Mark Johnston

Everything has surely been said and written about the man who broke the previous training record of 4193 winners at York on August 23,  2018. Mark Johnston’s first success, from a tiny yard in Lincolnshire, came in July 1987; the 1000th on Sep 4 2000 from Kingsley Park, Middleham which is a state of the art establishment.

The most winners Mark has sent out in a year, so far, was 221 in 2009: he used to aim for a hundred a season but now it is invariably a double century: he has trained over 100 winners for 22 consecutive seasons.

Mark has been based at his Kingsley House Stables, Middleham since 1988. He has won the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas, the Ascot Gold Cup (three times) and the Goodwood Cup (five times) amongst many other Group 1 triumphs. His best horses, Mister Baileys, Shamardal, Attraction and Double Trigger were right out of the top drawer.  Unbeaten Showroom, Tarzan and Fort, his Highclere horses, have all been good winners.

The man is a phenomenon and we are privileged to have him, alongside Richard Fahey and Tom Dascombe as the first three trainers for our new Northern Syndicates.