The Racing Life of Camilla Sharples

I interviewed Camilla Sharples, hanging off every word. Throughout her years in racing, she has been associated with a long list of talented horses and big days. However, after growing up in Over Kellet, Lancashire, Camilla could have easily pursued a different tract:

Camilla and Meetmebythesea

Photo Credit: Michael Harris

‘When I left school, after doing A-Levels, I didn’t know what to do. I had a place at university to study Marketing and Advertising but deferred entry to take a year out to event my horse. I also worked in the accounts department of a plumbing and heating company. I got the idea of what it was like to earn money so deferred entry again – I never actually went to uni and got bored of accounts, and started working in racing in June 2008…’

Starting off working for the late Ferdy Murphy, Camilla has also worked for Donald McCain. From June 2015, for just under nine years, Camilla was travelling head for Gordon Elliott where she worked with many great horses. So far, she had been involved with an outstanding thirty-eight Cheltenham Festival winners, three she led up personally and the rest in her role as head of travelling.

The Cheltenham Festival has always proved rich pickings…at Camilla’s first ever Festival, she led up the veteran Nine De Sivola when he finished third in the 2009 National Hunt Chase and then Divers in 2011 when he won the Centenary Novices’ Chase under Graham Lee. She later led up Shattered Love in the 2018 JLT and Ravenhill in the 2020 National Hunt Chase.

With endless joy at the memories, Camilla rattled off the big names, big winners… ‘Gerri Colombe won a few Grade 1s…Pied Piper was amazing…Conflated won the Irish Gold Cup…I led up Shattered Love in her first ever bumper at Naas and she took me to the Gold Cup and Grand National and was the sales topper at Goffs when she was in foal to Walk In The Park. That day, I wanted to finish the story with her. Her foal then became a sale topper…Bless The Wings was placed in three cross-country races at the Festival, won the cross-country at the December meeting one year and was the nicest, kindest boy. He was also third in the first Grand National that Tiger Roll won…I led up Lord Scoundrel ridden by Donagh Meyler when they won the 2016 Galway Plate…I used to help Georgie Benson lead up Apples Jade and then I took over when Georgie left. Apples Jade was one of the toughest National Hunt mares to date, winning eleven Grade 1s…

'At Royal Ascot in 2016, I took Commissioned when he won the Queen Alexandra, the last race of the week. I went on my own because no one else wanted to go. Amid all the top hats, I saddled up, led and legged up the jockey on my own. Someone then had to take him off me so I could go up and collect the prizes; even the trainer or owners hadn’t gone! Then, I took Pallasator when he won the same race two years later…’

Camilla was associated with top chaser Andy Dufresne, named after the hero in her favourite movie. After winning a point-to-point in her colours, he was sold for £330 000, topped the sale and went on to win in the famous green and gold of JP McManus. In 2018, in the middle of this purple patch, Camilla was rewarded for her loyalty, dedication and aptitude by winning the Travelling Head Person category at the Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

Camilla with Andy Dufresne, The Big Mare Shattered Love in the JLT and riding Toger Roll on the gallops

In Ireland, Camilla, 38, also found success in training point-to-pointers. Kruzhlinin, who she nicknamed Kevin, was gifted to her by Paul and Claire Rooney and broke all records when winning thirteen between the flags in the 2018-9 season. He was also the champion point-to-pointer in Ireland. ‘Win, lose or draw, Kevin was to be retired, aged fourteen, at Limerick over hurdles on 10^th October 2021. He won! He was back running under Rules due to covid and had won a veterans’ chase by eight lengths in the same season.’

Mighty Stowaway was Camilla’s second open horse. ‘I only had him a season and he won four point-to-points,’ she explains. ‘He was my first runner at the Cheltenham Festival in my own colours, where he excitingly chased Billaway and Winged Leader up the hill to finish third in the Foxhunters.’

Samcro was another former champion who was sweetened back into winning ways by Camilla. ‘He had lost his way and Gigginstown let me run him in my own colours,’ explains Camilla with a big smile. ‘And he won three point-to-points by a combined 90 lengths.’

Back in the day with Rebecca Menzies and Cheltenham Festival winner Divers,

with Kevin whilst at McCain's and with him in Ireland   

Back in the UK, Camilla’s success continued when, in her present role as head of travelling to Gloucestershire-based Ben Pauling, she helped, amongst other big winners, to lead in The Jukebox Man when he won the latest King George and, back in her former stomping ground, Meetmebythesea at the Cheltenham Festival.

Last season proved that anywhere Camilla works, fortune will continue to shadow her – and long may it last.

Did you have a horsey childhood? I’m the youngest of five and I followed my brothers and sisters into ponies. We all did Pony Club, British Dressage and British Eventing to what was novice level.

How did you get into racing? I used to keep my horse at a local livery yard. Rebecca Menzies, who is now a trainer, also kept her horse there. We actually went to school together but she was in the year below me, so we weren’t close friends there.

The livery yard was owned by Walter Gott, who had racehorses with Ferdy Murphy. He also had the Irish Grand National winner back in the day called Granit d'Estruval and Addington Boy running in the Aintree Grand National.

Anyway, Ferdy sent his racehorses to the livery yard’s fields for the summer break and Rebecca used to look after them. So, when I moved my horse there, Rebecca, Walter Gott and I used to visit Ferdy’s yard. Rebecca got a job there and by then, we’d become best friends. She took on the racing secretary role and a year later, when I was twenty, I moved to Yorkshire as well.

Saddling Mortal two with Gerri Colombe

Trainers worked for: I started at Ferdy’s as a general stable girl, riding out and looking after five horses. To begin with, I didn’t have a clue how to ride a racehorse or anything about racing. I just wanted to work with horses and was able to take my eventer with me.

After a year, I became a barn manager, which reminded me of being a team leader at Pony Club, a role that had trained me up for the horse world in general by encouraging a high attention to detail. I continued to look after my five horses and did some lovely ones, including Nine de Silvola who was second in an Irish National, Eider Chase and Scottish National before I looked after him and third at the Cheltenham Festival under Rose Dobbin on my first lead-up there. To my excitement, I was gifted him in retirement by his owners, but it turned out he was going blind, which explained why he wasn’t running as well as he should have. Due to a tumour pressing on his optic nerve, he had to be put down only six weeks after retiring.

I also looked after Divers who won at the Cheltenham Festival under Graham Lee, beating Quantativeeasing. Graham was daring on him by coming up the rail. One memory I’ll never forget about Ferdy’s is schooling a lot upsides Graham, who was always a gent. I worked there four years until Ferdy relocated to France and, still wanting to live close to home, I went to Donald McCain’s as second travelling. I was there for two and a half years, looked after my favourite Kruzhlinin. I always wanted to lead up in the Aintree Grand National and he took me there in 2014 - at seven, he was the youngest horse in the race and finished tenth.

In June 2015, Gordon Elliott offered me the first travelling job. I passed my HGV test on the Tuesday and moved to Ireland on the Saturday. I left

Why did you choose to work in Ireland? I wanted a change and to work in a good yard. Olly Murphy was assistant at the time and he said, ‘Come over, even if you do just one season, you won’t regret it.’ He couldn’t have been more right. From the start, it was winners galore and we won the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Don Cossack. We all went out together – it was lots of fun.

At Pauling's, Camilla is still with lots of winners - Grand 1 winner Hand Stands, at Doncaster after a brilliant treble and always working hard

What was it like coming back to the UK? When I first came back, I felt I had no purpose in life – my mental health wasn’t great after having to make the decision to leave Ireland. I wanted to wake up every morning for it to be a dream, which of course it wasn’t. It happened all so fast – I made the decision to leave on the Saturday morning and by the Wednesday, I was on the boat to come home.

I needed a fresh start but was so unsure which direction to take. I even considered a job in eventing through a good friend, but I was so involved in racing, it was impossible to leave that world.

On my third week back here, I went to Rebecca Menzies. She got me going again – got me riding out, going racing, earning money. I owe her so much for taking me under the wing even though I was there only as a stopgap. I also did a bit of background work at the sales in the office for George Mullins in case I wanted to do an office-based job in racing.

    Then, in September 2024, I was getting my hair done and a couple of friends sent me the advert for Ben Pauling’s head of travelling. I was very hesitant but eventually thought, what have I got to lose? I messaged Ben’s assistant Tom David, came down to the yard for the interview and it was the first job since Gordon Elliott’s that I wanted to give a go. I started six weeks later on 14^th October.

Favourite racehorses: Judging by the photographs on my walls, it has to be Kevin, Andy Dufresne, Gerri Colombe, Samcro, Pied Piper, Conflated, Shattered Love and Bless The Wings.

Favourite racecourse in UK: Aintree – I don’t have to think about that. I love it there.

Favourite racecourse in Ireland: Punchestown.

Favourite racecourse internationally: Meydan was pretty cool.

Favourite canteen: Newbury. I love jacket potatoes and Newbury have the best ones.

Have you ever been a jockey? I have 100% strike rate of winning two charity races round Punchestown, including one at the festival.

Where has racing taken you abroad? I went to Far Hills, USA and led up Calico when she won and Salvador Ziggy in the American Grand National. I also went to Deauville with Pallasator and went to Dubai for a few days when Jack Madden was over there with a runner.

With Pied Piper at Cheltenham in January, the Galway Plate witnner Lord Scoundrel and at Far Hills with Kalico

Best days i racing: There’s been loads… Tiger Roll winning two Aintree Grand Nationals was amazing. It’s a race that stops the world and to win it two years in a row was beyond anything.

Any Grade 1 winner I led up. I led up so many, it’s hard to pick one.

I loved bringing horses back when they’d lost their way.

However long I’d been with Gordon Elliott – one of the top trainers in the world –before the past year, I’d never been involved with a King George winner, which was really special – or a Becher Chase winner!

Over the years, the buzz never got old with all the Cheltenham Festival winners that I’ve been involved with. When I left Gordon’s, I never knew if I’d experience that again, so when Meetmebythesea won at Cheltenham, it was very emotional and special to feel that buzz again.

What is Ben like as a boss? He’s very laid back, very sound and a very nice man, who likes a bit of craic too. I have never heard him shout and I feel appreciated there. I fitted in easily and Ben never questions me about my job, apart from what time I need to leave – he leaves it all to me. Also, he is always trying to get bigger owners and better horses – and I admire that.

What makes working for Ben Pauling special? Every winner at Ben’s is celebrated. After every winner, the group chat is full of ‘well dones’, not just the bigger ones.

I’ve met some lovely people and made some amazing friends that I would never have met if I hadn’t moved to Gloucestershire.

Best aspect to being a head of travelling: What other job is there where you leave your main place of work and see your friends every day? I have a good time, especially when we have winners, and I enjoy being in charge and being a huge part of it.

I enjoy turning horses out and feel proud when they look so well in the parade ring – what other jobs give you get that satisfaction? I also enjoy chatting with my friends at the races or in the lorry.

Worst aspect to being a head of travelling: Losing a horse is sad for the whole team.

Racing takes over your whole life – it’s a way of life, not just a job. If you’re not fully committed, and want to go out all weekend, then it’s not right for you. It’s hard to plan. Yet, at Ben’s, there’s not many horses in during the summer so I can use my holidays and I gain a lot of days in lieu, which means I get a decent break.

Favourite racing party: After Tiger Roll won his second Grand National, we partied for days, starting at the homecoming in Summerhill and continued celebrating for days. A few weeks later, we then had a big, proper dress-up party at The Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, County Meath. Everyone was invited – all the Gordon Elliott team and friends galore.

After The Jukebox Man won the King George, I had my first, big proper celebration with the ben Pauling team and we lifted the roof of the local pub, the Black Horse in Naunton.

Camilla and Andy Dufresne

Favourite meal: I could live off pasta.

Favourite drink: I am a pink gin and lemonade girl.

Favourite snack: Chocolate or crisps.

Dream holiday destination: I would love to stay in one of those water bungalows in the Maldives. They look beautiful – I’d probably get bored after four days but it’d be lovely to experience it once.

Favourite music: When I’m on the road every day, I listen to everything.

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption.  

Favourite TV program: I am pretty obsessed with Netflix so don’t really watch normal TV.

Ideal celebrity date: Chris Martin because I love Coldplay. They are my favourite band to see live and I have seen them four times…so if he wanted to serenade me over dinner, then I’d enjoy that.