Suzy Smith Racing - The Team
Suzy Smith
Trainer
Trainer
Suzy was born and brought up in Epsom and started riding out for local trainers in her free time from the age of 14. She gained the National Stud Diploma in Newmarket at 18, as have many successful trainers before her. Suzy started out working for National Hunt Trainer Gardie Grissell and subsequently John Hammond in Chantilly. On her return to the UK she was Assistant Trainer to Mr C J Bennett where she trained her first point to point winner, ridden by Sergio! Suzy started training for herself at County Stables at 25.
Suzy's early success came in her first season with the brilliant one eyed mare Material World who won numerous races and was 2nd at the Cheltenham Festival, gaining a loyal following around the country and putting Suzy on the map in the process.
Suzy has earned a reputation for having a high strike rate of winners to runners and is well known for sourcing and developing young horses with winning potential. This is always with a view to ensuring a strong team of horses for the future and consequently she has built a reputation for winning big handicaps. Suzy attracts a high number of owner/breeders to the yard due to her success with mares and takes a keen interest in the breeding industry.
Suzy is very careful to recruit and train the best staff, those who have a similar ethos to her own and is proud of the dedicated team she has built at County Stables.
Assistant Trainer
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Sergio Gordon-Watson
Sergio grew up in Dorset where his family had numerous equine interests, many of them having strong links to the racing industry. In 1972 his Aunt won a team gold medal in eventing on The Cornishman having previously been World Champion. Sergio worked for Diana Grissell where he had his first rides point to pointing before moving to Chantilly and working for Nicolas Clement and Madame Criquette-Head. On his return to Sussex he was Assistant Trainer to Anna Newton-Smith, before joining Suzy as Assistant where he has been for the last 14 years. Sergio is a dedicated horseman who cares absolutely about each horse entrusted to us. He does much of the schooling and work riding and takes care of all the gallops maintenance - accompanied by our two dogs Lurch and Trixie. |
Stable Staff
Each member of full time staff is allocated a few specific horses to do. This allows them to form a good rapport with each of their horses and therefore they can immediately spot any problems or changes in behaviour as they happen. This encourages pride in their work and gives them all great satisfaction when one of their horses does well and ends up in the winner's enclosure!
Full Time Staff
Part Time Staff |
Petr Vochozka
Petr has spent many years working with showjumpers in the Czech Republic. He has joined us as yard man until the end of April and replaces his son by the same name, who worked here for a year and a half! |
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Emeline Vernhes
Emeline is now in her second season with us, her background was originally in Show Jumping in France and then later working in racing in Sennones. Emeline is a nice quiet rider and she has a good manner around the horses. She says she really likes the fact the horses are given the time they need to develop here and the high standard of care they receive. |
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Chloe Reed
Chloe joined us from the British Racing School in Newmarket after two years work experience with Mark Hoad. Chloe works mornings and also leads up at the races. She is working towards her NVQ 2 this season and has impressed us so far with her riding and her care of the horses. Chris Pattenden Chris has worked in racing for at least 30 years, starting out for Peter Cazalet aged 15, where he looked after some of the Queen Mother's jumpers including Inch Arran, who won the Topham Chase. More recently, he worked for Gardie Grissell as Head Lad for 18 years and he now rides out for us on Saturday mornings and will occasionally come racing with us. Evie Archer-Dennis
Evie rides out for us several mornings a week and works Sundays. We knew her when she worked for our neighbour and good friend Gerry Enright for 3 years up until he retired. She events her own horse and when asked what she likes about riding racehorses - she said loves the excitement and the challenge. She is also a personal trainer! Claudia Thornett
Claudia rides out for us each morning. She recently graduated in Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation and has a background in polo and eventing. She says she is enjoying learning about the racing industry and that riding the racehorses is great fun. |
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Kirsty Huff
Kirsty rides out for us once a week at present although she did work for us full time for 3 seasons. She originally started out in racing after coming to us on work experience from school and was runner up in the Godolphin Stable Staff Awards. Kate Allisat
Kate works part time for us as our Racing Secretary. Her interest in racing started with owning a couple of horses here and has developed into a real passion for the whole industry. She is very efficient and always happy to help with enquiries or to offer advice on ownership matters. She also makes a mean chocolate brownie!
Bertie Symonds
Bertie rides out for us twice a week before rushing off to college in Lewes where he is doing his A Levels! He has had a few rides in Pony Races and he is also hopes to have his first ride in a Point to Point this year. Bertie is very professional, always up beat and rides well. Gary Feltham
Gary rides out for us once or twice each week. Gary started working in racing full-time here in Lewes in 1981 and worked for 15 years for trainers such as Richard Hannon, Peter Walwyn and John Ffitch-Heyes. Gary really enjoys being around the horses again and says that the riding keeps him fit. |
Jockeys
The jockeys we currently use most frequently are the leading jockeys Tom O'Brien, Gavin Sheehan, Jack Sherwood (3) & Luke Morris on the Flat.
The jockeys we currently use most frequently are the leading jockeys Tom O'Brien, Gavin Sheehan, Jack Sherwood (3) & Luke Morris on the Flat.
