Martin Tate
Martin Tate
Martin Tate
1923 - 2023
1923 - 2023
Martin Tate was a successful Worcestershire-based trainer. He orchestrated some notable plots, none more so than that of Rogers Princess, who landed a huge gamble in the 1989 Coral Golden Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
Martin Tate was a successful Worcestershire-based trainer. He orchestrated some notable plots, none more so than that of Rogers Princess, who landed a huge gamble in the 1989 Coral Golden Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, before turning his hand to training in 1953, he had been – and still was for a brief time – a successful amateur rider, with 25 wins under rules plus 80 in point-to-points including the 1955 Lady Dudley Cup.
However, before turning his hand to training in 1953, he had been – and still was for a brief time – a successful amateur rider, with 25 wins under rules plus 80 in point-to-points including the 1955 Lady Dudley Cup.
Frederick Martin Tate was born at Winterfold Farm, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, on 2 December 1923, the son of farmer and permit holder Wilfred Tate. His early riding career was restricted by World War Two, with no jump racing taking place in Britain between March 1942 and January 1945. Making up for lost time when the sport resumed, he went close to riding a winner at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting in 1946 when finishing second on Michael M. in the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup Chase.
Frederick Martin Tate was born at Winterfold Farm, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, on 2 December 1923, the son of farmer and permit holder Wilfred Tate. His early riding career was restricted by World War Two, with no jump racing taking place in Britain between March 1942 and January 1945. Making up for lost time when the sport resumed, he went close to riding a winner at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting in 1946 when finishing second on Michael M. in the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup Chase.
During the 1946/47 season he won four hurdle races on Sheepcote, owned and trained by his father, at Woore, Birmingham, Market Rasen and Southwell. Sheepcote was also one of his five wins for the 1947/48 campaign when scoring at Worcester. Three of his four other wins that term came courtesy of Glenwood, also owned and trained by his father, dead-heating in a Nottingham maiden hurdle, then later in the season landing back-to-back novice chases at Cheltenham and Bangor-on-Dee.
During the 1946/47 season he won four hurdle races on Sheepcote, owned and trained by his father, at Woore, Birmingham, Market Rasen and Southwell. Sheepcote was also one of his five wins for the 1947/48 campaign when scoring at Worcester. Three of his four other wins that term came courtesy of Glenwood, also owned and trained by his father, dead-heating in a Nottingham maiden hurdle, then later in the season landing back-to-back novice chases at Cheltenham and Bangor-on-Dee.
Martin again won five races during the 1948/49 season including a brace of Southwell novice chases in May on Betty’s Son. He rode just one winner in the 1949/50 seasons – novice hurdler Bridge Lane at Woore in April – and then did not win any under rules for the next two seasons.
Martin again won five races during the 1948/49 season including a brace of Southwell novice chases in May on Betty’s Son. He rode just one winner in the 1949/50 seasons – novice hurdler Bridge Lane at Woore in April – and then did not win any under rules for the next two seasons.
His two wins for the 1952/53 campaign comprised hunter chases at Cheltenham and Bangor-on-Dee aboard Old Glory, again owned and trained by his father. The next season he took out his own permit, based at Glenwood Stables, Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, and had his first winner under rules as a trainer when Ballaroan won the Novices’ Hurdle at Hereford on 3 October 1953.
His two wins for the 1952/53 campaign comprised hunter chases at Cheltenham and Bangor-on-Dee aboard Old Glory, again owned and trained by his father. The next season he took out his own permit, based at Glenwood Stables, Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, and had his first winner under rules as a trainer when Ballaroan won the Novices’ Hurdle at Hereford on 3 October 1953.
He continued to ride as an amateur and gained his most significant success when riding Old Glory to a four-length success in the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham on 2 March 1954. Nine days later he rode what proved to be his last winner under National Hunt rules on Just Jack, owned and trained by Hugh Sumner, in a Stratford hunter chase.
He continued to ride as an amateur and gained his most significant success when riding Old Glory to a four-length success in the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham on 2 March 1954. Nine days later he rode what proved to be his last winner under National Hunt rules on Just Jack, owned and trained by Hugh Sumner, in a Stratford hunter chase.
Martin continued to ride in point-top-points and achieved his greatest success between the flags on Cash Account in the 1955 Lady Dudley Cup (Division 1) at Upton-on-Severn. Regarded as the Cheltenham Gold Cup of point-to-pointing, the Lady Dudley Cup was run in two divisions between 1953 and 1963 due to the number of entries. Cash Account took the lead at the twelfth fence and set a relentless gallop, going on to win easily by ten lengths.
Martin continued to ride in point-top-points and achieved his greatest success between the flags on Cash Account in the 1955 Lady Dudley Cup (Division 1) at Upton-on-Severn. Regarded as the Cheltenham Gold Cup of point-to-pointing, the Lady Dudley Cup was run in two divisions between 1953 and 1963 due to the number of entries. Cash Account took the lead at the twelfth fence and set a relentless gallop, going on to win easily by ten lengths.
He moved to Winterfold Farm, Chaddesley Corbett in 1958, where he would train until his retirement in 2002. He combined training with farming and owned the Chaddesley Corbett point-to-point course, which became the permanent home of the Lady Dudley Cup in 1970.
He moved to Winterfold Farm, Chaddesley Corbett in 1958, where he would train until his retirement in 2002. He combined training with farming and owned the Chaddesley Corbett point-to-point course, which became the permanent home of the Lady Dudley Cup in 1970.
Although primarily a jumps trainer, he achieved his first important success when the grey mare Cullen landed the 1966 Great Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom, ridden by 7lb claimer Fred Messer. He won the Great Metropolitan again in 1978 with Water Colour, who just the previous month, had given Martin his first Cheltenham Festival success in the Coral Golden Hurdle Final.
Although primarily a jumps trainer, he achieved his first important success when the grey mare Cullen landed the 1966 Great Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom, ridden by 7lb claimer Fred Messer. He won the Great Metropolitan again in 1978 with Water Colour, who just the previous month, had given Martin his first Cheltenham Festival success in the Coral Golden Hurdle Final.
His training career peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, enjoying the best season in 1975/76 with 44 victories. His best horse was Flash Imp (rated 168 in Chasers & Hurdlers 1975/76), who won the 1976 City Trial Hurdle at Nottingham and finished third in that year’s Champion Hurdle behind Night Nurse and Birds Nest.
His training career peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, enjoying the best season in 1975/76 with 44 victories. His best horse was Flash Imp (rated 168 in Chasers & Hurdlers 1975/76), who won the 1976 City Trial Hurdle at Nottingham and finished third in that year’s Champion Hurdle behind Night Nurse and Birds Nest.
Also in 1976, Martin won the George Wigg Chase at Aintree with Notification, and landed York’s Dante Stakes with 50-1 shot Trasi's Son, his sole Pattern winner on the Flat.
Also in 1976, Martin won the George Wigg Chase at Aintree with Notification, and landed York’s Dante Stakes with 50-1 shot Trasi's Son, his sole Pattern winner on the Flat.
His big race winners in 1977 included the Fernbank Hurdle and George Duller Hurdle with Garliestown, and Ascot’s Sardan Chase with Cloud Park. In 1978 he won the Mackeson Gold Cup and Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase with Bawnogues.
His big race winners in 1977 included the Fernbank Hurdle and George Duller Hurdle with Garliestown, and Ascot’s Sardan Chase with Cloud Park. In 1978 he won the Mackeson Gold Cup and Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase with Bawnogues.
His best chaser was Scot Lane, who provided him with dual Cheltenham Festival success in the 1982 & 1983 National Hunt Handicap Chase. Scot Lane also won Cheltenham’s Golden Miller Chase in 1982.
His best chaser was Scot Lane, who provided him with dual Cheltenham Festival success in the 1982 & 1983 National Hunt Handicap Chase. Scot Lane also won Cheltenham’s Golden Miller Chase in 1982.
Another notable horse he trained was Bajan Sunshine, whose victories included Haydock’s Tia Maria (Swinton) Hurdle in 1984, followed by the Aintree Hurdle and Ascot Long Distance Hurdle in 1985.
Another notable horse he trained was Bajan Sunshine, whose victories included Haydock’s Tia Maria (Swinton) Hurdle in 1984, followed by the Aintree Hurdle and Ascot Long Distance Hurdle in 1985.
But arguably his finest hour came when gaining his fourth and last Cheltenham Festival success with Rogers Princess in the 1989 Coral Golden Hurdle Final. Backed down from long odds in the weeks before the race into 8-1 joint-favouritism before the off, she stormed to a 12-length win under Shaun Keightley.
But arguably his finest hour came when gaining his fourth and last Cheltenham Festival success with Rogers Princess in the 1989 Coral Golden Hurdle Final. Backed down from long odds in the weeks before the race into 8-1 joint-favouritism before the off, she stormed to a 12-length win under Shaun Keightley.
His last winner was Go-Onmyson, ridden by Jodie Mogford, in the Shropshire Cup Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on 11 October 2001. He retired later that season, having amassed a total of 458 winners (434 over jumps, 24 on Flat).
His last winner was Go-Onmyson, ridden by Jodie Mogford, in the Shropshire Cup Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on 11 October 2001. He retired later that season, having amassed a total of 458 winners (434 over jumps, 24 on Flat).
Martin Tate died on the evening of Monday 26 June 2023, aged 99. He was survived by one daughter, Nikki. His son, Richard, champion amateur rider in the 1967/68 and 1968/69 seasons, predeceased him, having died, aged 74, in January 2022.
Martin Tate died on the evening of Monday 26 June 2023, aged 99. He was survived by one daughter, Nikki. His son, Richard, champion amateur rider in the 1967/68 and 1968/69 seasons, predeceased him, having died, aged 74, in January 2022.