Peter Easterby
Encyclopedia
Miles Henry 'Peter' Easterby (born 5 August 1929) is a retired British racehorse
trainer
. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer
three times.
From starting with seven horses at his stables at Habton Grange near Malton, North Yorkshire
in 1950, he became one of the most successful trainers in British racing by the time he retired in February 1996. He is the only trainer to have saddled over 1,000 winners in Britain in both flat
and National Hunt racing
.
He was Champion trainer in the 1978/79, 1979/80 and 1980/81 seasons and amongst the horses he trained were Saucy Kit, winner of the Champion Hurdle
in 1967; Alverton, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
in 1979, who was killed in a fall when favourite for the 1979 Grand National
; and Little Owl, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
in 1981.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Peter Easterby's stable housed two of the leading horses in British National Hunt racing. Sea Pigeon
won the Champion Hurdle in 1980 and 1981 and was also the winner of the Ebor Handicap
and Chester Cup
(twice) in flat racing. Night Nurse
was the Champion Hurdle winner in 1976 and 1977 and became a leading steeplechaser. He finished second to his stable-companion Little Owl in the 1981 Cheltenham Gold Cup, just failing to become the first horse to complete the Champion Hurdle-Cheltenham Gold Cup double. His Timeform
rating of 182 is the highest ever given to a hurdler. Easterby's five Champion Hurdle victories are a record for the race, shared with Nicky Henderson
.
On his retirement, Peter Easterby was succeeded as trainer at Habton Grange by his son, Tim Easterby
, who trained Bollin Eric to win the St. Leger
in 2002.
Peter's brother, M. W. (Mick) Easterby
, is still an active racehorse trainer, and his cousin Henry is the father of Irish rugby union
internationals Simon
and Guy Easterby
.
In July 2009, he was convicted of an offence under the Hunting Act 2004
after allowing his land to be used for a hare coursing
event.http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/29/hare-coursing-hunting
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...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer
British jump racing Champion Trainer
The Champion Trainer of National Hunt racing in Great Britain is the trainer whose horses have won the most prizemoney during a season. The list below shows the Champion Trainer for each season since 1945-46.-----See also:...
three times.
From starting with seven horses at his stables at Habton Grange near Malton, North Yorkshire
Malton, North Yorkshire
Malton is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The town is the location of the offices of Ryedale District Council and has a population of around 4,000 people....
in 1950, he became one of the most successful trainers in British racing by the time he retired in February 1996. He is the only trainer to have saddled over 1,000 winners in Britain in both flat
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
and National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
.
He was Champion trainer in the 1978/79, 1979/80 and 1980/81 seasons and amongst the horses he trained were Saucy Kit, winner of the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
in 1967; Alverton, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
in 1979, who was killed in a fall when favourite for the 1979 Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
; and Little Owl, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
in 1981.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Peter Easterby's stable housed two of the leading horses in British National Hunt racing. Sea Pigeon
Sea Pigeon
Sea Pigeon was a racehorse who excelled in both National Hunt and flat racing.As a son of the great Derby winner Sea Bird II, Sea Pigeon was bred to be a high class horse on the flat, but his efforts as a three-year-old were slightly lacklustre - trained by Jeremy Tree, he ran in the 1973 Epsom...
won the Champion Hurdle in 1980 and 1981 and was also the winner of the Ebor Handicap
Ebor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and Chester Cup
Chester Cup
The Chester Cup is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chester over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 147 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
(twice) in flat racing. Night Nurse
Night Nurse (horse)
Night Nurse was an Irish bred English trained National Hunt racehorse sired by Falcon.Timeform rated Night Nurse at 182, the highest rating ever awarded to a hurdler.* 182 - Night Nurse* 180 - Istabraq, Monksfield...
was the Champion Hurdle winner in 1976 and 1977 and became a leading steeplechaser. He finished second to his stable-companion Little Owl in the 1981 Cheltenham Gold Cup, just failing to become the first horse to complete the Champion Hurdle-Cheltenham Gold Cup double. His Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rating of 182 is the highest ever given to a hurdler. Easterby's five Champion Hurdle victories are a record for the race, shared with Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...
.
On his retirement, Peter Easterby was succeeded as trainer at Habton Grange by his son, Tim Easterby
Tim Easterby
Tim Easterby is a British racehorse trainer based in North Yorkshire.TIM EASTERBY took over the famous Habton Grange stables in North Yorkshire from his father, Peter Easterby, in February 1996...
, who trained Bollin Eric to win the St. Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
in 2002.
Peter's brother, M. W. (Mick) Easterby
Mick Easterby
Michael William 'Mick' Easterby is a British racehorse trainer.He is a dual-purpose trainer, saddling runners in both flat racing and National Hunt racing...
, is still an active racehorse trainer, and his cousin Henry is the father of Irish rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
internationals Simon
Simon Easterby
Simon Easterby is an English-born Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Scarlets, for whom he is a player-coach, and is a recently retired Ireland international. His regular position is at blindside flanker, but he is equally adept on the openside.-Early life:Easterby's father is English and...
and Guy Easterby
Guy Easterby
Guy Easterby is a former rugby union player for Ireland. He is currently team manager of Leinster alongside head coach Josef Schmidt.His father is English and his mother Irish...
.
In July 2009, he was convicted of an offence under the Hunting Act 2004
Hunting Act 2004
The Hunting Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The effect of the Act is to outlaw hunting with dogs in England and Wales from 18 February 2005...
after allowing his land to be used for a hare coursing
Hare coursing
Hare coursing is the pursuit of hares with greyhounds and other sighthounds, which chase the hare by sight and not by scent. It is a competitive sport, in which dogs are tested on their ability to run, overtake and turn a hare, rather than a form of hunting aiming at the capture of game. It has a...
event.http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/29/hare-coursing-hunting