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Ben Hanbury
Ben Hanbury
Although far better known as a classic-winning trainer, based at Newmarket, Ben Hanbury rode more than 50 winners under National Hunt rules prior to undertaking a training career.
Although far better known as a classic-winning trainer, based at Newmarket, Ben Hanbury rode more than 50 winners under National Hunt rules prior to undertaking a training career.
Benjamin Hanbury was born in Oxford on March 25, 1946. He began his racing career as an amateur rider with leading trainer Dan Moore in Ireland and rode his first winner on Vulcano in the prestigious Sweet Afton Challenge Cup Hunter Chase at Dundalk on Saturday, 23 May 1964.
Benjamin Hanbury was born in Oxford on March 25, 1946. He began his racing career as an amateur rider with leading trainer Dan Moore in Ireland and rode his first winner on Vulcano in the prestigious Sweet Afton Challenge Cup Hunter Chase at Dundalk on Saturday, 23 May 1964.
In February 1967 he guided Moore’s dual Gold Cup and Grand National winner L’Escargot to his maiden victory in a bumper at Navan. Ben won another bumper on him at Naas in October, beating future champion trainer Dermot Weld’s mount Honest Injun by two lengths.
In February 1967 he guided Moore’s dual Gold Cup and Grand National winner L’Escargot to his maiden victory in a bumper at Navan. Ben won another bumper on him at Naas in October, beating future champion trainer Dermot Weld’s mount Honest Injun by two lengths.
In between those two victories on L’Escargot, Ben achieved his most important success when guiding 25-1 shot French March, owned by his mother and trained by his father, Tom Hanbury, to victory in the 1967 Mildmay of Flete Chase at Cheltenham, beating Border Grace (Roddy Reid) by four lengths, with Kapeno (Nick Gaselee) a further six lengths back in third.
In between those two victories on L’Escargot, Ben achieved his most important success when guiding 25-1 shot French March, owned by his mother and trained by his father, Tom Hanbury, to victory in the 1967 Mildmay of Flete Chase at Cheltenham, beating Border Grace (Roddy Reid) by four lengths, with Kapeno (Nick Gaselee) a further six lengths back in third.
He served two and a half years with maestro Findon trainer Ryan Price and rode Master Of Art for him in the 1968 Grand National. Ben recalled it was not a pleasant experience. Mast Of Art stumbled so badly at the first fence that his chin hit his knee and thereafter he jumped hesitantly throughout, the partnership finally going their separate ways at the fourth last fence.
He served two and a half years with maestro Findon trainer Ryan Price and rode Master Of Art for him in the 1968 Grand National. Ben recalled it was not a pleasant experience. Mast Of Art stumbled so badly at the first fence that his chin hit his knee and thereafter he jumped hesitantly throughout, the partnership finally going their separate ways at the fourth last fence.
Ben belatedly turned professional at the start of the 1968/69 season and rode seven winners from 94 mounts during the campaign. He held a licence the following season but by then he was becoming more focused on a training career.
Ben belatedly turned professional at the start of the 1968/69 season and rode seven winners from 94 mounts during the campaign. He held a licence the following season but by then he was becoming more focused on a training career.
He spent three years as assistant trainer to Bernard van Cutsem at Newmarket before taking out his own licence in 1974. Always impeccably turned out and sporting a permanent tan, he went on to enjoy a successful training career, achieving classic glory when sending out Midway Lady to win both the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks in 1986.
He spent three years as assistant trainer to Bernard van Cutsem at Newmarket before taking out his own licence in 1974. Always impeccably turned out and sporting a permanent tan, he went on to enjoy a successful training career, achieving classic glory when sending out Midway Lady to win both the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks in 1986.
Midway Lady had been a leading two-year-old, recording victories in Doncaster’s May Hill Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. At stud she became the dam of Eswarah, winner of the 2005 Oaks for fellow Newmarket trainer Michael Jarvis.
Midway Lady had been a leading two-year-old, recording victories in Doncaster’s May Hill Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. At stud she became the dam of Eswarah, winner of the 2005 Oaks for fellow Newmarket trainer Michael Jarvis.
Ben achieved another classic triumph with Matiya in the 1996 Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Ben achieved another classic triumph with Matiya in the 1996 Irish 1,000 Guineas.
His other top-class horses included Kala Dancer (1984 Dewhurst Stakes), Batshoof (1990 Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Tattersalls Gold Cup), Twafeaj (1991 Moyglare Stud Stakes), Per Quod (1991 Ormonde Stakes), and Polish Laughter (1993 Mill Reef Stakes).
His other top-class horses included Kala Dancer (1984 Dewhurst Stakes), Batshoof (1990 Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Tattersalls Gold Cup), Twafeaj (1991 Moyglare Stud Stakes), Per Quod (1991 Ormonde Stakes), and Polish Laughter (1993 Mill Reef Stakes).
Ben relinquished his training licence in 2004. He subsequently became the curator of the Jockey Club’s sporting art, acquiring various paintings over the course of the next two decades to enhance the Club’s existing collection.
Ben relinquished his training licence in 2004. He subsequently became the curator of the Jockey Club’s sporting art, acquiring various paintings over the course of the next two decades to enhance the Club’s existing collection.
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