David O'Meara
David entered the training ranks with a bang in 2010, after a career as a successful NH jockey for 13 years. He rode for Tim Easterby and had a successful partnership with a number of very good horses including Turgeonev and Bells Life. The latter providing him with a notable success in the Foxhunters’ at Aintree in April 2000.
In 2013, David achieved his first season with over 100 winners. He has since managed to replicate this in each of the past 4 seasons. Along with the large numbers of winners, David has had success at the highest level in each of the past 3 seasons also. Group 1 winners G Force, Move In Time, Amazing Maria and Mondialiste have flown the flag for the team at an elite level.
In January 2016, David moved to a purpose built facility on the 120 acre Willow Farm located just outside of York, complete with both All Weather and grass gallops. The philosophy of the yard is very simple. Based on teamwork and putting the welfare of the horse first, the winners will come. Although it does have its disadvantages, as David is always the first in the firing line if things don’t go to plan!
He has had many horses that have a special place in his heart. Blue Bajan gave him his first Group winner, while our own Penitent won two Group 2′s and finished second in the Prix de la Foret. Having come so close in that Group 1 with Penitent, G Force also carrying the Middleham Park Racing colours, was the first to break the Group 1 barrier when winning the Haydock Sprint Cup and being voted Champion European Sprinter in 2014.
The transformation of horses, is something David is fast at getting a name for and gaining much respect from the racing world. This is highlighted by the list of Group 1 winners who had all previously been trained elsewhere before reaching the heights they achieved with David. As well as the aforementioned G Force, our own Tawdeea is another horse who has benefited from David's skill with horses from other yards. We bought him for £12k at a 'horses-in-training' sale and after running for David, picked up over £40k alone for our syndicate of owners by winning The Old Newton Cup in 2016. We continue to place H-I-T purchases with David and are confident he can yet again work his magic!
David achieved the landmark success of training 1,000 winners on July 7th 2020.