Manton has a magic. The majestic beauty of the famous training centre on the Wiltshire Downs has to be seen to be believed, especially at daffodil time. There are gallops in every direction — the Barton Gallop, the Clatford Gallop, the Valley Gallop, the stiff Derby Gallop used traditionally 20 and 10 days before the big race — linked by stone dust pathways.
History oozes from every wall and ditch. Here is a copse planted or a pub restored by Barry Hills, here is the cambered ‘American bend’ installed by Michael Dickinson, here are the vantage points where ‘Young Alec’ Taylor, his father Alec and Joe Lawson watched their 43 Classic winners — and, yes, that is 43 — go through their paces.
For every trainer at Manton the folk memories increase the challenge. The current incumbent, the jaw-juttingly determined Brian Meehan, has increased the international dimension. Keen for more success in the US after his Breeders’ Cup win with Red Rocks, he uses starting stalls with an American-style bell.
Barry Hills, who trained 400 winners there in his four years before Robert Sangster ran out of funds in an earlier recession, calls it the best place in the country to train horses. ‘I was once there for six weeks and never went off the estate. It is so lovely that there is no need to go anywhere else. But the gardener said to me once, “Mr Hills, if you don’t beat this place it will beat you,” and he was right. It’s the sort of place you have to get up every morning and hit with a stick — you’ve got to make it work.’
Manton has seen some extraordinary training feats and bizarre characters, and has spawned some of the most ferocious gambles in the history of the Turf.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in