Richard Hannon
"Middleham Park Racing is the winning most syndicate in the country and it is an absolute pleasure to be able to train for them. We have been very fortunate over the years to have had some fantastic horses together, including Group 1 winner Toormore, dual Group 2 winner Kool Kompany and Group 1 winner, Ventura Storm. Overall the whole experience is top notch, both on and off the racecourse, with regular stable visits with us and some fantastic days out racing." Richard Hannon.
Richard Hannon enjoyed a sensational first season after taking over from his father in 2014, and there has been little let up since. He clocked up his 1000th winner on Derby Day in 2019 and he already has his eyes on winner number 2000.
Richard Hannon Racing comprises two separate yards - with just over 100 horses at the original one at Everleigh, where Richard’s father and grandfather both trained and where he lived himself until he was 18, and the much newer base at Herridge, which has around 120 horses as well all of the owners’ facilities, the offices, and the homes of both Richard and his parents, which are only around 100 yards apart.
With an army of horses to be exercised every morning, dozens of entries to be made, owners to be contacted, jockeys to book, visitors to be entertained, horses to be saddled at the races and around one hundred people on the payroll, Richard needs very effective systems in place to keep the wheels running smoothly, and key to it all are effective delegation and top-class staff.
Richard confirms: “With an operation this size you have to delegate and we have a great team from top to bottom who know how we like to do things".
Richard has trained us some really big successes; Ventura Storm won a Group 1, a Group 3, two Listed races and placed a very close 2nd in the St Leger in 2016 (we thought we had it!) We won both a Group 1 and a Group 2 with Toormore, who subsequently became European Champion 2 yr old colt. Raymond Tusk, Kool Kompany and Ventura Tormenta have won Group 2 races in our silks. Great Page and Esentepe - two Group 3 winning fillies. Shouldvebeenaring won the valuable 2022 Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes as well as the Listed Ripon Two-Year-Old Trophy Stakes and the Listed King Charles Stakes in the same year and we have won plenty of Listed and Conditions races together too!
Since we first placed horses with Richard in 2010 (Bahceli and Bilko Pak), we have formed a very good relationship with the whole team: We like to think both know how the other one 'ticks'! This relationship is boosted by the affiliation with Peter and Ross Doyle, world renowned and respected bloodstock agents, who buy many of the horses destined for the Hannon yard. Most of our time at the various sales rings in late summer/autumn is spent in intense discussion with the Doyles and the Hannons, as we look to find our next champion amongst the yearlings or breezers being shown.
Our owners visits to Herridge are always fun and the team look after us very well.