RICHARD LEE-A RACEHORSE TRAINER WITH THE SECRET RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Written by Emily Cleland  

Richard Lee has been successfully training racehorses on the picturesque Herefordshire/Shropshire border for nearly 30yrs. Tucked away in this idyllic and yet inconspicuous location he has achieved a phenomenal track record with horses known to suffer from Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhaging [commonly known as bleeding]. Emily Cleland meets the self-confessed ‘frustrated vet at heart’ who has discovered a remedial cure for this debilitating condition.

‘If you can win a race with that ******* thing you’re a genius,’ were the foreboding words of fellow trainer Robert Alner as Richard took on known chronic ‘bleeder’ Cinnamon Line.

Well a genius he must be, on his second start for Richard the imposing chestnut duly romped home in an impressive fashion to win a novice chase at Chepstow. He has also added 2 creditable seconds to that victory and is held in much regard at the Bell House Stables, even being considered a potential Grand National contender.

This victory over E.I.P.H is not an isolated one. Many horses known to suffer from the condition have overcome it and triumphed from the Lee stables. The greatest success story Play Games [now retired] was bought for just 1,000 guineas from Ascot and went onto win 9 races. Samuel Wilderspin was transformed from chronic bleeder to Cheltenham winner and even ran in The Grand National. Runner Bean, one of his most consistent, current horses, has already won 6 races and looks set to win more. Borora, a previously chronic bleeder has produced some impressive runs in good company, including storming up the Cheltenham hill to come third in The County Hurdle at last year’s Festival. Another exciting horse is Toon Trooper. The powerful chestnut previously trained by Jonjo O’Neill was considered to be a top horse, possibly of Gold Cup standard, until he started bleeding. Richard picked the horse up from Ascot for just 3,000 guineas and has high hopes for him for the future.

So what is the secret of this success? Well it is just that… a secret. Richard will not be questioned too rigorously on the matter. He will admit that he has found and developed a remedial cure, after further prompting and some carefully chosen words on his part he reveals why and when he discovered it. About thirty-five years ago when training point to pointers he bought a horse called Rumble, which was known to bleed by ‘everyone apart from [himself].’ He then ‘somewhat by chance stopped him bleeding and stumbled across a remedy which cured him.’ He was duly vindicated when the horse won first time out, satisfyingly beating a horse from the yard of his previous trainer. Having an enduring interest in veterinary science [a career he claims he would have pursued if he had ‘worked harder at school’] he studied E.I.PH at great length, developing and improving his cure. Will he ever reveal the ingredients? An emphatic no is the response to this question. Only himself and his wife Carol know this well-kept secret and they will take it to the grave, unless of course his daughter Kerry wants to train, he quickly adds.

However this enigmatic trade secret is not the only reason the Bell House horses succeed. Richard believes in the simple, old-fashioned and yet effective approach to horse management, stressing the importance of ‘keeping the horses calm, being nice to them and not upsetting them.’ Holding a maximum of 30 horses, the yard is relatively small in comparison to the hundreds kept by the Martin Pipes and Paul Nicholls of the racing world. Richard likes this intimate set-up as it provides ‘time to give each horse individual attention.’ He believes ‘horses are like people, every single one is an individual. While some thrive in big institution other don’t.’ In this way his yard certainly caters for the introverts of the horse world. Being surrounded by over 5,000 acres of forestry it also provides a stimulating and invigorating hacking environment for horses who have become sour and adverse to customary, often monotonous training routines.

Almaydan, a 7 year old, athletic bay gelding has already impressed with performances including third in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock. He won three chases last season and looks sure to land a big race in the future. Head girl Jo Dines has a close bond with the horse. She rides him in all of his fast work and gets his eye in on the morning of his races by popping him over a hurdle. When asked her opinion of his potential, she tellingly replies, ‘watch this space.’

Recent addition to the yard Iffy, a 4yr old ex-flat horse also brings a smile and twinkle of ambition to his trainer’s eye. He showed great promise when recently coming third in his hurdling debut at Wetherby. This start is even more impressive when considering the winner was Two Miles West, a horse that finished a close 6 th in last years Irish St Leger and also finished 3 rd at this year’s Open Meeting at Cheltenham.

JoleJoker, an attractive, scope former point to pointer finished second his first race under rules in the Beginners’ Chase at Hereford and having witnessed the way he effortlessly works at home is definitely one to watch for the future. Richard does admit that ‘after having had such a good last season [25 winners] the yard is currently suffering due to the horses having gone up in the handicap.’ They are however still producing creditable performances under the added weight with 12 out of the last 14 runners finishing either second or third.

So what advice does Richard have to any others wanting to pursue a career in training racehorses? ‘Go and get a proper job or be prepared to die of a broken heart. It can and will break your heart,’ he says. However, the following declaration that ‘he will never retire’ and the avid and passionate way that he scans the string as they thunder past up the gallops on an overcast, windy day makes me think he would not have it any other way. This is not just a job to him, it is a way of life that he will continue until his last day and why not-he is damn good at it.