The Racing Life of Louisa Cox
Growing up in rural Warwickshire, Louisa Cox had a childhood immersed in ponies, through which she found her niche, leading to twenty-eight years in racing.
Known as Lou or Lou-Lou, she rose in the ranks from groom to head of travelling, was a stickler for high standards and a doyenne of winning best-turned-outs. Lou loved the people in racing, whether working alongside her oldest friends or training colleagues who were newest in the yard; one of her main prerogatives was aways to have a laugh. Further honing her people skills, Lou worked with her parents, Geoff and Jenny Cox, who ran a busy antiques barn. ‘Dad was also a furniture maker and restorer. I still rode out while helping there,’ she adds.
Since leaving racing in 2013, it was Lou’s love of driving that dictated her pathway. Initially, she drove ambulances, during which she found a renewed appreciation of the diverse range of people around her.
‘I did three years on patient transport for a private Ambulance firm. I used to enjoy meeting all the different people. One day, I met a delightful elderly gentleman, who was being transferred from one hospital to another. I was told to make sure I looked after him. I recognised his name but couldn't remember how. Then it clicked, because I hadn't long seen a programme on him. He was Sir Nicholas Winton, a gentleman who had rescued refugee children, mainly Jewish, from Nazi Germany. I will never forget him; I held him in total respect and was in awe of him.’
Lou and Dave, reunited with Wanna Shout in the mare's retirement in 2018, beloved paddleboarding
Now a bus driver for Stagecoach, a role in which she’s done since June 2016, around Brackley, where Lou also lives with her partner Dave Emerson. They met in unconventional circumstances, which led to Lou persuing skydiving as a hobby for a few years. ‘I did a charity skydive with my then-boss Robin Dickin and his head lad Darren Swanton. I loved it so much, I decided it was something I would take up. Dave was one of my instructors. Sixty-eight jumps, the official term for skydives, later and we decided to give things a go…’
Even though working in racing is behind Lou, she’ll always treasure her memories from the job she loved.
Did you have a horsey childhood? I started riding at the age of nine at my local riding stables. This then led to spending all my weekends and school holidays, helping in lessons, hacks and gymkhanas.
It was next to a posh hotel. This is where I met Ben Kingsley and Noel Edmunds; both were very pleasant. Living outside of Stratford, it was quite the norm being spoilt with the variation of different types of horses and ponies we rode. I suppose this is what made us pretty good riders. My favourite was a 14.2hh called Swallow, aptly named for the love of his jumping. We would always win a chase-me-charlie.
How did you get into racing? I came out of Moreton Morrell College and had a placement in Nicki Gretton’s family yard with Mum’s and Dad's hunters, homebreds and three kids’ ponies. Nicki’s eldest son is Ed Gretton (was clerk of course of Bangor and Chester) and second son Tom Gretton is a small trainer in Worcestershire. Racing was a big interest in the home. Here, my first ever work colleague, was Zoe Hammond and we are still friends.
After the Grettons, I still didn't know which direction to head. I then came across an advert to work for a permit trainer/family yard, Sally Gill. When I was younger, I was very shy with zero confidence. Sally was a very good teacher and strict – but this was a perfect first job. We regularly took the horses up to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ to gallop. I always remember Cathy, who was his still wife at the time, helping me improve my riding.
Lou (right) on Blakelyn out hunting with the late Anthony Gill the vet, team chasing
and leading up Lawney Hill, Sally Gill's daughter
Trainers worked for: I rode out for Robin Dickin at first, I then went to work full-time for John O’Shea as a stable lass. I then returned to Robin Dickin’s as travelling head girl before going to Kim Bailey’s as travelling head girl. I went back to Robin’s as a work rider as well as working for Lawney Hill as a work rider. I also helped out occasionally for John Gallagher.
How did you get into being a head of travelling? At John O’Shea's, the yard was full lads wanting rides so most of them were happy if they didn't go racing. So, I ended up doing the job of travelling and I loved it. I knew Robin Dickin didn't have a head of travelling so I rang up to ask if it was something I could return there to do. They accepted and the rest is history.
Favourite horses: Before I got into racing, my first love of a racehorse was Desert Orchid.
At Robin’s, I looked after a horse called Skram. He was small and gutsy and had some jump on him. He won eleven races. Also there, Wanna Shout was one of my favourites... She was not really talented but when she was up for it, she ended up winning seven races.
Other horses that had special places in my heart were Even Flo and King Of Gothland at Kim Bailey's.
Favourite jockey: Richard Dunwoody because he was such a horseman, not just a jockey.
Favourite racecourses: Stratford and Worcester. I remember both were always being friendly tracks with plenty of winners.
Favourite meetings: The Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National meeting. This was why we did the job; in the hope you had a horse good enough to run there. The atmospheres were something else.
Favourite canteens: Hereford and Ludlow. Back then, the same people ran both canteens.
Favourite overnight: It had to be Perth. Jockeys, trainers and stable staff went out together because, being so far away, most people had to stay. So, it felt you knew everyone. After that Aintree - always a great night out.
Best day in racing: Having a runner in the Grand National. Longshanks for Kim Bailey. He absolutely loved it. Jumped and ran a blinder. And we were delighted that he was fine at the end of the race.
Lou on Barley Meadow at John O'Shea's, Black Collar and King Of Goathland both at Kim Bailey's
Racing hero: I didn't really have a hero, other than watching Desert Orchid. Watching him was my first love of anything ito do with racing
Most memorable racing party: At Robin Dickin’s, every winner was celebrated one way or another. This is how important winners were for a small trainer. Also, we had great parties after the yearly owners’ day. They were always special.
What did you love most about being a head of travelling? Being able to get out and about most days (I loved the driving) and being able to cheer in every yard winner, not just the ones I looked after.
What did you love most about working in racing? The people. We were a family and all helped each other out whether you worked for the same yard or not.
What didn’t you love about working in racing? Unfortunately, there are those days when our beloved horses got injured or worse end up coming home in an empty horsebox. There were also days or weeks where I was constantly on the road. It wasn't family friendly.
I didn't like that, when your time in racing was coming to an end, I personally felt lost. I gave most of my life to racing and I felt there wasn't much help in finding what my next options were. It was only when I left, I felt that coming out of racing was a bit like coming out of the Army. It was a way of life and felt people out of racing were totally different.
Over the years, how did working in racing change? It started to feel like I was constantly racing. Winter, summer, Sunday and evening racing without a break. I also felt it was getting harder for the smaller trainer to pick up winners.
First two of Lou leading in Spartan Heartbeat into the winner's enclosure
and with Alright Pops in the horse shower at sunny Stratford
Why did you leave racing in the end? I always struggled a bit with the cold and wet weather but the love of the game kept me going. Yet, with age, I was struggling more and more. I also had a couple of nasty falls so that makes you start thinking about the future.
How do you reflect back on your years working in racing? With great memories and forever friendships. I just wish I travelled abroad more with job.
Favourite drink: I’m quite partial to Guinness or an Aperol Spritz.
Favourite meal: A Roast.
Favourite snack: Pork Scratchings.
Favourite film: Oliver.
Favourite book: Tomorrow To Be Brave by Susan Travers. A memoir of the only women to join the French Foreign Legion in World War 2.
Favourite music: I used to love ‘80s Rock with ACDC being one of the best concerts I have gone to. These days, I like my country music with Garth Brooks at Hyde Park and County 2 County in London being some of the best music I have seen live.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy or Australia.
Other hobbies/interests: I like walking. Mostly, I enjoy meeting up with family and friends to go paddleboarding.
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