Racing mourns Patrick Haslam, a trainer who won at every track

TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to Group One-winning former trainer Patrick Haslam who has died after a long illness.

The 69-year-old, who was based in Middleham, was a respected dual-purpose handler and trained over 1,000 winners, including 2005 Prix de l’Opera heroine Kinnaird.

Haslam’s other star performers included Godstone, Pipe Major, Maroussies Wings and Mummy’s Pleasure. His Hawkley won the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in 1984 while Haslam’s versatility was evidenced by Nigel’s Lad who won 23 races between 1994 and 2002 on the Flat – or over hurdles and also steeplechase fences.

He also achieved a landmark feat of training a winner at every British racecourse – with the exception of recent additions Great Leighs and Ffos Las.

Haslam first took out a trainer’s licence in 1972 and retired in 2010, when his son assumed control of Castle Hill Stables.

He is survived by his wife Anne and son Ben who said: “He was a very shrewd trainer. He had a lot of bad horses, but it was all about winning with what you had, and he did that so successfully.

“He also had many good ones, though, and Kinnaird was a great horse. He bought her very cheaply at the breeze-ups and she ended up winning the May Hill and then the Prix de l’Opera – she would have the biggest spot in terms of achievements.

“King Revo was also an important winner for him. He always wanted to train a winner at Cheltenham and when AP (McCoy) won on him, that completed the full set of training winners at all the racecourses in Britain.”

Those paying tribute included top Leyburn trainer Karl Burke who said: “We can only be thinking of Anne and Ben and their immediate family. I got on really well with Pat – he’d let you know if he wasn’t getting on with you.”

Racing commentator and broadcaster Derek Thompson tweeted: “Pat Haslam was a top trainer, a great guy and had one of the best racing brains of all time.”

And this sentiment was echoed by former rider Niall Hannity, who is now a jockey’s agent in North Yorkshire. He said: “I remember speaking to AP McCoy not long after he retired and he said Pat Haslam was one of the very best he ever rode for.”