We still have two racing stables within the parish. Woodway is the home of the RF Johnson Houghton team and Churn stables was taken on for a five year lease in January 2009 by Liam Roche from Gerard Butler although we have heard that it has stopped trading in May 2009
There have been racing stables in Blewbury for over one hundred years and many National and Derby winners have been trained here.
Woodway -
Fulke had many successes. He trained the horse Ile de Bourbon, who won the 1978 King George and retired in 2006 from training to hand over the reins of his Blewbury yard to his daughter, Eve. He had been training for 45 years and will, in terms of training for longest, have seen off everyone apart from Reg Hollinshead and David Gandolfo. Among his 1,200 winners were 10 at Royal Ascot as well as the victors of most great races with the exception of the Derby, although Hot Grove was a gallant second to The Minstrel in 1977. Early on Ribocco and Ribero both won the Irish Derby and the St Leger, which was then the top autumn target for Derby winners. Habitat won the Moulin and Double Form won the King's Stand, L'Abbaye and Vernons Sprint. Rose Bowl won the Queen Elizabeth II twice as well as the Champion Stakes.
After the glory days his Woodway yard endured a quieter nineties but he had a major Group One revival when Tout Seul won the Dewhurst in 2002.
Helen was the first woman to be accepted as a member of the Jockey Club and she still followed the racing on TV at the really grand age of 100 years old! Her Birthday celebration in 2010 was attended by many notables including Lester Piggott and Willie Carson. She died in 2012, at the age of 102.
Schools |
Houses |
Military |
Places of Worship |
Racing Stables |
People |
Wells and pumps |
Pre 1914 |
1914-18 |
1939-45 |
Artists Books |
St Michaels Church |
Public Houses |
Path of Duty vol 2 |