By Andrew Atkinson
TRAINER and former jockey Mark Brisbourne is set to leave Ness Strange Farm Stables in Shropshire, after notification that building work is set to go ahead to convert barns into a new development.
“I hope to find work and remain in the racing industry,” said Brisbourne, who took out a trainer’s licence in 1991.
Brisbourne, who has saddled 550 winners in his training career, had known for years that his racing base, owned by the Earl of Bradford, faced a bleak future.
Brisbourne, 61, at Ness Strange Farm Stables since the early nineties, has been active in looking for new racing premises, in the wake of the owner informing him of plans to convert the barns.
“Planning has gone through and that has not been a shock to my system, as I’ve known for years,” said Brisbourne.
“I have looked for alternative stables – to no avail,” said Brisbourne, who had top Flat jockeys Martin Dwyer and George Baker under his wing.
Brisbourne, who followed in the footsteps of his father into racing, was successful in landing the first prize of £50,000 in the £100,000 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket, with Milly Waters in 2003.
“We have the all-weather gallop – and I need somewhere nearby – in the hope of remaining to use it. I don’t want to go elsewhere,” said Brisbourne.
A major factor has been a reduced stable of horses in recent times, with just 12 in the yard, from that of the heydays of nearly 100 stabled.
Brisbourne has also been faced with spiralling financial running costs.
