Venetia Williams celebrates 30 years as a trainer this November, so join us on Tuesday 25th November to mark this achievement. In that time she has saddled over 1,700 winners, netting almost £23 million in prize money and making her the winningmost female National Hunt trainer.
Based near the village of King’s Caple, ten miles away from Hereford racecourse, the track has been the venue for 86 of those winners, which from 450 runners represents an impressive strike rate over such a long period of 19%.
Venetia rode as an amateur, including in the 1988 Grand National, before a fall in which she broke her neck compelled her to retire. Looking to set up as a trainer, she worked for Martin Pipe and John Edwards and gained further experience in France, the USA and Australia. Down Under she was so impressed by the practice there of turning the horses out for a few hours every day, so that they could move around more, enjoy the open air and have a chance to grazes. This goes against traditional training methods, especially in the very different British climate, but perhaps it is a factor that contributes to the success she has had so often with soft-ground horses and stayers.
Her most high-profile success was Mon Mome in the 2009 Grand National. He was sent off at 100/1 despite landing a good Cheltenham handicap earlier in the season. At Aintree he beat the previous year’s winner Comply Or Die by twelve lengths. Venetia became the first female trainer to take the race since Jenny Pitman. Mon Mome will be parading with us on the 25th November as part of the day's celebrations.
Possibly her most popular horse was the classy mare Lady Rebecca, a £400 purchase who won thirteen of her nineteen races between 1996-2001. Seven of those wins were at Cheltenham, including three consecutive Grade 1 Cleeve Hurdles. At around the same time Teeton Mill won the Hennessy Gold Cup and King George VI Chase and was favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Venetia also won two Welsh Grand Nationals, with Jocks Cross in 2000 and Emperor’s Choice in 2014, and more recently dual Betfair Chase victor Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse have been winning and placing consistently at the highest level.
We hope you can join us on this special day including a parade ring Q&A with Venetia, hosted by Cornelius Lysaght. Tickets now on sale here!
