Keith Dalgleish
Keith William Dalgleish was born on March 22, 1983. He burst upon the racing scene in 2000 as a Mark Johnston’s apprentice and rode 45 winners that season.
Keith William Dalgleish was born on March 22, 1983. He burst upon the racing scene in 2000 as a Mark Johnston’s apprentice and rode 45 winners that season.
In 2002 he posted a personal best score of 72, which included Royal Ascot’s Chesham Stakes on Johnston’s 25-1shot Helm Bank and a £70,000 German Group 1 at Cologne on 10-year-old Yavana’s Pace.
In 2002 he posted a personal best score of 72, which included Royal Ascot’s Chesham Stakes on Johnston’s 25-1shot Helm Bank and a £70,000 German Group 1 at Cologne on 10-year-old Yavana’s Pace.
He rode 64 winners in 2003 including another Royal Ascot success, the King George V Stakes on Fantastic Love, plus two wins from two rides on subsequent Classic winner Attraction, most notably the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley.
He rode 64 winners in 2003 including another Royal Ascot success, the King George V Stakes on Fantastic Love, plus two wins from two rides on subsequent Classic winner Attraction, most notably the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley.
Keith kicked off the 2004 campaign by winning the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes on Gateman at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. By then, however, his 6ft frame was fighting a losing battle with his weight as a jockey. Eventually, the daily grind of dieting, saunas, hot baths and sweating at every opportunity got the better of him. A week after appointing a new agent, he had four rides booked at Hamilton, didn’t take them and announced his retirement. He’d ridden a total of 285 winners in just four seasons but his career as a jockey was over at the age of 21.
Keith kicked off the 2004 campaign by winning the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes on Gateman at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. By then, however, his 6ft frame was fighting a losing battle with his weight as a jockey. Eventually, the daily grind of dieting, saunas, hot baths and sweating at every opportunity got the better of him. A week after appointing a new agent, he had four rides booked at Hamilton, didn’t take them and announced his retirement. He’d ridden a total of 285 winners in just four seasons but his career as a jockey was over at the age of 21.
After retiring he had fiddled around riding work, briefly tried life as a jump jockey and then began breaking horses for Dandy Nicholls. Eventually, seeking to get back to the coal face, he joined Belstane Racing Stables in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, as assistant trainer to Noel Wilson.
After retiring he had fiddled around riding work, briefly tried life as a jump jockey and then began breaking horses for Dandy Nicholls. Eventually, seeking to get back to the coal face, he joined Belstane Racing Stables in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, as assistant trainer to Noel Wilson.
When Wilson departed for Yorkshire in 2012, the yard’s owner Gordon McDowell, a Glasgow businessman with a string of chemist shops, had no hesitation in offering Keith the chance to become his trainer. He was too good an opportunity to turn down and Keith took over the yard, which became home to Keith Dalgleish Racing.
When Wilson departed for Yorkshire in 2012, the yard’s owner Gordon McDowell, a Glasgow businessman with a string of chemist shops, had no hesitation in offering Keith the chance to become his trainer. He was too good an opportunity to turn down and Keith took over the yard, which became home to Keith Dalgleish Racing.
He made an impressive opening impact, notching up 52 winners in that 2012 Flat season, a score not achieved by a Scottish flat trainer for 55 years. In 2016 he became champion trainer in Scotland with 80 winners on the Flat.
He made an impressive opening impact, notching up 52 winners in that 2012 Flat season, a score not achieved by a Scottish flat trainer for 55 years. In 2016 he became champion trainer in Scotland with 80 winners on the Flat.
At 14st, Keith is now one and half times the man he was and has quickly risen up the ranks to become a highly successful trainer.
At 14st, Keith is now one and half times the man he was and has quickly risen up the ranks to become a highly successful trainer.