Jenny Pitman
Encyclopedia
Jenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer
and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National
winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete
in 1995. Following her retirement from horse training in 1998 she became a writer of novels, principally with a racing theme.
, Leicestershire, one of seven children. She was brought up assisting in manual farm work, where horse powered equipment was a novelty, and learned to ride a pony "so young that being on horseback seemed as natural as walking". In 1957 she left the Hoby village school to attend Sarson Secondary Modern Girls' School in Melton Mowbray
. She sustained a fractured skull when a showjumping pole fell on her head during a gymkhana at Syston, it was many months before resultant convulsions were diagnosed. At the age of 14, she obtained a weekend and school holiday job at Brooksby Grange horse racing yard.
Pitman left school two weeks before her 15th birthday, taking up a position as a stable girl, at Brooksby Grange for a weekly wage of £3 4s 5d. Her first overnight stop was at Manchester where her filly, Star Princess, won the 1962 Diomedes Handicap. Two years later she changed jobs, moving to a stable in Bishop's Cleeve
, Gloucestershire, the first time she had lived away from her Leicestershire home.
. Jenny's initial reaction to Richard was unfavourable, but later, when Richard obtained a job in Lambourn
at Fred Winter's training stables 50 miles (80.5 km) from Bishop's Cleeve, Jenny was persuaded to apply for a job in Lambourn with Major Champneys at Church Farm Stables. She moved in 1964.
Aged 19, she married Richard Pitman. In August 1966, their son Mark Pitman was born and Jenny became a full time housewife. Son Paul was born in October 1967. In the next winter, missing the world of horses, they bought a 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) property with stables and an indoor school in Hinton Parva
to provide a service to other trainers for recuperating injured horses. In 'Parva Stud', the family struggled to live in an unheated caravan. By the end of 1968 Pitman had 8 horses at the yard. With Richard's second place prize from the 1969 Grand National
, the Pitmans were able to commission a bungalow on the premises to escape the poor condition caravan. In 1969 she employed a 'lad' to assist at the yard, Melvyn Saddler, who became her right-hand man as her success grew.
In February 1974, Pitman was able to enter a horse she had trained in her first point-to-point
race. Ridden by stable lad Bryan Smart, Road Race didn't figure in the race betting, but amazingly managed to pass the favourite after the last fence to win.
In 1977 Jenny and Richard divorced and Jenny left Wiltshire
and moved to Lambourn
, Berkshire. She is now married to businessman, David Stait. In 1975 she was successful in getting her first horse training licence and her first winner came in the very same year.
In 1983 she became the first woman to train a Grand National
winner, when Corbiere was the victor. She was to win one other Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995
although her horse Esha Ness was first past the post in the void National of 1993
.
In 1998 she was awarded the OBE for services to horseracing and subsequently retired from training racehorses in 1999, handing over the reins to son, Mark. Pitman was the first winner of the Helen Rollason
award at the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards.
Although still seen at the races, she is now a prolific writer of novels, principally with a racing spin.
A survivor of thyroid cancer
, she is a patron of the British Thyroid Foundation
.
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...
and author. She became the first woman to train a 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...
winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete
Royal Athlete
Royal Athlete was a British-bred racehorse, whose most famous victory was the 1995 Grand National at Aintree when ridden by 24-year-old Irishman, Jason Titley at the generous odds of 40/1....
in 1995. Following her retirement from horse training in 1998 she became a writer of novels, principally with a racing theme.
Childhood
Pitman was born as Jenny Harvey on her family's farm near HobyHoby with Rotherby
Hoby with Rotherby is a civil parish in Leicestershire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 594. It includes the villages of Hoby, Rotherby, Ragdale and Brooksby. The parish is part of Melton local government district, and within the Rutland and Melton constituency.- External...
, Leicestershire, one of seven children. She was brought up assisting in manual farm work, where horse powered equipment was a novelty, and learned to ride a pony "so young that being on horseback seemed as natural as walking". In 1957 she left the Hoby village school to attend Sarson Secondary Modern Girls' School in Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
. She sustained a fractured skull when a showjumping pole fell on her head during a gymkhana at Syston, it was many months before resultant convulsions were diagnosed. At the age of 14, she obtained a weekend and school holiday job at Brooksby Grange horse racing yard.
Pitman left school two weeks before her 15th birthday, taking up a position as a stable girl, at Brooksby Grange for a weekly wage of £3 4s 5d. Her first overnight stop was at Manchester where her filly, Star Princess, won the 1962 Diomedes Handicap. Two years later she changed jobs, moving to a stable in Bishop's Cleeve
Bishop's Cleeve
Bishop's Cleeve is an urbanised village in the Borough of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, near Cheltenham. The village lies at the foot of Cleeve Hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds.- History :...
, Gloucestershire, the first time she had lived away from her Leicestershire home.
Adult life
Pitman worked at Bishop's Cleeve for two years. One day there, she was returning from a workout on the local gallops when her horse was spooked by a cyclist travelling around a corner too fast and on the wrong side of the road. The cyclist in question was jockey Richard PitmanRichard Pitman
Richard Pitman, is a retired jump jockey who rode 470 winners in his career including Lanzarote in the 1974 Champion Hurdle). He also won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse twice, the Whitbread Gold Cup once and the Hennessy Gold Cup once....
. Jenny's initial reaction to Richard was unfavourable, but later, when Richard obtained a job in Lambourn
Lambourn
Lambourn is a large village and civil parish in the northwestern part of the ceremonial county of Berkshire in England. Its metropolitan district has a population of 4,017, and is most noted for its associations with British National Hunt racehorse training....
at Fred Winter's training stables 50 miles (80.5 km) from Bishop's Cleeve, Jenny was persuaded to apply for a job in Lambourn with Major Champneys at Church Farm Stables. She moved in 1964.
Aged 19, she married Richard Pitman. In August 1966, their son Mark Pitman was born and Jenny became a full time housewife. Son Paul was born in October 1967. In the next winter, missing the world of horses, they bought a 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) property with stables and an indoor school in Hinton Parva
Hinton Parva, Wiltshire
Hinton Parva, also known as Little Hinton, is a village in the unitary authority of Swindon in Wiltshire, England. Hinton Parva was a separate parish until 1934, and is now in the civil parish of Bishopstone....
to provide a service to other trainers for recuperating injured horses. In 'Parva Stud', the family struggled to live in an unheated caravan. By the end of 1968 Pitman had 8 horses at the yard. With Richard's second place prize from the 1969 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...
, the Pitmans were able to commission a bungalow on the premises to escape the poor condition caravan. In 1969 she employed a 'lad' to assist at the yard, Melvyn Saddler, who became her right-hand man as her success grew.
In February 1974, Pitman was able to enter a horse she had trained in her first point-to-point
Point-to-point
Point-to-point or point to point may refer to:Computing* Point-to-point construction, an electronics assembly technique* Point-to-point * Point-to-Point Protocol , part of the Internet protocol suite...
race. Ridden by stable lad Bryan Smart, Road Race didn't figure in the race betting, but amazingly managed to pass the favourite after the last fence to win.
In 1977 Jenny and Richard divorced and Jenny left Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and moved to Lambourn
Lambourn
Lambourn is a large village and civil parish in the northwestern part of the ceremonial county of Berkshire in England. Its metropolitan district has a population of 4,017, and is most noted for its associations with British National Hunt racehorse training....
, Berkshire. She is now married to businessman, David Stait. In 1975 she was successful in getting her first horse training licence and her first winner came in the very same year.
In 1983 she became the first woman to train a 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...
winner, when Corbiere was the victor. She was to win one other Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995
1995 Grand National
The 1995 Grand National was the 148th official renewal of the famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 1995....
although her horse Esha Ness was first past the post in the void National of 1993
1993 Grand National
The 1993 Grand National was scheduled on 3 April 1993 to be the 147th official renewal of the Grand National horse race, held annually at Aintree near Liverpool, England....
.
In 1998 she was awarded the OBE for services to horseracing and subsequently retired from training racehorses in 1999, handing over the reins to son, Mark. Pitman was the first winner of the Helen Rollason
Helen Rollason
Helen Frances Rollason MBE was a British sports journalist and television presenter.-Early life:Born 11 March 1956, Helen Rollason was an adopted child. She was born in London, grew up in Bath and studied at Chelsea School of Physical Education, Eastbourne and Dalhousie University, in Canada...
award at the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards.
Although still seen at the races, she is now a prolific writer of novels, principally with a racing spin.
A survivor of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...
, she is a patron of the British Thyroid Foundation
British Thyroid Foundation
The British Thyroid Foundation is a UK-based, patient-led, registered charity dedicated to supporting people with thyroid disorders and helping their families and people around them to understand the condition.-Function:...
.