BEHIND THE SCENES: Harry Fry's game has a winning formula

Winning races is what has secured Harry Fry Racing’s position in the ‘sport of kings’.

The team, based in Seaborough, near Bridport, started up in 2012 under horse trainer Harry Fry, and in four short years they have stabilised their position in the sport and proven they deserve a place in the winners’ enclosure.

Feature writer JESSICA REES went behind the scenes with Harry and racing secretary Rachel Brown, to find out how they prepare for a race day, and why they have such a passion for the sport.

HARRY said: “In 2012 we started with 20 horses and had our first wins. The following October we had 40 horses and 35 winners. This year we’ve had 70 horses and 50 winners.”

Harry’s love for horse racing started when he was very young, but even he couldn’t imagine the run of success he has had so far.

He said: “I grew up not far from here in Halstock on a family farm surrounded by animals and horses. I loved being on the back of a horse and racing always appealed to me.

“I started out as an amateur jockey riding for my mother and in point-to-point races, but a jockey career became less likely as I kept on growing.

“I took a gap year where I worked full-time in the yard and then went to university. I spent four days there before leaving on a Thursday and starting a pupil assistant job on a Monday under Paul Nicholls.”

Coming back to Dorset after his training, and working under point-to-point legend Richard Barber, Harry continued to craft his trade before launching Harry Fry Racing, where today he has a whole team behind him working hard in a yard with 70 horses.

Harry said: “Although we have 70 horses, they are very much individual.

“Every horse exercises daily, six days out of seven.

“It’s all about the team, 30 people work here and my wife Ciara is assistant trainer.

STABLE STAR: Rachel Brown with champion race horse Rock on Ruby

“Our day-to-day routine involves myself and yard managers meeting at 5.30am. The horses have their first feed and we decide the training for the day.

“The lads and lasses come in at 6.30am to muck out before taking the horses out for exercise.

“Then there is feeding, mucking out again, brushing, grooming, monitoring feeds and evening stables before home.”

The nutrition of the hot blooded thoroughbred horses is hugely important Harry said.

“We manage the horses intake each day, it’s the same principle with a car, you have to fuel them to keep them going.

“The horses are fed a high protein race horse cube, made up of nuts and a mixture, and fed three times a day. They are grazing animals so we feed them haylage ad lib too.”

The dedicated staff work all season preparing the horses for that all-important win.

Harry said: “It is long hours in all weathers. Through the winter you are starting and finishing in the dark but there’s nothing that beats the thrill of a winner and the feeling of winning.

“That’s what the game is all about, winners.”

Winning has become a regular occurrence for Harry, Unowhatimeanharry provided the first success at the Cheltenham Festival for Harry Fry Racing, with a superb victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

WINNING: Cheltenham winner Unowhatimeanharry ridden by Noel Fehily with stable lass Mickey Gee

Harry Fry Racing have hit the half a million pounds prize money mark too this year.

Harry said: “The Cheltenham Festival is the Olympics and blue ribbon of our sport, it’s huge. England and Ireland really lead the way in our sport.

“A win there is a credit to everyone’s hard work at home to get any horse there. There are thousands that go hoping to get a winner so to be one of the lucky few was a brilliant day.

“I will nearly always go racing to meet the owners and discuss tactics with the jockey.

“Usually the more experienced riders go with the less experienced horses. Once a rider builds a rapport with a horse we leave them with them.”

Most horses have about a five to six year career and each year spend two months out in the field before training again.

Harry said: “We train them back up. It could take all season because they are growing and building muscle all the time.”

Harry’s racing secretary Rachel Brown takes us on a tour of the training fields and facilities. Pointing into the distance, there is a narrow track lane where the lads and lasses take the horses for daily exercise.

Rachel said: “The gallops help build up strength and stamina.”

WINNER: Unowhatimeanharry, left, landed the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham

Walking around the yard, the horses stick their heads out of their stables as we gowalk by. One horse that stands tall and proud is Chalonnial, who just returned from racing in Ireland.

But perhaps the most magnificent of all the horses, is 2012 champion hurdle winner Rock on Ruby.

Standing with the stable star, Rachel said: “It’s the attitude of the horse to win as well as the jockey and team behind it, Rock on Ruby has just got it.”

For all racing horses though, Rachel says buying is always a big gamble.

Rachel said: “You can buy a horse for £5000, £20,000 or £300,000. But the next week, it could get injured and be worth £3,000.”

Harry said: “We try to build the quality of the horses so that we can win bigger and better races.”

Rachel said it is the passion for horses that is the driving force for the team.

She said: “It’s just such a positive place to work and a beautiful setting and wonderful environment. The owners are so positive, they do it because it’s their passion and they love it.”

Harry ends our conversation by looking to the future. He has his eye set on the biggest prize of all.

DEDICATED: The lads and lasses who work at Harry Fry Racing to prepare the horses for race day

He said: “We are yet to have a run in the Grand National and that therefore is very much an aim. It captures a lot of people’s imagination and anyone in racing would love to win it.”