Trainers

Stuart Williams  

Stuart started training in 1993. His first winner was Greenback at Lingfield on March 5th 1993, and he has since gone on to train winners at all the flat racecourses in Britain, a goal achieved in July 2003 when Magic Mistress won at Ascot. In 2004 he equalled his best year when he trained 32 winners and also moved to the excellent Diomed Stables.

2008 saw some exciting new talent emerge from Diomed Stables; three year old Earlsmedic won three races in a row, the last two both handicaps at Newmarket. Essex Racing Club's Benhego won two races a three year old, the last by 11 lengths, while two year old Mythical Blue, claimed out of a seller for 6,000 pounds has won at Newmarket and Sandown. In total, Stuart sent out 26 winners during the year and amassed almost £200,000 in prize money.

To find out more about Stuart, visit his website, www.stuartwilliamsracing.co.uk

John Long

Based at Woldingham in Surrey, John has some excellent private training gallops which are set in the Surrey Hills only 15 minutes from Lingfield Park racecourse. John is a trainer who offers a friendly, personal service to his clients, and is in regular contact with the Club Manager on all matters affecting the club’s horses. He has had recent successes with other horses purchased by Barry Root for some of his private clients and currently trains Chandrayaan for the Club.

Rod Millman

Brian Roderick Millman was born in 1957 and was raised in a family with a racing background. Rod’s Father Brian was a permit holder in Devon where Rod first took part in pony and show jumping events as a boy. Rod recalls that “from the age of 12 I had pretty much set my heart on becoming a jockey”.

Upon leaving school Rod began his career as a jockey as apprentice to one of the master trainer of sprinters, Reg Akehurst at Lambourn between 1972 to 1976. He then went to Monty Stephens the biggest private trainer in the country at the time. Rising weight decided his next move which was to Kingsbridge based National Hunt trainer David Barons in 1977 as Conditional jockey. Rod spent a while working with Michael Chapman in the Midlands as first jockey, head lad and box driver and then became second jockey to Ron Atkins at the Wellington Headquarters of Martin Pipe where he remained until 1981 when he went freelance. During the last few seasons of his riding career he joined the flat stable of another specialist with sprinters, Gerald Cottrell, at Kentisbeare as work rider.

Winning some 60 jump races Rod retired from race riding in 1989 but still rides out and maintains his skill at knowing when a horse is at its best.

Rod Millman Racing is based at The Paddocks in Kentisbeare, Devon overlooking the Culm Valley. The yard is hidden away in peaceful rolling countryside perfect for training racehorses and keeping them happy.

To find out more about Rod and his training facilities visit www.rodmillmanracing.co.uk

where you will also find his regular Newsletter.

Ben Case (National Hunt)

Ben Case started his career as a successful event and point to point rider, before gaining valuable experience working within the bloodstock industry. He went on to work extensively with both flat and national hunt trainers including 2 years in the USA with Eclipse award winning trainer Shug McGaughey.

On the National Hunt circuit, Ben worked with Oliver Sherwood in Lambourn and Arthur Moore in Ireland. Newmarket flat experience was earned by a short period at Luca Cumani’s yard and more recently, he was Assistant Trainer to Erwan Charpy, based in Dubai, for 5 years.

Backed by this sound knowledge of all aspects of racing, Ben took out a full training licence in his own right in 1999, initially operating from a small yard, adjoining historic Edgcote House.  He has now expanded into larger premises at Wardington Gate Farm which have been completely refitted and purpose designed as a racehorse training yard.

Ben is assisted by a team of dedicated and friendly staff. With innovative and fresh ideas, each horse receives the very best individual care and attention.  Always keen and enthusiastic, Ben has many ambitions waiting to be fulfilled and looks forward to a bright and successful future, training both Flat and National Hunt horses.

Members can make arrangements through the Manager to visit the Club trainers' stables to see the club horses and also to visit the training gallops, although there will be specially organized group days throughout the year.