Sir Michael Stoute Wins Tenth Trainers Title
Barbadian icon Sir Michael Stoute continues to bring much honour to Barbados, as he continues to record great success internationally as a racehorse trainer.
His most recent achievement was winning the 2009 British Racehorse Trainers Championship for the tenth time in his career.
Sir Michael left these shores back in 1965 at age 19, to pursue his dream of becoming a racehorse trainer.
In 1972 he was granted a public trainers licence and started out on his own, setting up his stable in Newmarket.
At the time it was felt by most lovers of the sport that it would be extremely difficult for the then young Barbadian to be a success in the field, as he was starting from scratch in a foreign country.
However, with his ability, determination and dedication, Sir Michael proved that it could be done.
Sir Michael first won the British Trainers Championship back in 1981, and has since won it in 1986, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009.
In 2009 three horses trained by Sir Michael, Conduit, Tartan Bearer, and Ask, created history when they pulled off a rear feat by making a clean sweep of the placings in the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the richest horserace in Britain.
Sir Michael later took Conduit to the United States to compete in the
2009 running of the Breeders’ Cup Turf race, a race which he had won in 2008, and again the colt won the prestigious race, for successive wins.
In 2009 Sir Michael’s horses have earned over three million pounds sterling.
Sir Michael is now closing in on saddeling a career 3000 winners, which includes saddeling 25 English and Irish Classic winners. He has the distinction of being the only trainer in the 20th century to have saddled a Classic winner in five consecutive years.
Sir Michael’s success spans the world, with winners of major races, in England, Ireland, France, United States of America, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy, Kong Kong, Dubai.
Sir Michael was knighted during the Queen’s Birthday honours in 1988 for his service to sport and tourism in Barbados.
He still finds time to return home where his love and knowledge of the sport first began. While here he takes am interest in the horses owned by his family, and can be seen at the Garrison Savannah enjoying gallops on mornings, and races on racedays.
Sir Michael Stoute continues to make Barbadians proud to call him one of our own.
Author: Brett Callaghan
