stuart edmunds stable tour

Over The Stable Door

by JoJo O'Neill

An Interview with Top Trainer Stuart Edmunds

Updated: 2 days ago

  As a boy growing up in Northampton, having no family connections to horses did not stop Stuart Edmunds learning to ride. He later worked for Olympic showjumper Peter Robeson, and competed in showjumping himself but eventually swapped coloured poles for racecourses.

Photo Credit: Racing Post

Peter’s wife Renee and Stuart worked as a team out of the Robesons’ Fences Farm in the village of Tyringham, Buckinghamshire, training many successes, including a Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle with Ogee in 2009. This training partnership lasted thirty years until fate stepped in, and Stuart took over the training.

Under his own name, Stuart, 58, has trained a Cheltenham Festival winner when Domesday Book won the Kim Muir under Gina Andrews in 2017 and a double at the 2021 Aintree Festival in ’21 with Rowland Way and Hometown Boy. Last August, he moved his operation to the purpose-built Croft Farm in Stewkley, always adding to his total of over 750 winners.

This season has particularly been successful for Stuart and his yard, having sent out a winner with his first ever runner in Ireland when Marsh Wren won a Listed mares' chase at Thurles in February. That was her eighth win and she ran a blinder to finished third in the mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Then, last week, he trained his first winner over the Grand National fences when Arizona Cardinal battled to win the Topham at the Aintree Festival. That was the horse's seventh victory and his biggest win yet, having pegged up two previous victories over fences since the new year.

Stuart is supported by daughter Harriet in the role of assistant trainer and wife Trish works tirelessly behind the scenes, with paperwork as one of her many tasks. The other two family members are two border terriers, Millie and Mabel.

Did you have a horsey childhood?   Not really, no. Off my own back, I decided I’d like to ride ponies so I went to ride for a farrier when I was around 9-10 years old.

How did you get into racing? I rode for a very famous showjumper called Peter Robeson, and his wife Renee Robeson started training a lot of racehorses so I got into racing through her.

Were you a jockey?  I did have a few rides but I was very bad. I had one winner in a three horse members’ race round Newton Blossomville, the Oakley point-to-point. But I was dreadful. I rode in a few hunter chases and finished second but I waved at the crowd a lot!

Which trainers have you worked for?  I was assistant trainer to Renee Robeson for many years until she died and I then took over from her.

Did you always want to train racehorses?  The main reason to start training because you couldn’t earn a living out of showjumping. With racing, you could just about earn a living out of it.

Best days in racing so far: We’ve had a Cheltenham Festival winner and three Aintree Festival winners – the Topham was brilliant. When I was employed by Mrs Robeson, we had a winner in Punchestown, Olney Lad, which was great.

Favourite racehorses so far: Hometown Boy – he was one of our Aintree Festival winners and I ride him out at home. He’s lovely and has to put up with me most days.

Which race would you most like to win?  The Cheltenham Gold Cup – it’s the pinnacle of racing.

Which racehorse would you most like to have trained?   Kauto Star – he was a legend.

Favourite racecourse:   I always say my favourite racecourse is wherever I had my last winner. I do have a bit of a soft spot for Fakenham.

Favourite meeting:  The Cheltenham Festival – it’s the pinnacle of everything.

In view of the recent actions of certain animal right movements, how safe is the future of racing?   I just think as long as racing moves, within reason, with the times, we should be ok. I don’t think we’ll ever appease those staunch antis who are against racing – they want all animals, even dogs, cats and horses, to be rewilded; they’re just bonkers and have no concept of reality.

Generally, what are the positive points about racing as a sport?   Having done a lot of showjumping, and I still know a lot of people who own showjumpers, I do think racing looks after the owners well at the racecourse. With showjumping, sometimes, owners will have to pay to get into a county show to watch their own horse jump.

Where could improvements be made?  I’m going to say what everyone else will say: prize money. Nobody is asking for prize money to be upped so high that it bankrupts the business, but other countries, like France and Ireland, have a lot stronger prize money. Hence, why owners are disappearing over there. How can they have better prize money that we do?

Who is your racing hero? John Gosden is a genius – I could listen to him all day long, he makes a lot of sense. And, obviously, AP McCoy for his dedication to racing was just amazing.

Right: Arizona Cardinal and Ciaran Gethings winning the 2024 Topham Chase

Favourite meal:   Chinese food.

Favourite drink:   Guinness.

Favourite holiday destination: The C aribbean.

Favourite film:   The Great Escape .

Favourite music:   Anything by Adele.

Other hobbies/interests:   I don’t really have time for anything else!

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Great trainer, great team. thank you all for all you have done for us and our horses over the years!

A great read and a lovely family I wish them all the luck in world

Jo O'Neil

An interview with stuart edmunds.

Stuart’s success is built on his 40 plus years of experience in the equestrian industry. He has trained the winner of 13 ‘Big Races’ and a remarkable 55% of all his runners have been in the Winner's Enclosure, which is an amazing record given the size of the yard.

Stuart Edmunds has recently moved into his purpose built yard, The Croft Farm, where he has just over 40 horses in his care.

After learning to ride from a young age in Northampton, one of Stuart's first jobs was working for Olympic showjumper Peter Robeson. He even competed in showjumping himself but eventually swapped coloured poles for rustic fences.

Stuart and Peter’s wife, Renee, worked as a team out of the Robesons’ Fences Farm in the village of Tyringham. They enjoyed a lot of success together, including a Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle with Ogee in 2009. This training partnership continued for over thirty years until Stuart took over the training in 2015, following Renee's death.

Under his own name, Stuart has trained a Cheltenham Festival winner with Domesday Book, who won the Kim Muir Challenge Cup under Gina Andrews in 2017 and a double at the 2021 Aintree Festival with Rowland Way and Hometown Boy.

In August of 2023, he moved his operation to the purpose-built Croft Farm in Stewkley, Buckinghamshire, from where he has already added to his total of more than 750 winners.

Stuart is supported by his daughter and Assistant Trainer, Harriet and his wife, Trish, who works tirelessly behind the scenes. The other two family members are their two border terriers, Millie and Mabel.

Did you have a horsey childhood? Not really, no. Off my own back, I decided I’d like to ride ponies so I went to ride for a farrier when I was around 9-10 years old.

How did you get into racing? I rode for a very famous show jumper called Peter Robeson. During that time, his wife Renee Robeson started training a lot of racehorses, so I got into racing through her.

Were you a jockey? I did have a few rides but I was very bad. I had one winner in a three horse members’ race round Newton Blossomville, the Oakley Point-to-Point. But I was dreadful. I rode in a few Hunter Chases and finished second but I waved at the crowd a lot!

Which trainers have you worked for? I was Assistant Trainer to Renee Robeson for many years until she died and I then took over from her. 

Did you always want to train racehorses? The main reason to start training because you couldn’t earn a living out of showjumping. With racing, you could just about earn a living out of it. 

Best days in racing so far: We’ve had a Cheltenham Festival winner and two Aintree Festival winners. Also, when I was employed by Mrs Robeson, we had a winner at Punchestown, Olney Lad, which was great. 

Favourite racehorses so far: Hometown Boy – he was one of our Aintree Festival winners and I ride him out at home. He’s lovely and has to put up with me most days.

Which race would you most like to win? The Cheltenham Gold Cup – it’s the pinnacle of racing.

Which racehorse would you most like to have trained? Kauto Star – he’s a legend.

Favourite racecourse: I always say my favourite racecourse is wherever I had my last winner. I do have a bit of a soft spot for Fakenham though.

Favourite meeting: The Cheltenham Festival – it’s the pinnacle of everything. 

In view of the recent actions of certain animal right movements, how safe is the future of racing? I just think as long as racing moves, within reason, with the times, we should be ok. I don’t think we’ll ever appease those staunch antis who are against racing – they want all animals, even dogs, cats and horses, to be re-wilded; they’re just bonkers and have no concept of reality.

Generally, what are the positive points about racing as a sport? Having done a lot of showjumping - and I still know a lot of people who own show jumpers - I do think racing looks after the owners well at the racecourse. With showjumping, sometimes owners will have to pay to get into a county show to watch their own horse jump. 

Where could improvements be made? I’m going to say what everyone else will say: prize money. No body is asking prize money to be upped so high that it bankrupts the business, but other countries, like France and Ireland, have a lot stronger prize money. Hence, why owners are disappearing over there. How can they have better prize money than we do?

Who is your racing hero? John Gosden is a genius – I could listen to him all day long, he makes a lot of sense. And, obviously, AP McCoy - his dedication to racing was just amazing.

Favourite meal: Chinese food.

Favourite drink: Guinness.

Favourite holiday destination: Caribbean.

Favourite film: The Great Escape.

Favourite music: Anything by Adele.

Other hobbies/interests: I don’t really have time for anything else!

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Marsh Wren breaking new ground for Stuart Edmunds

First irish runner for trainer in thurles listed heat..

• Wednesday 21 February 2024

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Stuart Edmunds will saddle his first ever runner in Ireland on Thursday when Marsh Wren bids for Listed honours in the Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.

The eight-year-old, who is part-owned by former Cardiff and Coventry City defender Ben Turner, has won two of her three starts over fences to date, with victories at Warwick and Uttoxeter sandwiching a second-placed finish in Listed company behind Nicky Henderson’s Arclight at Wincanton.

Edmunds admits taking on the Irish in their own back yard is a stiff test, but with conditions in Marsh Wren’s favour and Turner and other members of the Far Bihoue Partnership set to make the trip, the trainer is excited by the challenge.

“We thought about going for a previous mares’ race there, but in the end we decided to go for what was not too difficult a race at Uttoxeter,” said Edmunds, who is based near Milton Keynes.

“We just thought she’s already Listed placed, she loves soft ground and the boys are all very excited about going to Ireland, so she’s gone.

“We wouldn’t be going if we thought it was a waste of time, we think she’s gone there in good order and the more rain they get the better, as long as it’s on.

“She loves testing conditions, the trip (two and three-quarter miles) in Ireland is about right and it’s worth a few quid at €30,000, so why not have a go?”

Marsh Wren features in a six-strong field, with Gordon Elliott’s pair of Harmonya Maker and Jumping Jet and Gavin Cromwell’s Law Ella seemingly her biggest threats.

There is also British interest in the BoyleSports Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle, with the Willie Mullins-trained Stoke The Fire carrying the colours of Middleham Park Racing.

An impressive winner on his hurdling debut at Tramore, the five-year-old lines up as one of three runners for the champion trainer in the Grade Three contest alongside Largy Hill and What Path.

Middleham Park’s National Hunt racing manager, Tom Palin, said: “He’s the first horse we’ve had with Willie, but we’ve obviously been huge admirers of his for a long time. We like to have our horses with trainers who provide you with the best chance of having good runners on the best days, and there’s probably no finer man than Willie for that.

“We actually bought this horse as a possible Irish Cesarewitch contender, that’s more of a longer-term plan, but he might give us a little bit of fun over hurdles in the interim.

“He certainly gave us a bit more than a little bit of fun on New Year’s Day with a fairly bloodless victory at Tramore, when he seemed to cope with the testing conditions well and we were very taken by how he jumped on debut.

“This feels like the right sort of race to pitch him in and I’m sure whatever happens, he’ll still be a nice horse capable of taking us to Festivals both on the Flat and over hurdles, whether that’s Fairyhouse or Punchestown in graded company or in handicaps, we’ll have to wait and see.”

The likely favourite for the race is Elliott’s Staffordshire Knot, who will carry the colours of Gigginstown House Stud for the first time after being bought to stay in the yard for €510,000 at Andy and Gemma Brown’s dispersal earlier this month.

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Stuart Edmunds Racing Club

About stuart edmunds racing club.

Stuart Edmunds Racing Club ( https://www.edmundsracing.co.uk/racing-club/ ) offers members the chance to experience the fun, anticipation and thrill of horseracing without the normal risks and expense of traditional racehorse ownership.

The Club will have no more than 36 members. The all-inclusive cost is £235 per month.  There will always be a minimum of 3 horses in Club ownership.   The Racing Club fully complies with the British Horseracing Authority Shared Ownership Regulation “Racing Club Code of Conduct” which became effective on 1st May 2021.

As well as having fun and meeting fellow club members, membership benefits include:

• guaranteed entry for the member and a guest when a Club horse runs.
• meeting the trainer (or his representative) and jockey on race day.
• 80% of owners prize money will be equally shared between all paid up members of the Club on the day the money is won.
• a 50% discount card for use at Club sponsor Oakman Inns hotels and restaurants oakmaninns.co.uk .
• free subscription to “The Racing Manager” for all Club communication.
• stable visits and open days.
• regular newsletters.
• a welcome pack including a gift, certificate of membership, photographs and other useful member information.

For more details please contact Kevin Orchard on 07739 186733 or [email protected] .

• Stuart Edmunds

• Number of horses: 3
• Contract: 1 Year
• Member Count: 25-100
• Minimum Cost: £2337

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Trainer Profile

Stuart edmunds.

(Statistics For Current Seasons)

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To have fun and enjoy yourself!

Most importantly, we want the members of the Stuart Edmunds Racing Club to experience the “thrill” of racehorse ownership. The ability to follow Club horses as they progress through their careers and the anticipation of a successful day at the races offers so much entertainment. Sharing this excitement and anticipation with like-minded racegoers. Making new friends through those shared experiences. “Dare to dream”.

Spend a day at the races to watch your horses run with racecourse entry and hospitality

The number of complimentary Owner’s Badges the Club will receive when we have a runner varies from racecourse to racecourse. Our objective is to try and accommodate all members who wish to attend. Joining the Racehorse Syndicates Association (RSA) gives us an additional 4 badges.   Club Managers receive their own badges so will not take any away from members. There can be no guarantee of a badge. If we have too many members wishing to attend, we will make sure they are distributed fairly on a rota basis. If we are oversubscribed, we are generally able to negotiate discounted entry tickets for members not lucky enough to receive free Owner’s Badges on that occasion.

Share in the prize Money

80% of all owners’ prize money will be shared equally amongst paid up members of the Club on the day that the prize money was won. The prize money owing to any member will be paid on the last day of their 12-month membership period if all membership fees have been paid. The balance of 20% of the prize money will be paid to the owners of the horses who have free leased them to the Club.

Be kept up to date with the latest information on Club horses through your free subscription to “The Racing Manager”.

Good communication will be at the heart of the Club. To enhance the enjoyment of members we believe it is vital to get information out to all members as quickly as possible. We believe that “The Racing Manager” website and mobile app platform will achieve this. Members will receive a free subscription to The Racing Manager accessed through their own devices. Full details on how to access these services will be provided soon after joining the Club. Please look at www.theracingmanager.com for more information.

Oakman Inns Gold Discount Card

All members will receive an Oakman Inns Gold Discount Card offering 50% off food bills between Sunday night at 7pm and Friday night at 7pm an 20% discount at all other times.  

Receive a warm welcome to your Club.

• A welcome pack will be posted to all new members. It will include:
• A welcome letter from trainer Stuart Edmunds.
• A certificate of membership.
• Pictures of Club horses.
• A small gift.
• Information on “The Racing Manager” service.
• Information on benefits available to Club members through its membership of the Racehorse Syndicates Association (RSA) .

Receive a regular newsletter.

Newsletters will be e-mailed to members with news on the horses, upcoming events and stories from Croft Farm Stables. We will also have some fun along the way.

Join other Club members for stable visits and open days.

The Club will organise formal stable visits for all members at appropriate times throughout the year.   Come and enjoy the hospitality of the Edmunds family, and have a guided tour with a chance to meet the horses and the team at Croft Farm. Members, plus one guest, are welcome to attend free of charge. Children are welcome if fully supervised. Unfortunately, we cannot allow dogs.

Stuart is also happy to accept visitors on an ad hoc basis. Please contact the Club Manager in the first instance to review availability.

• Meet the trainer and stable jockey.   Stuart (or his representative) will meet Club members on race day at a pre-arranged time and location before the race. If possible (race day commitments willing), post-race meetings with Stuart and the race jockey will also be arranged.
• Receive pre- and post-race reports that will be circulated on “The Racing Manager”.
• Membership of “The Racehorse Syndicates Association (RSA)”. Club members can benefit from offers available on www.racehorsesyndicates.org .
• Other opportunities. Club members will be informed, in the first instance, of any other horse ownership opportunities that arise with Stuart Edmunds.

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