Jeremy Hill - Owner and Sponsor talks about his involvement in Pointing
Jeremy & Dollanstown after winning at Badbury Rings
As a first season as a sole owner, third place in the National Owners title is bordering on fairy-tale territory. But for Jeremy Hill it became a reality last season when he bravely branched out investing in four horses which ran from the Barber, Hill and Biddick stables. Previously involved in a ten-person syndicate with Kelly Morgan, a trainer he speaks highly of, he decided that sole ownership was more suited to his interests and his exploits with Dollanstown, Illico de Cotte, Jack Black and Drayton Flyer resulted in 9 wins to secure a place on the owners podium nationally.
Growing up in and around the Cotswolds, he was introduced to pointing and country sports by his father and recalled attending his first point to points from the age of four and from those early meetings, a lifelong passion evolved. Although not a rider himself, he initially helped out at his local track, Maisemore Park, as well as enjoying the social side, but once he was in a position to get more involved, he stepped up as a sponsor via his business The Hare Management Group. Progressing from sponsoring a rider in a Larkhill charity race, he then sponsored the Leading Trainer at the West Mercian Area Awards, and being keen to ensure the support of Welsh pointing he also sponsored a race at Lower Machen. Again this season he is giving back to the sport he so enjoys and will sponsor the opening race of the season there, the Restricted, and he is keen that all involved in the winning horse get a nice memento.
Sponsorship is not restricted to races or area awards either with young novice rider Aimee Jones having caught his eye last season. Aimee is currently on 9 winners so is still a novice rider for this season but she took the Wessex Ladies title last term beating Anna Johnston and Lucy Mager. As Jeremy explained, “I am really keen to support these young riders in the sport. They are the future and I have been really impressed with Aimee as a rider. It’s really nice to be able to support her and watch her progress throughout this season. She’s based with Max Comley where I have a horse under Rules and I really hope she can take the Novice riders title nationally this time.”
It is as an owner, however, where Jeremy has made a real impact. Taking the decision to go it alone, he was ruing a losing bet (in a two horse race) at Larkhill and started a conversation with the occupant of the next door car, who happened to be Will Biddick. After exchanging phone numbers, Jeremy got a call a few weeks later from Will who had been buying horses at Doncaster and was he interested? He bought two – Illico de Cotte and Dollanstown. Subsequent purchases were Jack Black who was with Chris Barber and Drayton Flyer trained by Alan Hill. Illico de Cotte started the ball rolling with a fair second at Lower Machen before both Biddick horses went to Dunsmore. Both again ran well to finish second but it was the third weekend in February when the stars seemed to align. Drayton Flyer went to Brocklesby Park to record a first win under James King but it was at Badbury Rings the following day which is etched in Jeremy’s heart. Saddling 8 runners, Will notched up an incredible 5 wins with Illico de Cotte winning a very competitive Ladies Open under Molly Armytage by 30 lengths, giving her a first ever winner and Dollanstown winning the second division of the Maiden.
Team Biddick - part of the Famous Five-Timer!
For any trainer to have five winners on a day, it is exceptional, but with the added pressure of a new owner in the yard, to pull off such a feat is doubly special. Jeremy is fulsome in his praise for both Will as a trainer and also the entire team behind him especially head girl Georgie Gunning who he credits with turning Dollanstown around physically since he arrived in the yard. “It was the best decision to have a horse with Will,” Jeremy said. “I just love being down at the yard as I feel so much part of it. I am really well looked after and it’s a brilliant set-up where everyone plays their part. I can’t thank them enough. All the staff, Will’s wife Harriet and her father Rupert Nuttall, they are all one big team and I have loved every minute of being involved there.”
Jeremy, Georgie & Will receiving the Brian Armstrong/Pete Mansell Award for the Wessex Champion Novice at the Wessex Area Awards
Dollanstown himself has progressed into a serious horse racking up a three timer at Cherrybrook, Cotley and Holnicote resulting in both the Wincanton Novice Horse Championship as well as the Brian Armstrong/Pete Mansell Wessex Area Novice title, awards which Jeremy received at the Wessex Area Awards evening in July. Both trainer and owner are looking forward to this season and hope that the horse will start off in the Intermediate at Buckfastleigh on November 8th with a view to qualifying for the Intermediate Final at Cheltenham as his long term goal but Jeremy will leave all decisions up to Will. Illico de Cotte who was ridden so ably by Molly Armytage to score at Badbury Rings, has now passed fully over to her and moved to a yard closer so she can continue her partnership. Of his other horses from last season, Jack Black won classily at both Maisemore and Chaddesley Corbett before injuring himself with the race at his mercy at Mollington. He has now been retired to retrain away from racing while Drayton Flyer too, won two races before injury forced retirement. “I like to ensure my horses have happy retirements after they have finished racing so it’s nice to see both in good homes,” Jeremy added.
Dollanstown in action at Holnicote
He has also invested in two horses under Rules, Wannabe Sporty with Martin Keighley who has been bought as a nice horse for the future. Originally Jeremy had just gone to visit Martin to buy a puppy (now named Headley after his late grandfather) but ended up with a 50% share in Wannabe Sporty as well! He also has a juvenile hurdler with Max Comley called Timely Salute. Bought by Jeremy just an hour before his first race over hurdles, the diminutive gelding promptly won at Newton Abbot. A second place back there followed before he was pitched into handicap company at Market Rasen. Despite being small in stature, he was tenacious in victory and became the first 3yo in ten years to win against older horses in a handicap hurdle. A Listed Juvenile hurdle is next on the cards with a possible All-Weather campaign to take in the Winter Bonus and advantage of his low handicap mark.
In the Winner's Enclosure at Market Rasen after Timely Salute's victory
But Pointing remains Jeremy’s first love and he remarked, “It is such a wonderful sport - especially in the West Country. I go racing up and down the country from the start of November to the end of the season and can’t get enough of it. I love the atmosphere and in particular the people – in what other sport can you stand having a drink at the back of a car with legendary characters such as Len Vickery? It is so incredibly friendly especially in Wessex and Devon & Cornwall and I have been made to feel so welcome which is why I chose to have horses trained there ultimately. But I wouldn’t rule out having more horses with other trainers too. I hold several in high regards – Kelly Morgan, Bradley Gibbs, Hannah & Charlie Marshall, Josh Newman and Kayley.”
Jeremy with Len Vickery at Holnicote
In an era of the sport where it is undergoing modernisation and change, it is refreshing to welcome new owners into a sport with so much enthusiasm and passion. Whilst he is under no illusion after such an incredibly successful first season that it is guaranteed to continue in the same rich vein, he’s hopeful and looking forward to further visits to the winner’s enclosure.
