In 2024, we are enjoying a fantastic flat season with our biggest ever team of horses. At the beginning of July we have already had 61 winners in the UK in addition to a number of winners abroad including high profile race winners Darnation in the German 1000 Guineas (Group 2) at Dusseldorf and Fallen Angel in the Irish 1000 Guineas (Group 1) at the Curragh. Exciting two year olds Leovanni and Shareholder have both won on both their starts to date, including the Queen Mary (Group 2 – Leovanni) and Norfolk Stakes (Group 2 – Shareholder) at Royal Ascot. 126 winners in 2023 ensured that we maintained our position as the leading northern based British trainer, achieving almost £4 million in total prize money earned we are working hard to build on this success in 2024.
Spigot Lodge, steeped in racing history, is named after the 1821 St Leger winner Jack Spigot. The 1849 Epsom Derby winner “The Flying Dutchman” trained by John Fobert was also prepared at the yard and famous trainers such as Henry Hall, Colonel Lyde and more recently Sam Hall and Chris Thornton have continued to produce other high class winners from Spigot Lodge.
Spigot Lodge is ideally situated between Middleham’s High and Low moor gallops. There is a seven furlong uphill Polytrack gallop and a four furlong warm-up track as well as a grass gallop on Low Moor. Starting Stalls are available on all weather and turf surfaces. Middleham High Moor has a one mile four furlong Martin Collins gallop as well as some superb grass gallops over five furlongs and one mile four furlongs.
We continue to invest in the facilities on offer and in the Spring completed a new barn offering additional indoor stabling.
Our other facilities within the yard, include:
– Aqua Equine Treadmill – useful training aid and very important when horses return to work after holidays or injury.
– Six horse walkers.
– Three lunge pens invaluable during the breaking and backing of our yearlings.
– One and half furlong covered floodlight ride, perfect for the wet and cold winter months.
– Six wash bays with high pressure hoses, brilliant for keeping legs clean in winter and washing horses down on warm summer days.
– Vet room, salt room and Solarium.
– Several post and rail grass paddocks and pens, for turnout during the summer and an all year round turn out pit.
– On yard accommodation for up to 16 staff. We also have staff houses within a five minute drive of Spigot Lodge in Middleham and Leyburn.
