Michael Tabor
Encyclopedia
Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred
racehorses
.
and Belmont Stakes
representing two-thirds of the American Triple Crown
with Eclipse Award
winner Thunder Gulch
.
English-born Tabor, who is currently a resident of Monaco
, has campaigned many of his runners in partnership with Susan Magnier, wife of Coolmore Stud
owner John Magnier
. His runners have performed in top company on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years. Tabor won his first major British race with Entrepreneur (owned with Mrs. Sue Magnier), taking the 1997 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket
, England
. They owned 2001 and 2002 Epsom Derby
winners Galileo
and High Chaparral
, the latter also capturing the Irish Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf
. On July 29, he and his partners won the 2009 Sussex Stakes
with Rip Van Winkle, a colt by Galileo (horse)
out of Looking Back.
Michael Tabor is one of only four men to have raced both a Kentucky Derby winner (Thunder Gulch
) and an Epsom Derby winner (Galileo
) and High Chaparral. The others are Paul Mellon
, John W. Galbreath and Prince Ahmed bin Salman
.
His horse Hurricane Run
was voted the World's Top Ranked Horse
for 2005 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
a club he tried, but failed, to buy in the 1990s.
In the 2008 issue of The Sunday Times Rich List
, Tabor was rated the 121st Richest Man in Britain with a fortune of more than $1.24 billion.
His son Ashley Tabor is currently the Group Chief Executive of Global Radio
, the radio company that bought GCap Media
in 2008 with money from his father and his fathers friends (listed above) and two banks. In 2009 the company posted overdue accounts and later was forced to write off £193m of the investment in the business and seek further investment from shareholders, despite publicly stating earlier in the year that shareholders would not be forced to put in more funds.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
.
Thoroughbred racing career
Tabor was the owner of a successful chain of English betting shops (Arthur Prince - Tabor started with 2 of these shops and when he sold he had amassed 114 of them) and used his wealth to enter the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. He sold his betting shop business for about $50-million in 2003 by which time he had already won the Kentucky DerbyKentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
representing two-thirds of the American Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
with Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
winner Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch is a Champion American thoroughbred racehorse who left the starting gate at 25-1 odds in 1995 and went on to win the Kentucky Derby in 2:01.2 from post 16. He was ridden by jockey Gary Stevens. D...
.
English-born Tabor, who is currently a resident of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, has campaigned many of his runners in partnership with Susan Magnier, wife of Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
owner John Magnier
John Magnier
John Magnier is Ireland's leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside of the horse breeding industry....
. His runners have performed in top company on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years. Tabor won his first major British race with Entrepreneur (owned with Mrs. Sue Magnier), taking the 1997 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They owned 2001 and 2002 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winners Galileo
Galileo (horse)
Galileo is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby Stakes, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001 and for his rivalry with the Godolphin champion Fantastic Light...
and High Chaparral
High Chaparral
High Chaparral is a racehorse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 2002, and the winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2002 and 2003 .-2001: Two-year-old season:...
, the latter also capturing the Irish Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
. On July 29, he and his partners won the 2009 Sussex Stakes
Sussex Stakes
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
with Rip Van Winkle, a colt by Galileo (horse)
Galileo (horse)
Galileo is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby Stakes, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001 and for his rivalry with the Godolphin champion Fantastic Light...
out of Looking Back.
Michael Tabor is one of only four men to have raced both a Kentucky Derby winner (Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch is a Champion American thoroughbred racehorse who left the starting gate at 25-1 odds in 1995 and went on to win the Kentucky Derby in 2:01.2 from post 16. He was ridden by jockey Gary Stevens. D...
) and an Epsom Derby winner (Galileo
Galileo (horse)
Galileo is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby Stakes, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001 and for his rivalry with the Godolphin champion Fantastic Light...
) and High Chaparral. The others are Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
, John W. Galbreath and Prince Ahmed bin Salman
Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prince Ahmed bin Salman was a member of the royal family of Saudi Arabia and a media executive who also was a major figure in international Thoroughbred horse racing....
.
His horse Hurricane Run
Hurricane Run
Hurricane Run is a world champion thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:Hurricane Run was trained by André Fabre, and ridden in most of his races by jockey Kieren Fallon for owner Michael Tabor....
was voted the World's Top Ranked Horse
World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities , an organization established in 2003 with headquarters in Paris, France made up of members from around the world....
for 2005 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
Private life
He is a fan of West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
a club he tried, but failed, to buy in the 1990s.
In the 2008 issue of The Sunday Times Rich List
Sunday Times Rich List
The Sunday Times Rich List is a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, updated annually in April and published as a magazine supplement by British national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times since 1989...
, Tabor was rated the 121st Richest Man in Britain with a fortune of more than $1.24 billion.
His son Ashley Tabor is currently the Group Chief Executive of Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
, the radio company that bought GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
in 2008 with money from his father and his fathers friends (listed above) and two banks. In 2009 the company posted overdue accounts and later was forced to write off £193m of the investment in the business and seek further investment from shareholders, despite publicly stating earlier in the year that shareholders would not be forced to put in more funds.