Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Oxfordshire and the Chilterns, our fine county is home to a thriving horse racing community, with several talented trainers making their mark on the sport.
From seasoned veterans with years of experience to up-and-coming stables on the rise, Oxfordshire boasts a diverse array of trainers. This county is not the first that springs to mind as a horseracing gold mine. North Yorkshire and Suffolk are particularly popular for trainers.
In North Yorkshire, the Beverley and Richmond area is particularly rife with trainers, with the likes of John Quinn and David O’Meara based nearby. The former finished the 2023 season in fantastic form, landing over £1.1 million in prize money across UK meetings. Quinn trains the Red Mirage horse, a six-year-old sprinter. Racegoers and enthusiasts can buy shares in Red Mirage, a horse who’s well-handicapped for 2024 and beyond, for £33 per share.
In Suffolk, the Newmarket area is one of Britain’s biggest hotbeds for horseracing trainers, given the proximity to Newmarket Racecourse. The likes of Ed Dunlop, John Ryan, and John Gosden all have their stables just north of Newmarket town centre.
If you’re a keen visitor to the Oxfordshire race tracks like Edgcote Racecourse in Banbury or go to the big events at Cheltenham or Aintree, then keep a close eye on rising yards in the Oxfordshire region. We recommend you take some time to discover some of the top work going on at the three following stables.
Charlie Longsdon Racing
Situated on the outskirts of Chipping Norton, Charlie Longsdon is a winning trainer both on the flat and in National Hunt races. Having spent his summer holidays working alongside established National Hunt trainers like Nigel Twiston Davies and Oliver Sherwood, Longsdon then became an assistant to the likes of Kim Bailey and Nicky Henderson. He then secured his own trainer’s licence in 2006 and has been operating out of his Hull Farm base since 2009.
Longsdon’s stables have space for up to 83 thoroughbreds. Specialising largely in National Hunt racing, Longsdon’s yard has a 14% win ratio in jumps racing over the last five seasons. The last big winner was Castle Robin at Sandown February 2023.
Eve Johnson Houghton
Eve Johnson Houghton is a successful racehorse trainer located in the Berkshire village of Blewbury, so close to Didcot we will count it. Johnson Houghton’s Woodway Stables offer some spectacular views across the Berkshire Downs, with 200 acres for her yard to work with.
On-site, her team has turf downland gallops, as well as a purpose-built all-weather gallop over seven furlongs, providing the perfect environment for thoroughbreds to be prepared for race meetings. In 2024 so far, Johnson Houghton has already posted 15 race wins. In the past, she has achieved notoriety at Royal Ascot, having trained Accidental Agent and Chipotle to victory.
Paul Webber Racing
Paul Webber’s yard is based on Cropredy Lawn in Mollington, Oxfordshire. Webber was a champion National Hunt amateur jockey in his time, while his father, John, operated a successful stable at Cropredy Lawn. John’s passing in the mid-1990s resulted in Paul taking the helm and he’s not looked back since.
At the time of John’s death, Cropredy Lawn had a capacity for up to 20 thoroughbreds. Today, it is a 63-box yard, with elite-level training facilities, including equine swimming pools, all-weather gallops, and more. Webber is a Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer, with Indefatigable winning at the 2020 festival.
All of these Oxfordshire yards will gladly accept stable tours, giving you a chance to get up close and personal with some of the finest jump and flat racing prospects in UK horseracing.
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