The Racing Life of Philip Sharp

Philip Sharp enthusiastically reminisces about his years working for the best trainers in Lambourn, Berkshire. Known as Phil or 'Sharpie', he led up winners of the biggest races in the jumps calendar throughout the 1990s.

‘It wasn’t a job but a way of life. In Lambourn, everyone was involved in racing. Families celebrated good horses; wives of lads and husbands of lasses all benefited from big wins. Head lads rewarded good lads and lasses with a good horse, and owners rewarded us too.’

  Back then, racing yards were tough workplaces, highly male dominated with only a day and a half off every fortnight and wages were low. ‘There was one-upmanship between the lads,’ explains Phil with a grin, ‘but the pool money every quarter sorted us out! We didn’t get a lot of pay but we were still looked after; when we led up a winner, we’d get £10 in every £1000 of prize money. I wasn’t the best rider, but I always spoke the truth and was right about the horses I rode so I was respected.’

The people, many long gone, play a huge part in Phil’s treasured memories. ‘The best head lad I knew was Brian Delaney, who had been at Fred Winter’s and stayed on for Charlie Brooks. He was ever so good with legs and a gentleman. He’d bollock you if you did anything wrong but praised you when you did it right.’

Phil with Suny Bay at Haydock Racecourse the day after the 'bomb scare' Grand National

The horses were another highlight. ‘We put all our lives into looking after racehorses,’ Phil explained. ‘We didn’t mind if it was pissing down, freezing or snowing because we had so much fun.’

Particularly known for looking after grey staying chaser Suny Bay, Phil recalls a horse who always tried his best. ‘In the 1998 Grand National, when he finished second again, he jumped so well, he stood off outside the wings of the Chair.’ In the ’98 Tommy Whittle Chase that December, Suny Bay got his revenge on Aintree when beating Earth Summit. ‘That was sweet,’ laughed Phil.

Eventually leaving racing, Phil always continued riding out, most recently for Devonshire trainer Polly Gundry. ‘She tried to teach me to showjump but all I know is racing. I’m 61 and waiting for a hip replacement, so I’ve got to start thinking sensibly.’

Phil’s grownup children Alex, Matthew and Daisy all rode, with Daisy a chip off the old block by working in Lambourn for Jamie Osborne.

Born in Tiverton, Devon, Phil moved with his family to Honiton, where he remained until leaving home to work with horses, and returned later in life. Yet, his love of racing never faded. ‘Talking to you has kicked off many memories – I’ve loved it,’ Phil said, a smile all too evident.

Did you have a horsey childhood? I didn’t have ponies because my parents weren’t that wealthy. I got a job at a local riding stables called Devonish Pitt Farway Stables. I spent all my weekends down there – I absolutely loved it.

How did you get into racing? I went to work in a polo yard in Midhurst, Surrey. The team was the South East Polo Team and a Frenchman called Jean Claude Boher was in charge. We were paid £30 a week for absolutely crazy long hours.

How did you get into racing? I enjoyed the polo but, for some reason, I was watching racing on the television and I fancied working in it.

Which trainers have you worked for? My first job was for car salesman-turned-trainer, Barry Stevens outside Winchester and I was there for two years.

  Then I met up with a girl from Lambourn, who I eventually married. She said, ‘Come and live with me,’ so I did and got a job with Peter Walwyn at Seven Barrows, around 1987.

I enjoyed my time with ‘Basil’, as he was known; it was fantastic. One day, he said, ‘Phil, you are getting a bit heavy for these Flat horses now – fancy going into jump racing?’ I agreed and he got me a job with Jenny Pitman.

Garrison Savannah winning the 1991 Cheltenham Gold Cup

  I started with Jenny in 1989 and I couldn’t believe it when she gave me Garrison Savannah (‘Gary’) to look after. I won the 1991 Cheltenham Gold Cup with him and finished second in the Aintree Grand National. I worked there for three and a half years, then I was offered a job at Tim Thomson Jones’ – the money was far better, though it was difficult to leave Gary.

  Tim Thomson Jones’ yard was just down the road from Uplands, where Charlie Brooks trained. One day at the shop, I was speaking to his head lad, Brian Delaney, and he mentioned their new owner, Andrew Cohen, and asked if I would be interested in coming to work there. I went up one afternoon and Brian Delaney introduced me to Charlie Brooks – job done.

Were you ever a jockey? At six foot tall, I was too heavy to be a jockey but I would have loved to have had a go.

Favourite racecourses: Haydock, Cheltenham, Aintree, Newbury and Wincanton.

Favourite meeting: Aintree in April will always be my favourite. My wishes are to have my ashes scattered there someday.

Phil and 'Gary' with Jenny Pitman looking on

Favourite jockey: Graham Bradley, who we all called ‘Brad’.

Favourite racehorses: Obviously Gary and Suny Bay, who was called Suny. I also used to look after a sweet horse at Charlie’s called Stroke Saver, who was owned by a group of lads from London. I loved that little horse – he was fantastic but a bugger to ride. One day, he broke my nose. We were jumping off at the bottom of the gallops; as I stood up in my irons, he threw his head back and nigh-on nearly knocked me out. Yet, I carried on with blood streaming down my face.

Did you enjoy living in Lambourn? I have great memories of living in Lambourn – it was a fantastic place. Me and my ex Gail married in Lambourn and had a fantastic time – I have the most fond memories of being there. There were so many pubs – the Malt Shovel, the George, Red Lion, the Queen’s Head, Wheelwright Arms. The town was buzzing and was always fun.

Yet, Lambourn has changed so much. There are many fewer jumps’ trainers now, with Nicky Henderson one of the last ones left. It’s really sad. When you consider the jumps trainers that used to be in Lambourn – Jenny Pitman, Nick Gaselee, Kim Bailey, Oliver Sherwood, Charlie Mann, Faulk Walwyn, Tim Thomson Jones, David Murray Smith…to name a few.

And what about the annual open day? My first open day was in 1991 and that morning, Jenny Pitman had us sweeping the grass with brooms. It was crazy, people were queuing at the gate from 05:30AM to get in.

  It continued to be packed out every year. At Charlie’s, we were supposed to close at one o’clock but stayed open until the start of evening stables. I really enjoyed chatting to all the proper racing fans.

Best days in racing: Leading up the winner of the 1991 Cheltenham Gold Cup was such a buzz and there’s also the 1997 Hennessy Gold Cup. It’s difficult to choose between the two. Suny winning the Hennessy was Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s last ever race commentary and that made me proud to lead up the last winner he called home.

Sometimes, it wasn’t even winners. Even the three seconds in the Grand National that I was lucky to lead in were amazing. Suny’s second in 1998 was absolutely fantastic with the huge weight difference of his twelve stone compared to the winner’s 10st 5lb.

What were Suny Bay’s and Garrison Savannah’s characters like? Suny and Gary were both similar in temperament, but Suny was the most laidback. He only once took off with me. At the back of the hill, we were coming on the gallop and he carted me for four furlongs. It was the first and last time he did it – he was obviously feeling very well.

Gary was a bit of a stroppy bugger. If you sneezed or coughed, he’d literally go for you. He wasn’t as kind as Suny Bay but I got to know him very well as I rode him every day. I used to take him round the stubble fields and we had some laughs.

What did you love about working in racing? The camaraderie, banter and fun. It was a lot different back then – what we used to say to a couple of the girls who worked with us, we wouldn’t get away with saying now!

Best stories: When I first started at Charlie Brooks’, there was a lad called Richard Cullen. He had worked for Fred Winter for years, was well thought of and had spent a lifetime in racing. I got a bit cheeky with him one day and walked off, saying, ‘Don't you know anything, effing idiot?’ At evening stables, as I went round the corner up the top, six older lads grabbed me, stripped me bollock naked, shaved my pubes and took me down to the bottom paddock, pinned me out with stakes and left me there! I was never cheeky again.

What didn’t you love about working in racing? A few nondescript things. I don’t think the lads got the pay they deserved.

What has changed in racing? I believe racecourse television coverage has changed for the worse. ITV Racing is crap and too much is pre-recorded.  The presenters aren’t what they used to be and it’s not about horses or people in racing. Mick Fitzgerald and Ruby Walsh are great but the others wind me up.

Celebrating Sun Bay winning a most memorable 1997 Hennessy Gold Cup

Best racing celebration: After the 1997 Hennessy, down the Queen’s Head, not that I can remember much about it.

Describe the 1997 Aintree Grand National: From Lambourn, Aintree was a four-and-a-half-hour drive so we always stayed overnight, especially with a National runner. It was a normal stat to the National morning. I rode Suny out and told Charlie he was buzzing and felt amazing. I washed and dried him off, plaited him early. I had breakfast and changed into my glad rags.

Back at the stables, I groomed Suny, fussed him, put his bridle on and led him out to the pre-parade ring and went into a saddle box when Charlie brought the saddle out. Everything seemed normal.

We were walking around the main parade ring and suddenly I thought, What’s going on here? Where’s everyone going? We were instructed to go back to the stables but weren’t give any reason. I put Suny away and this copper said we had to leave the course. I said, ‘Are you effing mad?’ and pointed out Suny was favourite for the National. I refused to leave him. ‘On your head be it,’ the copper answered.

Simon Molloy was in the stables, looking after his mare who was supposed to be running later on in the day. He didn’t leave either but we were the only two. There were no lads or lasses anywhere – the stables were deserted. We could see horses with tack, sheets and rugs still on, as well as boots and bandages. I said to Simon, ‘C’mon, we better take the tack off, otherwise they’ll get tangled up or something.’ So, we untacked and some other security staff helped us feed and water them all.

  Later on, outside the stables, a copper stopped us. Jockey Jamie Osborne and Charlie Brooks were nearby and Charles Barnett, the clerk of the course, asked why we were still there. I answered that we never left and stayed to look after the horses. A cameraman overheard and we started being famous for five minutes.

In the stable yard, we heard the controlled explosion and everything rattled and the air shook.

As soon as we could, all the horses and staff went to Haydock Racecourse. They were so welcoming. It was late, way past ten that evening. A lady called Beryl, who did the canteen, made the best cakes and she opened up the canteen with free food. As soon as I settled Suny bay to bed, I had a meal and a whole loaf cake with custard.

It was a bizarre day.

What do you mean ‘famous for five minutes’?  Simon and I got in the news about staying behind and looking after the horses.

I was given the 1997 Daily Star’s Racing Personality of the Year at the Dorchester in London. It was a sit-down dinner and the awards were given up on stage. I still have the crystal and silver claret jug.

At the ceremony for the Sports Personality of the Year awards in 1997, a group of us, including Brad, Jamie Osborne and AP McCoy, went up on the stage to tell the story of the bomb scare National, whilst Clare Balding was presenting. What a night! I was so nervous, surrounded by all these people who were idols. For the after party, I took my autograph book. However, Chris Eubank actually asked for my autograph!

Lasting racing memories: The one thing I have never forgotten about working in racing was Brad’s face when he finished second in the National behind Earth Summit for the second year running. He was beaming and called Suny ‘unbelievable’ – it will stay with me forever.