An Interview with Claire Hart

A lot may have changed in Claire Hart’s life but horses have remained a constant. In March 2022, Claire and partner Gareth Price moved to their present yard in Blockley, Gloucestershire. They welcomed their son Brody last October.

Claire Hart and her husband, Gareth, run a pre-training, retraining, breaking and rehab yard in the heart of the Cotswolds. ‘If all the stables are full and we’re busy, that's all that matters,’ Claire said, noting how grateful she is to the ‘supportive owners who kept sending us horses.’ Gareth, a former tree surgeon, is heavily involved with the yard. Though not from a horse-y background, Claire taught him to ride and he has worked full-time in the yard since the move. He desperately wants to ride in point-to-points, which Claire is equally excited about.

A former amateur, Claire rode about 120 winners, and had associations with prolific pointers such as Lady Myfanwy, Palypso Du Creek, Western Diva and Dabinett Moon. She was the winner of the South Midland Area Leading Lady Rider multiple times, the first ever winner of the Aga Championships, runner up in the national Ladies Championship twice and leading Hunter Chase Rider in the 2015-16 season.

Claire is very much immersed in the amateur side of racing, training a couple herself between the flags every winter – pointing is where her heart lies: ‘racing creates so many wonderful stories,’ she says. ‘The stories I love are the ones like Gina Ellis’ Latenightpass winning the Aintree Foxhunters’ in 2022 and he might run in the Grand National. Anything amateur David Maxwell does creates a story…riding winners round Cheltenham or Ascot. Racing is a special world and is definitely a community.’

Claire speaks warmly about sixteen-week-old Brody. Although working throughout her pregnancy, Claire did stop riding for four months, explaining that, ‘I never thought I'd have a family so I didn't want to chance losing him.’ Only three months after Brody was born, Claire was back in the saddle: ‘It's lovely being back on board and reassuringly, the business hasn't suffered.’

It doesn't feel like any yard would suffer with bubbly, talented, brave Claire at its helm. It's no mean feat to run a busy yard, but to do it while adapting to motherhood, and while keeping a big smile on one's face, is even more impressive.

Did you have a horsey childhood? I was practically born in the saddle. I was in the Pony Club and did showjumping, eventing and hunting. I had an amazing dun pony called Piglet, who jumped anything, was as lazy as hell and bucked for fun.

How did you get into racing? My mum and my Uncle Simon always had point-to-pointers, and I’d always gone with them when they had runners. When I left school, I went to work for Henrietta Knight. I fell in love with racing and decided I wanted to have a go at riding in a race. At Hen’s, I loved that everything was done properly. The horses were properly ridden and they did a lot of flat work. It influenced me to always do my horses in the same way – they are well schooled and jump poles.

What trainers have you worked for? At Hen’s, I was stable staff and I left to come home to freelance. I rode out for all sorts of people and settled for years at Charlie Longdon’s. Here, I really got going with my race riding and I did loads of schooling. Without Charlie or his head lad Alan Roche, I wouldn’t be where I am today or have achieved which I did.

Best days as a jockey: Palypso Du Creek winning the Mallard Hunter Chase at Leicester; his owner had died a fortnight before so it was a very special day.

Favourite racehorses: I was very lucky, I had so many awesome days but Dabinett Moon was my best. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart because I broke her in.

Favourite racecourse between the Flags: I liked Kingston Blount, and Mollington too.

Favourite racecourse under Rules: I had three winners round Stratford – I loved it there.

What young riders have you helped to make their way in racing? Jordan Nailor and Lilly Pinchin both had their first pointers and first rides with me; both have since turned pro and are doing really well.

Over the years, how has racing changed for the better? I think that ownership has changed with all these syndicates. Inclusivity is now huge: anyone can own a racehorse now, whether it’s a leg share, a quarter or a whole horse. Anyone can go racing, feel involved and become involved.

For the worse? Racing is representative of life in general: respect and discipline has been lost. When the old school jockeys retired, like AP McCoy, Dickie Johnson and Choc Thornton, a lot of the old school respect disappeared. When I first started in racing, I remember Mick Fitzgerald helping me and, at Longsdon’s, Noel Fehily helped me. I looked up to them both and hung off every word they said. It’s not like that now; none of the younger ones learn off the experienced ones.

What do you love most about racing? I find it absolutely overwhelming how in times of disaster, the racing community pulls together. In a world where we're all competing together, the bottom line is that we do all appreciate how hard it is for every single competitor and in incidents like JT McNamara, Jacob Pritchard Webb, Graham Lee and, this week, with Richard ‘Sparky’ Bevis – how many people donate to the GoFundMe pages is fantastic.

Does racing have a positive future in relation to animal rights? I can’t begin to believe that racing won’t ever exist but I do think it’s still hugely under threat. Look at the Grand National: the less horses they allow in it, the faster the jockeys will go, causing more accidents. We're surrounded by so many 'anti' people that there is always a possibility racing will be banned but how quickly will that happen?

How do you juggle motherhood of running a yard? I have a massive support team. Gareth is amazing. Between us we make it work – either he's in the house or I am, we’re always swapping. Someone who used to work on the yard now does cleaning and childcare, and she has swapped roles and now works for me in the house first thing in the morning. Plus, the Grandparents help and, on Mondays, the lady who does my paperwork doubles up as a babysitter. Though, at the moment, it's easier because Brody is so little and sleeps a lot.

Originally, I thought all I wanted was to be at home and look after my new baby but over Christmas, my Uncles stayed and they looked after Brody, leaving me free to do the horses again. This made me realise that I needed the old ‘me’ back – going back on the yard again at six made me feel alive again. Gareth had been running the show amazingly and I have great staff. It's that fine balance of not missing out on anything with Brody and being out on the yard as well. Have you changed since becoming a mum? Having a baby has put a different perspective on everything. Whatever I achieved race riding, running a successful business and having contact with a lot of amazing horses, I always wanted to become a mum after I finished race riding. Now, I finally feel complete and it is amazing being a mum, but still love my job and want to run a busy yard.

I don't have the feeling I need to be something different or stressed about anything. I always strived to be better than what I was in every way but now, I am what I am. I don't need to be anything else because I've got everything I ever wanted.

What is your favourite part of running a yard? Seeing the progression of the young horses as we break them in and teach them their job.

Hopes and dreams for the future: To continue the success of the business and for the youngstock we bred to go on to do good things. Plus, for Gareth to ride in races.

Best racing party you’ve been to: There have been so many! We did the Challenge in Ireland a few years ago, plus Gina and Tom Ellis’ end of season parties always ended up a lot of fun.
Oh, and I’ll never forget the Bridget Andrews’ 21st birthday celebrations...I was hungover for two days!

Favourite meal: Roast dinner.
Favourite drink: G&T or rosé.
Favourite snack: Cheese and onion crisps.
Favourite holiday destination: I went to South Africa once and it was amazing. Yet, I also love holidaying anywhere in this country when the weather is decent.
Favourite book: I struggled to get stuck into books but I've read The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans about a hundred times.
Favourite film: The three Bridget Jones ones, Dirty Dancing or anything like that.
Favourite music: Anything 'Pop' on the radio.
Other hobbies: I love my garden.