'It's a great honour' - Harry Charlton and dad Roger become joint-trainers

Derby-winning trainer Roger Charlton has announced Beckhampton Stables will move to a joint-licence, with son and assistant Harry appearing on racecards next to his father from this week.

Charlton took charge of Beckhampton from Jeremy Tree in 1990 and made a flying start by winning the Derby with Quest For Fame and the French equivalent with Sanglamore that year.

He has trained nearly 1,500 winners, including 19 Group 1 victories provided by other star performers such as Al Kazeem, Decorated Knight, Cityscape, Patavellian and Avonbridge.

Charlton, who turns 72 on Tuesday, said: "I felt it was time to appreciate the hard work that Harry puts into the operation, having been working in the yard since 2014.

"Within that period there have been great successes, including Thistle Bird, Al Kazeem, Decorated Knight and Quadrilateral. He is an integral member of the team and at the age of 36 he deserves to be recognised in an industry that values youth."

Quest For Fame: wins the 1990 Derby under Pat Eddery in Roger Charlton's first season as a trainerCredit: Getty Images

On the start of a new era at Beckhampton, Harry Charlton said: "It's a great honour to be joining my father on the licence at such a prestigious place as Beckhampton, where I have grown up.

"It is a big community with a lot of history. Having been a member of the team for so long, the day-to-day running of the yard will stay much the same but I understand the privilege that comes with the new title.

"The many successes of my predecessors sets a standard to strive for and, as always, Dad and I endeavour to do the very best for our owners.

"My father has had a wonderful career as a sole trainer and I know we are both looking forward to training lots of winners as we move forward. Quality over quantity will continue to be the mantra and I can’t wait to get going."

The stable's first runner under the new arrangement could appear at Lingfield on Saturday with Umm Hurair entered for the Coral Winter Oaks Fillies' Handicap at the inaugural Winter Million festival.

Roger Charlton: 'I am incredibly proud of what myself and the team have achieved'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Charlton has had six runners since the turn of the year, winning with Small Print at Kempton on January 5. With Umm Hurair his only entry this week, the final runner under solely his name could be Becoming, who finished eighth at Southwell on Sunday.

The Charltons' move to a joint-licence follows other father-and-son set-ups, including Mark and Charlie Johnston, who made the switch from January 1.

Reflecting on his long and illustrious career, Charlton added: "I came to Beckhampton in 1978 and served as assistant to Jeremy Tree before taking over in 1990 and have enjoyed training at Beckhampton immensely.

"In that period I have witnessed some of the great horses, future stallions and mares that have changed the world of horseracing. I am incredibly proud of what myself and the team have achieved in the last 30 years.

"I have had a wonderful bunch of owners throughout, many of whom are still supporting me, as well as a tremendous team at Beckhampton, a lot of whom joined when I did."

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John and Thady Gosden to start new joint-licence era on Saturday

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