Do You Remember Horse Trainer Mark Brisbourne?

If you follow horse racing you will always have your favourites.

It might be a favourite racing code, horse or trainer. Being someone who always hopes the underdog will prevail, I can't help side with the smaller yards because, without doubt, most are talents and if they get their hands on a good horse - they will win. 

Another factor that often goes unnoticed is how difficult it is for the majority of horse trainers to make a living. Over the years, it is surprising how many have come and gone. True, some retire satisfied with their lot while many others are cut short by factors that had little to do with their will. If you don't have the luxury of owning your own stable, you could well find yourself powerless and at the mercy of someone who has other plans. 

This leads me to a trainer I always admired: Mark Brisbourne. 

Brisbourne trained for almost 30 years and achieved 560 winners. Sadly, he was given notice to vacate quit Ness Strange stables, near Shrewsbury when the Earl of Bradford sold the property when granted permission to build five homes in 2019.

In an emotional Twitter update, Becky Brisbourne, assistant trainer and amateur jockey said: Things will never be the same but we have to be grateful for so much in life and not dwell on the sad times. I'm heartbroken and always saw Ness Strange Stables as a place I would one day train from but it is not to be. Time to make the best of a bad situation and move forward.   

Looking back to 3rd June 2019 when Brisbourne sent out his last runner Manfadh who competed at 7:45 Wolverhampton over 1m 1 1/2f. 

Brisbourne was a very talented trainer who could prime a horse to win. He was particularly good at Wolverhampton and Chester. 

Readers may remember him training 800-guinea filly Milly Waters who proved a talented two-year-old running nine times competing at Royal Ascot's Albany Stakes Listed race (2003). She achieved three wins in her formative season. A highlight winning the £100000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes Class B, when ridden by Richard Mullen by one-and-a-half lengths at 33/1. Owner and breeder John E Oldnow put £50,400 in his pocket. 

I was trying to find the name of this horse but couldn't at the time of writing. This two-year-old made for a memorable day for my brother, Tony, and the stable as Zennerman won on his second start at Haydock at odds of 100/1. What a dream bet. Take a look at the full result here. 

A very talented trainer.

**KNOW THE BEST HORSES IN TRAINING (BEFORE THEY RACE!)**