NTF Q&A – Jamie Snowden

 

NTF Q&A

Name – Jamie Snowden

Occupation – Racehorse trainer

Years involved in racing – 18 years

First horseracing memory – Desert Orchid winning the 1989 Gold Cup

 

Background

What first stirred your interest in horseracing?

Jumping at speed – loved the idea of becoming a jockey…..

What was the main reason behind you becoming a trainer? 

I loved watching people train, and after picking up different ideas, I wanted to see if I could do the same.

 

Career to date

Proudest moment of career to date?

As a trainer it has to be winning the Summer National.  As a jockey it was certainly winning for the Queen.

Best horse you have trained?

Marodima or Knighton Combe

Which race involving one of your own horses stands out in your memory and why?

 Ixora winning at Cheltenham – it was our first Cheltenham winner.

 

In the trainers seat

Most enjoyable aspect of being a trainer? 

Seeing the delight on owners faces when you train them a winner.

How many horses do you currently have in training and do you plan on expanding? 

We have 30 horses, and are just building a few more boxes over the summer.

What is the one major advantage of your current training location?

The amazing gallops we have on offer here in Lambourn.

What is the best facility you have at your disposal for training the horses?

(i.e. terrain, gallop, walker, schooling ground…) There are so many different facilities here, but the best would have to be the all weather gallops.

Who has been the biggest influence on your training career?

Nicky Henderson.

How do you see the yard progressing in the coming year(s)?

I hope that we continue to improve the quality of the horses we have here to train, and increase the numbers in the yard to about 60.

How do you try and bring new owners into the yard?

Encouraging owners to spend a lot of time at the yard, making them feel they have been involved in the training aspect, being open with them and discussing plans and welcoming them into the house and making ownership about the whole package (yard and track)

 

In the jockeys seat

What do you miss the most about your days in the saddle?

The ability to ride winners, have a shower and walk away…..

What was the main aspect that you carried over from you riding days into the training ranks?

The ability to ‘get into a horses mind’.

Do you still regularly ride out at the yard or do you leave that up to others? 

I tend not to anymore, but I will throw my leg over now and again to get a feeling of a horse.

 

Wish list

Which horse currently in training to you wish you had in your yard? 

It has to be Sprinter Sacre – he’s a machine……

What race (that you had a runner in) do you wish you could re-run (good or bad)?

Lester Leaps In was our first ever runner and he was beaten a short head at Bangor – I wish we could re run it, and pinch another length here or there…..

Which race do you wish you had a ‘live contender’ for?

The Gold Cup

 

Racing and the general public

In your opinion what could be done to attract new fans to the sport?

A greater emphasis on syndicates, and how cheaply you can be involved – the idea of having university syndicates as well.  At the end of the day we have to get the younger generation involved.

Do you think Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, etc…) has had a positive impact on racing and how else do you think it could be used to further promote the sport?

 I think that social media certainly has a place, as we have to move with the times.  Further promotion of the sport can be achieved through ownership such as the Daily Mirror Punters Club.

 

Improving the sport

What one thing would you like to see implemented to improve horse racing –

a) on-course? Courses looking after owners better.

b) off-course? A more suitable race programme split into a winter season and a summer season, with a weeks gap between the two.

 

Horses to follow

Which horse in the yard should we look out for in 2013/14?

Present View

Are there any Dark horses in the yard to follow for this season?

Joanne One

Which of your older horses still has the ability to surprise us in the future?

Ixora

Name a horse to follow for this season (outwith own yard)?

Sybarite

 

Quickfire

Aintree Grand National or Cheltenham Gold Cup? Grand National

Walsh or McCoy? Walsh

Nicholls or Henderson? Tricky – Nicholls, but both have been very good to me.

At the track or in the yard? Both…..!

 

Just for fun

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

Have the ability to stop horses from bleeding…..I’d be a very rich man!!!

 

Many thanks to Jamie for taking part in the latest NTF Q&A session.

Jamie has his own website where you can keep up to date with all the stable news >>> http://www.jamiesnowdenracing.co.uk/

On the website there is also news on the Jamie Snowden Racing Club. Their Stormy Oscar just ran a solid 2nd at Worcester on his latest start and is now qualified for a handicap mark.

You can also Follow Jamie on Twitter – @jamiesnowden

Ben (NTF)