The Racing Life of Rebecca Gallagher

The sport of racing has given Rebecca Gallagher, nee Patman, many memories. She rode as an amateur with gusto far outweighing her diminutive then five-foot frame. Racing also introduced her to future husband John Gallagher when he worked at John White’s. ‘I lived up the road,’ she explained. ‘and I used to take my ‘pointers up their gallops.’ John and Becky married in 2001 and have two sons, Ollie, 21, and Tom, 18.

Since 2000, John, 59, and Becky, 56, have trained at Grove Farm, Chastleton on the edge of Gloucestershire, tallying up nearly two hundred and fifty winners from a small but successful team of horses over the years. Their all-weather and grass gallops are set in private sixty acres of grassy fields, meaning horses are turned out and treated as individuals.

In the background, Becky has been a loyal constant, performing the ‘boring’ but necessary bits in the office and bringing up their sons.

Did you have a horsey childhood? My parents were not horsey at all! Whilst growing up in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, I loaned a pony and kept him in the village when I was at school.

Who influenced you to get into racing? A girl, at the stables where I kept my pony, worked for Tim Harris a local trainer and as I was so small, she suggested I went in the school holidays. It started from there. 

John and Becky last May

What trainers have you worked for? I started off at Jack Joseph’s, who was a permit trainer but also a very big owner with David Elsworth during Desert Orchid’s time. All his horses would return to his in the summer and then he’d leave some to be trained under the permit, so we always had nice horses to train at home.

Then, I went to Mark Willinson’s, John White’s and Grace Muir’s in Lambourn before coming to Gloucestershire with John in my twenties. Whilst we trained here with our own permit, I rode out for David ‘The Duke’ Nicholson and John rode out for Nigel Twiston-Davies. We had to ride out because the yard didn’t make much money without many paying owners. The ones we did have went towards renting the yard.

We gave up the permit eventually as it was too much money and we went to Karl Burke’s. I was full-time for Karl, secretary and riding out. I loved it there – it was the best job ever. I’d go back and work for him now. Yet, when he moved to Newmarket, we went to Australia for a spell, before returning to Gloucestershire. As we went back to riding out for people, Brian Jones, an owner from Devon, suggested John started training his horses. We also had horses out of training for trainers, such as Nick Litmmoden and Ian Williams.

What other jobs have you had in racing? For a year or so, around 1999, I also worked at Brightwells setting up their first breeze-up sale. There had already been breeze-ups at Kempton, but I helped organised these first ever breeze ups at Wolverhampton. We managed to get lots of horses to come from Ireland and I rode our own horse, which we’d prepared at home to sell there. I really enjoyed that job.

Becky on her beloved 'pointer Infielder

Were you a jockey? I rode in point-to-points on our own horses, and a hunter chase. I only weighed seven stone and had to carry eleven stone so Roy Mangan, bless him, specially made a weight cloth because I had to carry so much lead. The clerk of the scales used to give me permission that if I won, or had to weigh in for a place, someone else could carry my saddle, but I was always determined to do it myself. Five rides ‘pointing was enough because I was just too small.

Which ‘pointers did you ride? I rode Infielder in all my point-to-points. I nearly rode him round Cheltenham but pulled him out on the day – the ditch was huge. I still ran Granny’s Prayer and finished fourth. Those two started off our training.

What were your best days as a jockey? I had a winner on Royal Acclaim, who I bought for £600, on the Flat at Southwell under Robin Dickin’s name and we took him to Karl Burke’s, where I shared riding him with the apprentice. I rode him at Ascot in the Diamond Conditions stakes for lady riders. Cape Cross, who became a brilliant sire, finished second. It rained all day; it went soggy and I beat one but it was the biggest race I rode in.

Describe the role of a trainer’s wife: I do all the bits behind the scenes, including the invoicing and ordering. I also make the staff bacon rolls on Friday mornings!

Becky winning on Royal Acclaim at Southwell

Favourite racehorses: Infielder and Granny’s Prayer will always be my favourites. They gave us so much fun and did so much for us.

Granny’s Prayer was bought from Jonjo O’Neill on the side of a main road. He’d been dragged out the field, was 18hh and so big we couldn’t find a girth big enough. The owners gave us the videos of him winning loads in Ireland. Jonjo had spent a load on him to specifically win a Cheltenham Gold Cup so when we got him, we couldn’t believe it. He is one who thrived in a small yard – it was just him and Infielder – and we hunted him and turned out. He stopped being vicious and was never out of the first three. He won the Land Rover Men’s Open Championship at the end of the season when it was held at Towcester and was fourth at the Cheltenham hunter chase evening. Jonjo was so graceful and found it hilarious about the money they’d spent and the dreams they’d had – he still laughs about it now.

Infielder retired to the British Racing School until he died but Granny’s Prayer had to come home – he just scared all the trainees!

Favourite racecourse: Goodwood and Ascot.

Favourite meeting: Glorious Goodwood and Royal Ascot are both lovely.

So far, what have been your best days in racing? There’s been so many great days… A standout is Quench Dolly winning by a nose at Goodwood on our wedding anniversary before returning there to win at Glorious Goodwood.

I was proudest when I finished fourth in a point-to-point on my second ride – I was delighted to get round.

How did you juggle motherhood and the yard? When the boys were little, I tried to stick them in a buggy and drag them along no matter what. But they never grew to love it and, I’m sure, that’s why they’ve never gone into racing or liked horses that much. I had always thought we’d have lovely days out but never did! For young kids, a day at the races can be boring or boring and cold. I remember having to breastfeed in a corner of Warwick Owners’ and Trainers’…so I ended up staying at home.

Over the years, how has racing changed? Our owner of Hollybell, the late Dierdre Yeats Brown, predicted in 2008 that racing was going far too much towards betting. It has become the most important thing and racing has shifted its focus away from the horses and owners. Of course, there has always been betting but racing used to be somehow less overdone than it is now.

How secure is the future of the smaller trainer? Due to the importance now being placed on betting, and therefore money, I can’t see much of a future for the small trainers because there are less owners who are in racing for the love of the horse and therefore enjoy smaller stables. Syndicates go to big yards. It’s now all about the big yards and there’s a stigma that small is unsuccessful instead of small being seen as the great niche it is.

Surrounded by friends: Becky and her boys at Richard Johnson's first jockey championship in April 2016 

Racing hero: Apart from John, who is my number one, it has to be ex-jockey Richard ‘Dickie’ Johnson. A truly great horseman!

Best racing party so far: After Quench Dolly won at Glorious Goodwood, we celebrated in the Red Lion at Compton. We also had some great parties after big winners when working for John White.

If you hadn’t gone into racing, what job would you have done? I’ve got no idea – to be honest, I couldn’t answer that. Working in racing was all I ever wanted to do.

 Favourite meal: One I have not cooked myself!

Favourite drink: A nice chardonnay.

Favourite snack: Chocolate dipped in tea.

Favourite holiday destination: Italy was lovely.

Favourite music: Eighties’ pop and Ed Sheeren.

Favourite TV program: Would I Lie To You.

Favourite film: Murder on the Orient Express. I like a clever murder mystery.

Favourite book: I’m in a book club with seven girlfriends so I’ve read many books that I wouldn’t have done so otherwise. I will always love Wideacre by Philippa Gregory.

Other hobbies: Walking with friends.