Two men and a horse - all called George Baker
George Baker on a frosty morning Harriet Rochester talks to a current master of the Manton Estate – George Baker
Racehorse trainer George Baker has been training at Manton’s Barton Yard for two years - having moved there from Whitsbury in Hampshire:
“Whitsbury was a magical place to train, as it is here. Geographically Marlborough is much more convenient, there are more racecourses nearby and it’s in easy reach of London for owners coming to see us from that direction”, George Baker told Marlborough News Online.
Like the proverbial kid on Christmas morning, I had bustled into Barton Yard, arriving in the dark, excited to be meeting its trainer, but also at the prospect of riding out at the historic Manton estate. Amazingly, more than 50 classic winners have been trained from there.
Candida, George’s wife, gave me a cheery welcome, whilst unsaddling her first lot – it was only 7.15am – our conversation went a bit like this:
Candida: “Morning Harriet.”
“Morning.”
Candida: “George Baker will look after you this morning.”
“Great, I’m here to interview him for Marlborough News Online.”
Candida: “There’s his tack and he’s the nice looking bay up on the right.”
“Oh, OK.” and rather perplexed I wandered up the yard.
George Baker looking for Harriet's PolosNow I have heard of couple’s calling each other pet names, but likening your other half to a horse was something new. Deciding not to inquire into such personal matters, I went to introduce myself to George Baker. But, from the last stable on the right a muzzle, then a handsome bay head popped out and on the door the name - George Baker.
George Baker, the horse, was named as a two year old and sent to George Baker to train, with the intention that George Baker the jockey would then ride him to victory – still with me? The horse has been a grand servant to his owners, George Baker and Partners - well it makes life easier to have him also owned in the same name. Those who have seen Monty Python’s ‘Bruce’ sketch may appreciate this point.
He has run a massive 46 times on the flat, winning four of his races, with the ‘George Baker plan’ coming to fruition when he won at Leicester in 2011 ridden by Lambourn jockey George Baker.
George Baker talking to HarrietI did of course also meet trainer George early that morning:
“With flat horses, particularly sprinters you can run them sometimes twice a week. I feel owners get more for their pound with a flat horse, whereas a chaser may need up to 3-4 weeks to get over the race.
“When I started training my ratio of flat to jump horses was about equal but we have naturally evolved as a flat yard, however we love having a few jumpers around to. We have ticked the box of a Royal Ascot winner, but my assistant trainer Pat Murphy wants us to win the Champion bumper. However, I would be happy with any winner at the Cheltenham Festival and another at the Royal Meeting”, George smiles.
Swiftly I was on board George Baker, the horse, and off out onto the stunning estate located on the Marlborough Downs. He was a pro and gave a lovely feel while remaining the complete gentleman - taking care of me as we took a spin on the woodchip gallop.
Back from the gallops“He’s been a terrific horse, he has a home for life here”, George said as we pulled up at the end of the six and a half furlongs.
And what a home to retire to. The Manton estate has 2,200 acres of downs and provides some of the most magnificent facilities in Europe for racehorses, mainly because the carpet-like grass gallops haven’t seen a plough for centuries.
On the ride back to the stables the sun had peeped out over Marlborough revealing the breath taking Manton countryside.
Candida sets off with the third lot of the morningIt was still early and Candida said she was on board her second horse with several more lots still to ride.
“This time of year is supposedly meant to be quiet for us as we train mainly on the flat. But, we have a lot of horses in at the moment, so it’s an early start”.
Candida wears many hats – mother of two, rider outer, owner recruiter – and all the while helping her husband train winners. She was also nominated for business Woman of the Year in 2005.
George hasn’t taken the traditional route of assistant trainer graduating to trainer. Prior to taking out his licence in 2008 and starting to train in Warwickshire, he worked in the City.
With their combined experience the Baker team seem to have developed a dynamic approach to training and 
The owners' silks George expounds his mantra on the ownership experience:
“We train for an eclectic and diverse group of people, that’s part of the charm of this sport. We can have a morning when a bunch of owners turn up and there is a peer of the realm, an industrialist, a football manager and the postman, but they all share the same passion.”
“I believe the business of horseracing is to make ownership rewarding and accessible, on and off the racecourse and Manton lends itself fantastically to this. It’s humbling that people invest their leisure time in us, sometimes for very little return financially and so it’s important that we make owning a racehorse, or part of one, as much fun as possible”.
Sir Alex Ferguson's I'm Fraam Govan gets a massageDuring my visit to the Barton Yard I met a very friendly bunch all of whom shape the team at George Baker Racing. George makes the point that staff are pivotal to growing the business and his horsepower.
“Every Christmas we have that classic challenge that horses don’t understand bank holidays and there is also racing to fit in too, so the team all mucks in.”
“We will have a big Christmas party to say thank you to everyone that works here, it’s been a successful year and we would be nowhere without them”.
And from George Baker’s blog, it appears the team party has now happened – preceded by an “utterly mesmerising” display at Gary Witheford‘s yard – dinner and then onward… Team Baker certainly knows how to entertain their owners and, I expect, how to toast a successful year on the racecourse followed by toasts to another one ahead…and Marlborough’s still standing!
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