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Hello all
A colleague of mine is doing a bit of research into Manton Stables. He’s worked his way back to when Robert Sangster bought the place in ’84 and installed Michael Dickinson as his trainer, but we’re stuck as to who (if any) trained there prior to that.
Any ideas?
A George Todd was the Master of Manton in the 1950’s.
"Trelawny (trained by George Todd at Manton and one of the most popular horses of the era)".
I think you should investigate about Alec Taylor.
Manton was founded by "young" Alec Taylor´s grandad.
The old Alec Taylor, trained Sefton to win th Derby in 1878.He died in 1894 and left the place to his sons Alec and Tom.The two brothers ran the place until 1902 when Alec took over ( Tom died two years later ).Alec Taylor trained there til 1927.
Horses like Sceptre, Challacombe, Bayardo, Lemberg,
Gay Crusader, Gainborough, Pogrom, etc… were trained at Manton.
He was champion trainer 12 times, including 7 times in a row from 1917 to 1923.
In 1919 Taylor sold Manton to Mr Joseph Watson ( although he was still the trainer ) , who later become Lord Manton.He died in 1922 in a hunting accident and the property came into the possesion of Somerville Tattersall.Geoege Todd trained at Manton from 1947 to 1974 ( when he died ). Trelawny and 1966 St Leger winner Sodium were his best horses.
Bayardo and Gainsborough (both multiple champion sires) also stood at stud at Manton after their racing careers had finished.
In the mid seventies John Bloomfield an American (I believe) entrepeneur bought the estate from whom I do not know.
My father had just been employed as a third trainer to David Robinson having been head lad to Michael Jarvis for two years.When Labour won the election, Robinson shrank his operation to just Michael Jarvis, Paul Davey went back up north to train and my father went to Manton as Assistant Trainer to George Henry Peter-Hoblyn, there were big plans at the time to build a racing empire, unfortunately the up and coming trainer was very much out of his depth, the most succesfull spell coming after a three month winter holiday for Peter-Hoblyn when my father trained for him and won the Lincoln with Southwark Star (33-1). And a top sprint at long odds a couple of days earlier, in fact the Sporting Life picked up upturn in form at Manton and said to have a look at Southark Star for the race (front page).
Glad to be of help..
The BBC website has a Points West video about Manton:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wiltshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8717000/8717487.stm
There’s a brief history on Brian Meehan’s website:
http://www.brianmeehan.co.uk/manton/history
There’s a book available about the stables:
The Masters of Manton:From Alec Taylor to George Todd, by Paul Mathieu (£22.95 from Amazon)
I remember George Todd in particular as he trained a staying handicapper called Bradfield, named after my home village. He landed me some pocket money on a visit to Ascot in the late 60s. Todd had a number of horses named after villages in West Berkshire as I remember Thatcham and Bucklebury running when I was young.
Rob
Todd was avery gifted trainer, but totally dishonest. He died a very rich man as a result of his betting activities.
I’d imagine that Trelawny and Roan Rocket were the only horses he ever trained who always ran on their merits.
There is a photo of Joseph Lawson a trainer at Manton in the 1920’s and 1930’s here…
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JOSEPH-LAWSON-Trainer-MANTON-STABLES-Durham-1936-/180686484809?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item2a11c0f549
Burnsy
George Peter Hoblyn moved to Manton from Hill House Stables East Ilsley to take up the reins at Manton recently purchased by John Bloomfield circa 1974
He inherited staff from George Todd namely Stuart Clarke (apprentice) from Stoke Dennis Holohan (deceased ) from the North East, Jed Cafferty from Merseyside and Jock Bowman from Scotland also a couple of horses one being Lord Nelson.
Joe Mercer came to ride out regularly as did Richard Fox who eventually rode Southwark star to victory in the Lincoln.
Another favourite jockey who rode regularly for the yard was Jimmy Lindley and Phillip Waldron.
Not sure who the alleged Assistant trainer was in another post on here but i was there throughout this period as an apprentice and certainly no-one else trained Southwark Star for the Governor and i can assure you he never took a 3 month holiday at any time- what nonsense!
Mr Hoblyn never managed to attract the big owners probably because he was a relatively new name as a trainer and as such never attracted the top class horses.
Whilst I was there the very old lads hostel was demolished, approx 1975 ,and a purpose built accomodation block was built at huge cost for the lads that, I believe, still stands today.
Successful Apprentice Robert Baker came on board with the stable in the Mid seventies but did not get the volume of rides his record justified and as such and after 2 quite barren seasons left to ply his trade elsewhere.
Bayardo and Gainsborough were both buried on the estate at the location that used to be close to the 2 year old yard and headstones still mark the spot.
As far as I am aware I was the only indentured apprentice to ride for Mr Hoblyn in public .
A lot of history in this place and a lot of great memories but oh what a bleak place to be on horse back at 7.30 in the morning when the temperature is close to freezing and the heavens open to keep you suitably wet through for the duration of the lot!!
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