BRITISH 2yo RACING

2002-2014 - Period Review
Trainers







2002-2014 - Trainers Review

Horses
Total Runners; Winners & Debuts Details; Gender & Colour Splits; Birthdates vs Strike Rates.
Races
Total Races; Breakdown by Types, Class & Distance; Distribution through Season; AW Totals.
Winners
FTO Winners SR & by Distance; Multiple Winners; Wins by Run Number Distributions.
Starting Prices
2005-2014 Seasons SPs Summary
Sire/Dam - General
Sire Runner Totals Groups; Sires with Winners Groups; Dam's Age versus Strike Rate.
[Trainers - General]
Trainer Runner Totals Groups; Sires with Winners Groups; Use of Headgear; NR & WDs; FTO Course Choice.


Trainers - General Stats: Note that there are separate sections available via the links on the site homepage which provide detailed stats for individual trainers. This section covers General Stats about the overall trainer population.

Questions covered in the Trainers General Section :-
    1. How many different Trainers had 2yo runners in each season?
    2. How many different Trainers had 2yo wins in each season?
    3. How many Trainers used different types of 'Headgear' during the 2005-2014 seasons?
      1. (A) Vision Restrictors
      2. (B) Tongue Ties
    4. Which Courses were used most often for debut runs?
    5. Which Trainers had above average numbers of non-runners and withdrawals during the 2004-12 seasons?




1. How many different trainers had 2yo runners in each season?

Season Total Trainers Trainers with 1 to 10 runners Trainers with 11 to 20 runners Trainers with more than 20 runners
2002 305 236 (77%) 37 (12%) 32 (11%)
2003 316 242 (77%) 38 (12%) 36 (11%)
2004 317 240 (76%) 36 (11%) 41 (13%)
2005 316 238 (75%) 30 (10%) 48 (15%)
2006 313 234 (75%) 41 (13%) 38 (12%)
2007 327 242 (74%) 39 (12%) 46 (14%)
2008 315 228 (72%) 44 (14%) 43 (14%)
2009 322 235 (73%) 44 (14%) 43 (13%)
2010 307 220 (72%) 50 (16%) 37 (12%)
2011 281 203 (72%) 37 (13%) 41 (15%)
2012 282 208 (74%) 41 (15%) 33 (11%)
2013 256 182 (71%) 39 (15%) 35 (14%)
2014 277 207 (75%) 33 (12%) 37 (13%)
Note: (a) The percentage figures are the number of trainers within each 'Number of Runners' category
(b) Although the total figure is similar 2003-2006 there is around 5-10% 'churn' each year but with most changes among small stables.
(c) Note the decline in numbers 2010-11 of the small to medium sized stables. The economic recession, which began in 2008,
appears to have finally been reflected in a number of trainers giving up an unprofitable business.
(d) Note that in 2008-11 one stable has grown remarkably with R. Hannon going from being around 100-110 2yos up to 2007. In the next four years the figure has risen as 129-138-142 and then to a record 157 in 2011. In 2011 the next largest teams were 92 for M. Zarooni and then 78 for R. Fahey and M Johnston.


The trainer R. Hannon has had more than 90 runners in each of the four seasons with the yearly totals 99-112-97-100. The other trainer to have run more than 90 individual runners was SB Suroor in 2004 when he took over responsibility for the Godolphin 2yos from DR Loder.

In 2006 trainer M. Johnston took top spot by number of runners with 102, followed by R. Hannon on 97 & M.R. Channon with 91. In 2007, assisted by a large batch of Maktoum owner breds, M. Johnston increased his total to 118 with R. Hannon still in second with 108.

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2. How many different trainers had 2yo wins in each season?

Season Total Trainers with 2yo wins Trainers with 1 to 5 wins Trainers with 6-10 wins Trainers with 11-20 wins Trainers with more than 20 wins
2002 138 93 (67%) 19 (14%) 15 (11%) 11 (8%)
2003 150 103 (68%) 18 (12%) 19 (13%) 10 (7%)
2004 158 109 (69%) 19 (12%) 21 (13%) 9 (6%)
2005 153 104 (68%) 27 (18%) 11 (7%) 11 (7%)
2006 144 98 (68%) 22 (15%) 15 (10%) 9 (6%)
2007 156 104 (67%) 23 (15%) 19 (12%) 10 (6%)
2008 155 104 (67%) 25 (16%) 15 (10%) 11 (7%)
2009 161 115 (71%) 23 (14%) 12 (8%) 11 (7%)
2010 145 96 (66%) 23 (16%) 14 (10%) 12 (8%)
2011 150 96 (64%) 29 (19%) 16 (10%) 11 (7%)
2012 140 90 (64%) 25 (18%) 12 (9%) 13 (9%)
2013 140 91 (65%) 20 (14%) 19 (14%) 10 (7%)
2014 132 84 (64%) 18 (14%) 18 (14%) 12 (9%)

Four trainers had more than 40 wins in 2014 with R. Hannon (Junior) towering over the others with 114 and 11% of all the 2yo races run. But that total was down from 130 for his father in 2013. The next three on the list were RA Fahey (64, his best total), C. Appleby (44) & M. Johnson (41).

The other eight trainers in the range from 30 wins down to 21 were, in descending order, MR Channon, KA Ryan, CB Hills, SB Suroor, WJ Haggas, KR Burke, JHM Gosden & M. Stoute.

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3. How many trainers used different types of 'Headgear' during the 2004-2014 seasons?

The following table shows the number of 2yos that wore some form of headgear - blinkers, cheekpieces, eyeshields, hoods, visors and tongue ties - during the 2004-14 seasons.

Season Total 2yo runs Total Runs in 'Headgear' % Runs in 'Headgear'
2004 10,567 722 6.8%
2005 10,601 669 6.3%
2006 9,466 484 5.1%
2007 10,913 639 5.9%
2008 10,537 591 5.6%
2009 10,592 642 6.1%
2010 10,468 724 6.9%
2011 10,107 744 7.4%
2012 9,143 635 6.9%
2013 9,102 763 8.4%
2014 9,162 672 7.3%


(A) VISION RESTRICTORS

The 'Headgear category' can be split into two sub-groups with the largest being those horses which wore Vision Restrictors (VR) of some kind. These are blinkers, visors, eyeshields, cheekpieces & hoods and their use has to be declared by the trainer before the race. If there is any problem with their use on the day the horse will not be allowed to run. For instance, if the trainer forgets to fit the blinkers and the runner arrives at the start without them. Note that sheepskin nosebands (known as 'shadow rolls' in some countries and presumed to stop horses shying, 'Dayjur' style, at shadows in front of them) which have long been in use, and well before the recent introduction of cheekpieces, do not need to be declared and are considered part of the normal equipment.

Season Total 2yo Runs Total Runs in VR % Runs in VR % Wins to Runs in VR % of Trainers using VR
2004 10,567 525 5.0% 7.6% [9.4%] 35.9%
2005 10,601 533 5.0% 6.6% [9.4%] 42.0%
2006 9,466 409 4.3% 8.6% [10.1%] 32.9%
2007 10,913 506 4.6% 6.9% [9.5%] 35.3%
2008 10,537 477 4.5% 8.4% [10.0%] 37.4%
2009 10,592 521 4.9% 6.7% [10.2%] 41.6%
2010 10,468 593 5.7% 7.8% [9.6%] 42.7%
2011 10,107 606 6.0% 7.6% [10.6%] 41.3%
2012 9,143 548 6.0% 10.0% [11.1%] 42.2%
2013 9,102 687 7.5% 9.9% [11.5%] 51.2%
2014 9,162 615 6.7% 8.3% [11.4%] 48.7%
Note: (a) The percentage figure in square brackets is the Wins-Runs percentage for all 2yo runs in the season.

  Although the use of 'Vision Restrictors' in general has remained at a similar level in recent seasons this hides a notable change in the breakdown of which VRs are used. The use of Hoods has become popular in that period and fashionable to use. The photograph below shows a horse wearing a Hood and clearly placing it in the 'Vision Restrictor' category needs some further thought. The horse in the picture has small ears but does show that the main point of using the Hood is as covers for the ears. With the ears encased in a pair of cloth covers the idea is that the horse will get less distracted by noise, be calmer and more focussed on racing.


  In 2010 there were no 2yos declared to run in Hoods. From that Zero starting point the use of hoods has increased notably in each of the following four years. In 2014 Hoods were used for 176 runs by 70 trainers. That total underplays how fashionable and widespread the use of Hoods has become. Given that they are targetted at keeping horses more relaxed many trainers used Hoods in 2014 but only during the preliminaries to the race. This does not need to be declared in advance but a request must be made to the Course Stewards if the Hood is worn in the Parade Ring. The Hood will then be removed before the horse leaves the Parade Ring to go to the start. These uses of the Hood are not recorded in the usual information sources available to the public. [Check to be made as to whether the BHA collates the raceday permissions granted by the local Stewards].

For the record, the table below shows pictures of the other 4 types of 'Vision Restrictor' :-

Top Row Left to Right = Blinkers; Visor;
Bottom Row = Cheekpieces; Eyeshield.
Left Click on a Picture to link to the full size version. (Opens a New Tab)

The Top Left picture shows a horse wearing Blinkers. The 'blinkers' being the rounded cups fitted into the 'face mask' and positioned around the back edge of the eye. These are solid and prevent the horse from seeing behind them. There are no rules about the size of the blinkers and in British Racing you will see them vary from being barely noticeable ridges right up to being larger than those in the picture. Note that there are no ear covers fitted into the mask so this is not classified as a 'Hood'. It is allowed to wear any combination of Headgear and if the mask in the picture did include ear covers then the Form Book would note the horse wore both Blinkers and a Hood. Note, the one exception being that you cannot combine Blinkers and Visors as explained in the next paragraph.

The Top Right picture shows a horse wearing a Visor. On first look it would be entirely understandable if someone could not see what the difference between Blinkers and a Visor was. Looking at the full sized picture a slot cut into the centre of the Rounded plastic Cup should be visible. It is hard to know what difference this makes to what the horse can see behind and to the side of them. But, presumably it, at least, enables them to be aware of movement behind them. Since a 'Visor' is a 'pair of Blinkers' with slots cut into them then they are not used together. Note that the slots cut into the blinker cups can be any width and length. Note that this horse is also wearing a Sheepskin Noseband (aka Shadow Roll) across its nose. These do not have to be declared despite them being a 'Vision Restricting' aid. Partly to stop horses shying at things they see on the ground in front of them (the classic example being to stop them jumping shadows and hence the name used outside of Britain). They are also used at times to try to make horses who hold their heads too high, whether naturally or because of unwillingness, to lower their heads. If they have their heads too far up wearing this type of Noseband they will not be able to see where they are going. Some trainers run all their horses in these Nosebands (AM Balding, KA Ryan, etc) and mainly for visibility and aesthetic reasons.

The Bottom Left picture shows a horse wearing Sheepskin Cheekpieces. As with Blinkers they are targetting at limiting the vision a horse has behind and to the side of them. The pair in the picture (one hidden on the far side of the horse's head) would be about medium size of the range in use. They can vary in size in length and how wide they are away from the horse's head. There is no limit on what colour the Cheekpieces can be and various shades of brown are in use as well as blue dyed ones. A small pair of dark brown Cheekpieces on a dark coloured horse will be difficult to see. These sort of aids, from memory, became popular in the late 1990s and the requirement to declare their use followed from there.

The Bottom Right picture shows a horse wearing one type of Eyeshield. An 'Eyeshield' being a device which covers the entire eye. In the case of the picture the 'face mask' has two, raised, wire mesh half-spheres studded into them which cover both eyes. Lessening the amount of light that gets to the eyes. Again, from memory, these do not have a long history of use in Britain. When Australian bred sprinters, most notably Choisir, starting coming over to race in Britain in the early 2000s a number wore these devices (known as 'Pacifiers' in Australia). The success of Choisir encouraging a few British trainers to use them. In 2014 their use on 2yos had dwindled to just 9 runs by three different trainers (RC Guest mainly). 'Eyeshields' also include items where the eye socket is covered by an opaque device, such as a half-sphere blinker which entirely covers the eye. These types would be used on horses with one eye missing or damaged. The 'Eyeshield' being used on just the 'blind' eye for protection

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(B) TONGUE TIES

Runners wear tongue ties (TT) to keep the tongue in place and to stop it moving back into the throat and interfering with the horse's breathing ("swallowing the tongue"). The tongue tie can be made out of a variety of materials with strips of ladies' tights and specially made leather straps amongst the most common types.

The use of the tongue tie must be declared by the trainer before a race and a runner will not be allowed to compete if the tongue tie is not in place. For instance, there have been non runners during 2005 when the tongue tie has been dislodged and lost on the way to post. There have also been delayed starts while jockeys (with gloves) and officials try to unpick knots in ties made of tights before trying to refit them (all very scientific).

Season Total 2yo Runs Total Runs in TT % Runs in TT % Wins to Runs in TT % of Trainers using TT
2004 10,567 178 1.7% 9.6% [9.4%] 14.5%
2005 10,601 145 1.4% 8.3% [9.4%] 13.9%
2006 9,466 80 0.8% 6.3% [10.1%] 10.5%
2007 10,913 133 1.2% 8.3% [9.5%] 13.5%
2008 10,537 122 1.2% 13.9% [10.0%] 15.2%
2009 10,592 138 1.3% 8.0% [10.3%] 17.1%
2010 10,468 148 1.4% 8.1% [9.6%] 18.6%
2011 10,107 163 1.6% 9.2% [10.6%] 17.4%
2012 9,143 98 1.1% 10.2% [11.1%] 12.4%
2013 9,102 90 1.0% 14.4% [11.5%] 14.8%
2014 9,162 75 0.8% 12.0% [11.4%] 13.7%
Note : (a) Figure in Square Brackets is the Overall Strike Rate for all horses in the season
(b) The final column covers how many trainers used a TT at least once as a percentage of all trainers during the season.
(c) In 2014 there were 38 different trainers, out of a total of 277, who used a TT at least once.

  It is interesting to note how the use of Tongue Ties has decreased in recent seasons. They went through a 'fashionable' period which started around 2003 and this fad has lessened notably in 2013-14. Godolphin played a big part in the increase of use with SB Suroor fitting TTs 42 times in 2004 on 20 different horses. By 2007 he used a TT on just 2 occasions. During 2014 it appeared that trainers were back to using TTs for specific reasons on selected horses and the 'following fashion' use had gone. Only 2 trainers used TTs as many as five times with RM Beckett using a TT only on one horse. PFI Cole also had 5 runs in a TT but with 3 different 2yos.

  Note that the Strike Rates achieved by horses wearing Tongue Ties are generally higher than for those wearing Vision Restrictor (VR) headgear. Possibly linked to TTs being fitted to resolve a specific, physical, issue whereas a lot of VR use is on 2yos who have appeared unwilling to exert themselves fully. The fitting of headgear in those cases often seeming little more than 'hopeful' that it might produce an improvement in performance. Also note that, at times, the Strike Rate for Tongue Tie use has exceeded the overall Season average. This has occured in both 2013 & 2014, perhaps related to the use of the aid being more targetted rather than large scale use by some trainers.

The picture below is of Designate who was the horse Ralph Beckett ran in a Tongue Tie 5 times in 2014, including for his win. If you look closely at the picture you can see what looks like a black plastic 'Parcel Tie' around the horse's bottom jaw, about mid-way along. The tail of the Tie hanging down below. Looking at the horse and it's tongue you might wonder whether the Tie might need loosening a notch or two. Left Click on the picture to link to the full sized version in a New Browser Tab.


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4. Which courses were used most often for debut runs?

The following table shows the top eight most used courses for debut runs for the seasons 2003, 2004 and 2005. Note that 'Newmarket' is the total for both the Rowley and July courses for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

2003 2004 2005
Course Number of Debuts % wins to runs on deb Course Number of Debuts % wins to runs on deb Course Number of Debuts % wins to runs on deb
1st Newmarket 304 7.2% Newmarket 343 6.7% Newbury 234 6.0%
2nd Windsor 182 1.6% Windsor 169 5.9% Newmarket July 197 6.6%
3rd Newbury 170 5.9% Newbury 156 5.8% Newmarket Rowley 187 5.9%
4th Doncaster 131 5.3% Lingfield AW 144 4.2% Windsor 173 2.9%
5th Nottingham 127 3.1% Kempton 127 7.1% Lingfield AW 142 6.3%
6th Leicester 109 11.1% Doncaster 116 6.9% Leicester 139 4.3%
7th Lingfield AW 102 5.9% York 111 8.1% Nottingham 130 7.7%
8th Salisbury 94 7.4% Yarmouth 110 6.4% Doncaster 128 4.7%
Note: (a) Kempton closed after two meetings in 2005

The following table shows the eight least used courses for debut runs during 2003, 2004 and 2005.
2003 2004 2005
Course Number of Debuts % wins to runs on deb Course Number of Debuts % wins to runs on deb Course Number of Debuts % wins to runs on deb
29th Folkestone 35 11.4% Musselburgh 35 8.6% Musselburgh 35 17.1%
30th Ascot 30 16.7% Hamilton 33 12.1% Chepstow 33 6.1%
31st Musselburgh 30 10% Ascot 29 9.7% Ayr 31 6.4%
32nd Catterick 26 0% Catterick 27 3.7% Southwell 29 6.9%
33rd Carlisle 20 5% Carlisle 27 11.1% Brighton 27 3.7%
34th Brighton 20 10% Brighton 19 5.3% Kempton 19 10.5%
35th Chester 16 0% Chester 17 0% Chester 19 0%
36th Epsom 9 11.1% Epsom 9 11.1% Epsom 11 9.1%
Note: (a) Kempton closed in April after two meetings. Ascot closed throughout the season.
(b) No debut winner at Chester in 2003-5. In 2005 only Figjam (unplaced) at 13/2 had a debut SP less than 8/1.
(c) Trainer M Johnston has provided 2 of the 3 debut winners at Epsom. His other two debuts there in the period have been placed.

In 2006 the notes (b) & (c) proved to have predictive uses with the 16 debut runners at Chester managing a single placed run (an uncompetitive third). The only debut winner out of the four first time out runners at Epsom was Five A Side (at 10/1) for M. Johnston.


The Table below gives the 3,014 debut runs in 2007 broken down by the British racecourses and in descending order of total debut runs. Note that Newmarket has two courses which are the 'Rowley Course' used in Spring & Autumn and the 'July Course' used through the summer from early July (i.e. not just in the month of July).

Course Number of
Debuts
% of Total
Debuts
Debut Wins Debut
Win %
Newmarket Rowley 189 6.3 12 6.3
Newmarket July 179 5.9 11 6.1
Newbury 175 5.8 13 7.4
Windsor 163 5.4 9 5.5
Kempton AW 152 5.0 8 5.3
Lingfield AW 148 4.9 16 10.8
Haydock 115 3.8 8 7.0
Leicester 113 3.7 8 7.1
Nottingham 112 3.7 12 10.7
Salisbury 108 3.6 6 5.6
Yarmouth 106 3.5 5 4.7
Goodwood 105 3.5 3 2.9
Wolverhampton AW 104 3.5 7 6.7
Sandown 93 3.1 3 3.2
Newcastle 91 3.0 7 7.7
Bath 83 2.8 4 4.8
Thirsk 76 2.5 5 6.6
Redcar 75 2.5 7 9.3
Warwick 74 2.5 7 9.5
Folkestone 73 2.4 6 8.2
Pontefract 65 2.2 4 6.2
Ascot 65 2.2 4 6.2
Ripon 63 2.1 7 11.1
York 60 2.0 4 6.7
Beverley 58 1.9 3 5.2
Lingfield Turf 49 1.6 2 4.1
Doncaster* 48 1.6 3 6.3
Catterick 47 1.6 4 8.5
Ayr 44 1.5 3 6.8
Chepstow 32 1.1 2 6.3
Southwell AW* 31 1.0 2 6.5
Hamilton 30 1.0 4 13.3
Carlisle 29 1.0 3 10.3
Musselburgh 28 0.9 3 10.7
Chester 16 0.5 0 0
Brighton 14 0.5 2 14.3
Epsom* 1 0 0 0
Note : (a) 3 courses marked with an asterisk were closed for large parts of 2007 season.

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5. Which trainers had above average numbers of non-runners and withdrawals during the 2004-11 seasons?

Season Total Declarations Total Runners Total of Non-runners and Withdrawals Total of Non-runners Total Withdrawals
2004 11,065 10,567 (95.5%) 498 (4.5%)
2005 11,181 10,601 (94.8%) 580 (5.2%) 443 137
2006 10,135 9,466 (93.4%) 669 (6.6%) 618 51
2007 11,885 10,913 (91.8%) 972 (8.2%) 912 60
2008 11,591 10,537 (90.9%) 1,054 (9.1%) 963 91
2009 11,709 10,621 (90.7%) 1,088 (9.3%) 995 93
2010 11,440 10,468 (91.5%) 972 (8.5%) 877 95
2011 11,049 10,107 (91.5%) 942 (8.5%) 861 81
Note:- (a) Withdrawn horses may be recorded as non-runners in Official Results which would cause a lower number of 'WDs'
(b) Wet weather caused a lot of soft/heavy Going changes in 2007 and increased the percentage of NRs.
(c) 48 hour declarations introduced in 2008.

Therefore in the 2004 & 2005 seasons there were between 4.5 to 5.2% of declared horses which did not particpate for some reason. A horse classified as a non-runner (NR) was not declared as ready to run at the course on the day of the meeting. This usually means they have been diagnosed as not fit to run and will not have travelled to the course. A withdrawn (WD) horse will have made it to the course on the day and been declared ready to run. Some problem between saddling for the race and the start will then cause a withdrawal, for example, bolting on the way to post or refusing to be loaded into the stalls.

The Table below summarises the trainers who had more than 50 declarations to run during the season but had percentages of non-participants above 8% compared to the overall 4.5 to 5.2% average range.

2004 Season 2005 Season
Trainer Number of Declarations Total of NRs & WDs % of NRs & WDs Trainer Number of Declarations Total of NRs & WDs % of NRs & WDs
A Bailey 63 9 14.3% S Kirk 115 22 19.1%
J Weymes 62 7 11.3% B Palling 54 8 14.8%
JS Moore 87 9 10.3% W Haggas 90 9 10.0%
A Duffield 59 6 10.2% M Wallace 76 7 9.2%
C Dwyer 50 5 10.0% MW Easterby 132 12 9.1%
M Wallace 76 7 9.2% P Cole 99 9 9.1%
N Littmoden 103 9 8.7% N Littmoden 80 7 8.8%
P Blockley 72 6 8.3% WR Muir 74 6 8.1%
J Ramsden 73 6 8.2% E Dunlop 111 9 8.1%
S Kirk 122 10 8.2%
J Noseda 62 5 8.1%
Note: (a) Trainers above 8% in 2 seasons between 2004-6 are coloured in Pink. All three years in Dark Pink.
(b) AP O'Brien had a 12.7% non-participation rate in 2005 but only 47 declared runners
2006 Season 2007 Season
Trainer Number of Declarations Total of NRs & WDs % of NRs & WDs Trainer Number of Declarations Total of NRs & WDs % of NRs & WDs
A. Duffield 93 13 14.0% JR Weymes 58 10 17.2%
EJ O'Neill 130 18 13.8% MJ Wallace 94 16 17.0%
P. Blockley 64 8 12.5% SB Suroor 67 9 13.4%
WJ Knight 64 8 12.5% JJ Quinn 70 9 12.9%
MDI Usher 60 7 11.7% R Hannon 542 66 12.2%
A. Berry 62 7 11.3% A Berry 93 11 11.8%
B. Smart 107 12 11.2% GA Swinbank 70 8 11.4%
S. Kirk 81 9 11.1% A Duffield 98 11 11.2%
NA Callaghan 100 11 11.0% TD Barron 73 8 11.0%
JHM Gosden 86 9 10.5% R Charlton 104 11 10.6%
N. Littmoden 51 5 9.8% BJ Meehan 306 32 10.5%
CG Cox 73 7 9.6% N Tinkler 67 7 10.4%
KR Burke 171 16 9.4% KR Burke 155 16 10.3%
MJ Wallace 69 6 8.7% NA Callaghan 78 8 10.3%
WGM Turner 116 10 8.6% EJ O'Neill 90 0 10.0%
IA Wood 70 6 8.6% M Brittain 121 12 9.9%
BJ Meehan 286 24 8.4% WR Muir 102 10 9.8%
R. Hannon 468 39 8.3%
Note: (a) Overall increase in non participating horses in 2006 and the related increase in trainers with >8% figures.
(b) Further increase in general level in 2007, partly caused by lengthy wet spells and soft going related withdrawals

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