in 2002 after a fall resulting in concussion.
He went on to ride a total of 168 winners before being forced to retire on medical grounds in 2002 after a fall resulting in concussion.
However, Ollie had long regarded his career as a jockey as a stepping stone to a long-term goal to become a trainer. Initially he set up a pre-training livery yard at the family farm, breaking in youngstock and teaching the basics to an average of 70 horses a year.
However, Ollie had long regarded his career as a jockey as a stepping stone to a long-term goal to become a trainer. Initially he set up a pre-training livery yard at the family farm, breaking in youngstock and teaching the basics to an average of 70 horses a year.
He then ran Howard Johnson’s two-year-old yard for 18 months. That was followed by periods with Dandy Nicholls and, Jim Boyle in Epsom. He spent the summer of 2007 working for Michael Dickinson in Maryland in the United States.
He then ran Howard Johnson’s two-year-old yard for 18 months. That was followed by periods with Dandy Nicholls and, Jim Boyle in Epsom. He spent the summer of 2007 working for Michael Dickinson in Maryland in the United States.
On returning to England he moved into Old Farmhosue Stables in Beverly Road, Norton, near Malton, situated on the edge of the famous Highfield gallops, and launched his training career. Living initially in a mobile home and beginning with just three horses, he saddled his first runner, the newcomer two-year-old Lujano, in a Wolverhampton seller on November 5, 2007. There were no fireworks that day, for Lujano finished eighth of twelve, bot he won next time out on December 4 at the same course.
On returning to England he moved into Old Farmhosue Stables in Beverly Road, Norton, near Malton, situated on the edge of the famous Highfield gallops, and launched his training career. Living initially in a mobile home and beginning with just three horses, he saddled his first runner, the newcomer two-year-old Lujano, in a Wolverhampton seller on November 5, 2007. There were no fireworks that day, for Lujano finished eighth of twelve, bot he won next time out on December 4 at the same course.
Emphasising the dual-purpose nature of his business, his first winner was over fences, his second was a two-year-old. He formed Ollie Pears Racing and did well with his string of fairly moderate horses, winning win a total of 33 races in 2008 and 2009, his first two full seasons. In 2010, he was able to buy the Old Farmhouse yard and expanded the business to cope with demand, and to improve the quality of horses in training.
Emphasising the dual-purpose nature of his business, his first winner was over fences, his second was a two-year-old. He formed Ollie Pears Racing and did well with his string of fairly moderate horses, winning win a total of 33 races in 2008 and 2009, his first two full seasons. In 2010, he was able to buy the Old Farmhouse yard and expanded the business to cope with demand, and to improve the quality of horses in training.
His first good horse was My Arch with whom he won the Musselburgh Gold Cup and a competitive Class 3 handicap at Newmarket in 2010, followed in 2011 by the Pontefract Cup and a win over hurdles at Wetherby. Another, No Leaf Clover, came within a head of giving Ollie his biggest success so far when second in the Listed Rockingham Stakes at York in 2013.
His first good horse was My Arch with whom he won the Musselburgh Gold Cup and a competitive Class 3 handicap at Newmarket in 2010, followed in 2011 by the Pontefract Cup and a win over hurdles at Wetherby. Another, No Leaf Clover, came within a head of giving Ollie his biggest success so far when second in the Listed Rockingham Stakes at York in 2013.
Assisted by his wife Vicky, Ollie now has some two dozen horse in his care.
Assisted by his wife Vicky, Ollie now has some two dozen horse in his care.
Ollie is a keen road runner, and is a regular competitor in half marathons. He has also ridden in the Doncaster ‘Leger Legends’ race seven times between 2012 and 2019 helping to raise over £10,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund. He achieved his best placing to date when finishing fourth on the Les Eyre-trained Detachment in 2017.
Ollie is a keen road runner, and is a regular competitor in half marathons. He has also ridden in the Doncaster ‘Leger Legends’ race seven times between 2012 and 2019 helping to raise over £10,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund. He achieved his best placing to date when finishing fourth on the Les Eyre-trained Detachment in 2017.