Dual-purpose trainer Alan King is perhaps best known in recent years for his superstar stayer Trueshan, who recently added another Group 1 win to his glittering CV when winning the Prix Du Cadran.
He recently spoke to OLBG, to discuss:
- His plan to cut back on his operation + how he doesn’t enjoy racing as much as he used to
- How he expects the UK to reign in Ireland’s dominance in jumps racing
- His thoughts on the gambling affordability checks + the new primetime Racing docuseries
- Two young trainers to follow
- Three horses from his yard to look out for this season
Plans To Cut Back On His Operation
One or two smaller trainers will get squeezed. I am well down on numbers, probably 25 jumpers fewer than last year. Mainly because in the last 18 months five or six really good owners have died and they have not been replaced. Plus I have several other owners who are in their 80s.
We are going to cut back. I have given notice on our second yard Sharpridge so I won’t be training from there next year. I shall be training 90 horses from Barbury and I have to look to get the quality up as well. I can’t get into the position where Sharpridge is only half full and get it back to a number I enjoy. That would be tough financially and I am pre-empting that. I am 57 this year.
I don’t enjoy racing as much as I used to! It is relentless. Look back at say Fred Winter’s day. There was no summer jumping, no evening racing, no Sunday racing. It was a very nice way of life. When Sunday racing was first mooted we weren’t going to race on Mondays. But that didn’t happen. The product is getting more and more diluted. The fixture list is too big. I have been saying for some time, there is far too much racing.
My Stable Star – Trueshan
He has been a remarkable horse and he has now won over £1.8m. That is quite a feat. He has given us some wonderful days – three group ones, three group twos. He is maybe not quite the force of old but he is still running to a pretty high level. He will have a good winter off and come back for another year.
Hollie won on him in his first race as a three year old at Wolverhampton. It is her ride when she is available. They have done well together.Hollie is wonderful for the sport and hopefully going to get stronger. She had a tough start to the year with injury and took a long time to get back from that. She already is and will continue to be a great ambassador for the sport. It depends on how far she wants to take it.
The UK Can Reign In Ireland’s Dominance In Jumps Racing
We will match Ireland. Even some of their Graded races are worth less than ours. The big issue, for instance from talking with Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson the other day, is getting their good novice chasers started is almost impossible because there aren’t any races.
The sport has to be careful. You’ve got to bring these young horses through. They are saying the fields are too small.
I started following racing in the mid 1970s, good novice chases never had big fields. Fulke Walwyn and Fred Winter as trainers with only four or five runners. That is where you made your future champions. Young horses need to be taught to do their job.
Thoughts On Gambling Affordability Checks + New Racing Docuseries
I don’t know where they are coming from. The Gambling Commission just doesn’t understand. They are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Most of the problem gamblers to my mind are the guys on slot machines and casinos, going in with a credit card.You can’t win on those machines.
I don’t see what right they have to ask for this sort of information. It is worrying. If they don’t back down, more and more gambling will go on to the black market and no-one wants that and no-one wins from that. Even the Government would lose a huge amount of income and racing would be in a serious state.
The new primetime docuseries on television can only be a help. We are so lucky generally with the coverage that ITV gives the sport. It infuriates me when anyone in the sport criticises it. If you don’t like it then watch one of the racing channels.
We are so fortunate to have the coverage we do. I wouldn’t be here now but for the television coverage. In the mid 70s I was hooked watching the BBC and World of Sport. I had no racing connection. I was about eight or nine. A lot of sports that are no longer on terrestrial TV have struggled. Exposure is so important.
Up And Coming Trainers To Watch + Horses To Follow From My Yard
George Boughey has done phenomenally well. Ben Pauling has spent a fortune on his new facilities and he’s had a tremendous first season.
Personally, I am really looking forward to getting this season out of the way, finishing at Sharpridge, consolidating and then really taking it forward.
Regarding my horses, we had a very good bumper crop last year with seven winners and a lot placed. My old guard is getting old, though Sceau Royal is 11, bless him, for instance – I need the youngsters to come up to the mark.
Harbour Lake is going to go novice chasing, we like him. He’s a good solid handicapper, mid 130s-rated horse.
I’m A Lumberjack was second in his only run at Newbury in a bumper and Irish Chorus is a lovely filly too.
I should also mention Helnwein, a Noel Fehily syndicate horse, who is going novice hurdling.
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