Gold Cup-winning jockey eyes new role after quitting stewards' room

Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey and successful trainer Robert Earnshaw is set for another change of career after nearly 30 years as a stipendiary steward.

He has officiated at his final inquiry, but is staying in racing and retraining as a clerk of the course.

Earnshaw, who won the Gold Cup on Silver Buck in 1982, made the decision to quit the stewards' room after previous plans to move part-time were scuppered by the pandemic.

"I was going to do fewer hours, I wanted more time at home, but with Covid and everything else it was almost impossible and things didn't quite work out the way I'd planned," he said.

"I was ready for a change and I've still got a small farm and it gets harder and harder to keep both things going.

"I rode my first winner in 1978 and I've been travelling up and down the country ever since. I rode for 11 years then trained and I've been a steward for 29 years, culminating in being stand-in head of stewarding for a year.

"My wife and family have stood by me as I disappeared off every day, they've done everything at home for years, and now's the time for me to give a little back to them."

Earnshaw, 62, also won a hat-trick of Queen Mother Champion Chases on Badsworth Boy in his time riding for Michael and then Monica Dickinson, and he is staying in the sport.

Earnshaw also rode the great Badsworth Boy to three Champion Chase wins

"If I'm at home 24/7 and not going racing I'd probably go mad," he said. "It's been my life so I'm not intending to give up racing completely.

"My plan is to train as a clerk of the course, Pontefract are sponsoring my training and I hope I'll work at one or two other Yorkshire tracks as well."

Pontefract have itself has announced record prize-money of more than £1.4 million for its 2022 season with every race worth at least as much as the corresponding contest in 2019 – and run at least £500 above the BHA minimum.

Managing director Norman Gundill said: "We are very conscious of the huge part that owners play in racing and that they, like every part of the industry, have had their own severe financial difficulties.

"We have a large and varied list of valued sponsors and we would not be able to offer this prize-money without their incredible support."

The course is also upgrading facilities for stable staff, who will receive a complimentary meal when visiting on racedays.

Chief operating officer Richard Hammill said: "We are acutely aware of the exceptionally hard-working stable staff who go racing every day. We are delighted to be able to provide both complimentary food and accommodation to the standard that anyone working away would expect to receive."

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