Richard Hannon interview for Channel 4 Racing

1 May 2014

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Earlier this year, Richard Hannon picked up the reins of Herridge Racing Stables that houses some 287 racehorses.  The 38-year-old racehorse trainer manages a dedicated team of horsemen and women, is responsible for the care and training schedules for some of the most value thoroughbreds on the planet, has a Champion stable jockey – Richard Hughes – who also mirrors as his brother-in-law and a former Champion trainer – his father and mentor Richard Hannon Senior – whose 43-year career that he will endeavour to emulate.  Richard discusses his plans for the future.

 

You’ve recently taken over the business from your father, who was four-time champion trainer and saddled over 4,000 winners. Is that a scary proposition?

Absolutely, yeah. He was Champion Trainer four times; he was hugely successful and very, very popular, so I’ve got big boots to fill. But he’s still around and still part of the set-up, so I’m very lucky in that way.

 

Your father took over the business from his father. Did you always know you wanted to follow suit?

Yeah, I think so. Ever since I was around 12 or 13 that was the plan. I was always around the yard. I went away to University, but I always wanted to carry on where my grandfather had gone and my dad after him.

 

Your dad expanded the business enormously. Do you want to continue to expand? Is there a stage when things become too big and unwieldy?

I think we’re big enough now – we’ve got plenty of horses, plenty of very nice horses. You’re always looking for more good horses, and the only way to get those, nine times out of ten, is to ultimately have more numbers. But I think we’re about as big as we can handle at the moment, and as big as we want to be, so we’re not looking to expand any more.

 

The flat season is about to start in earnest. What are your targets for the season?

I think to continue running the business as a successful business, with people enjoying it, and me enjoying it myself, and having plenty of winners and success.

 

Longer term, what are your ambitions?

I’d love to be Champion Trainer one day, but to want to be Champion Trainer in your first year is probably ridiculous. But one day, that would be great.

 

What qualities do you think you need to be a good trainer?

I think you need to be dedicated, have a sense of humour, and be able to deal with whatever comes along. You have to deal with the ups and downs, and that can be very difficult sometimes.

 

What is your favourite race, meeting and course?

Favourite race would be the 2000 Guineas, favourite meeting would be Royal Ascot, and favourite course – I quite like Newbury, and I quite like Sandown, so it would be between them. I’d probably go for Newbury because it’s my local track.

 

You’re one of triplets, and of six kids. Did that give you good training in always having to fight your corner?

I think that’s highly likely, yeah! I’ve got an identical twin brother, so we were always competing with each other. And I’ve got a triplet sister as well. Yeah, I’m sure it all helps. We always had plenty to do in the school holidays, because there were always plenty of us. So we were always competing, fighting, arguing, whatever you like. But we’re all still good mates, and that’s the main thing.

 

Your dad is still an integral part of the team. Are there difficulties that can arise from that?

Not really. We’ll get wires crossed occasionally where I think he’s dealing with someone and he thinks I’m doing it, but it doesn’t happen very often. I’m very pleased and very lucky to have him here. With the amount of horses we’ve got, it needs both of us.

 

How would you gauge the health of racing at the moment?

I wouldn’t say it’s in the best health it’s ever been in, but it’s definitely getting better. Two years ago, we were in dire straits, but I think we’re recovering now, with the economy improving. There are a lot of big trainers out there now, and there aren’t as many small trainers that are being forced out of business as there were two years ago. Prize money is getting better. I think racing is definitely on the way up.

 

How important is it to have high profile terrestrial coverage for the sport?

I think it’s vitally important to get it out there to the masses. Not everybody has attheraces or RacingUK, so to get it out there to a wider audience it has to be done through terrestrial TV. That does an awful lot for the sport, in terms of getting people in. And a lot of jobs are created through racing, so it’s important we get our terrestrial coverage to get people who aren’t into racing interested in racing.

 

What do you think of Channel 4’s coverage?

Great, I love it. Channel 4 Racing is something I grew up watching, when I was at school all those years ago. It’s moved on since then, it’s got bigger and better, but I love it, I think they do an excellent job.

 

Which of your horses should punters be on the lookout for this season?

I would say Sky Lantern, Toronado, and Olympic Glory – the usual stars. We’ve got some nice two-year-olds coming through as well.

 

Outside of your stables, which horses are you looking forward to seeing compete?

Well, funnily enough I’m not looking forward to seeing Kingman run this Saturday [Kingman is the favourite for the 2000 Guineas, against Hannon’s Toormore]. But I would say that generally I don’t really worry about other people’s horses. It’ll be interesting to see Australia, and a load of the nice horses from last year.