It has been my life since I could walk – Tim Easterby

To the question, at what point growing up did you know you wished to be a trainer? Tim Easterby answered a simple, but heartfelt, ‘Always.’

Not that this was a surprising response. Tim has as much racing in his blood as there is black type in the pedigrees of the horses he trains. His father, Peter, from whom he took over the licence, was three times Champion Trainer and trained the likes of Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse, Little Owl and Alverton. His uncle Mick Easterby, a colourful character, has also spent a lifetime training and only begun sharing the license with David last year. From 1978, aged seventeen, Tim worked full time at home for his father, whom he describes as a ‘great trainer’, before taking over the licence in 1996.

Tim is a very successful dual-purpose trainer, who has won over a thousand races. Through the years, he has saddled the Classic-winner Bollic Eric and Group 1 winners Pipalong, Fayr Jag, Somnus with Winter Power winning the Nunthorpe Stakes in 2021. He had Royal Ascot winners with Snoano and Art Power.

He is a force to be reckoned with over jumps too, training Grade 1 Royal SunAlliance, winner Barton at the 1999 Cheltenham Festival and Hawk High in the 2014 Fred Winter. Barton was also victorious at three consecutive Aintree Festivals, beating Best Mate in 2001. Turgeonev won a Vitor Chandler Chase at Ascot in 2002.

Tim trains on his father’s farm, Habton Grange, near Malton in North Yorkshire. He has a wife Sarah, and children William, Emily and Thomas. They also have a labrador and cocker spaniel.

What is your first racing memory?

Going to Wetherby races as a child.

Did you ride as a child?

Yes, Pony club & hunting. Tony the pony was my first pony.

Were you a jockey?

I rode over a hundred winners as an amateur.

What was the best advice you were given?

Not to start training too young (M H Easterby).

Which have been your best days racing so far?

National Hunt: Barton winning at Cheltenham Festival and on the Flat, Bollin Eric winning the St Leger. He was homebred at our Easthorpe Stud for the Westbrooks.

What are your favourite racehorses?

Past, Sea Pigeon and present, Winter Power.

What is your favourite racecourse?

York, a wonderful place to have a winner

Is there a horse you would have loved to train?

One Man

Is there any race you would love to train the winner of?

National Hunt, the Champion Hurdle, a wonderful race to win. On the Flat, another Classic.

Is social media positive or negative?

Positive.

Who do you admire in racing?

M H & M W Easterby, two great mentors.

How has racing changed over the years? Some changes have been negative. Sunday racing was designed to be quality racing. Unfortunately, this is not the case, it is poor quality racing for poor prize money.

The positives are that syndicated and partnership ownership gives everybody an opportunity to become involved in racehorse ownership.

Generally, what does racing do well? TV coverage is good. The Yorkshire racetracks provide good racing surfaces.

What does racing mean to you? It has been my life since I could walk.

By Joanna Collinson