Sir Mark Prescott: you never forget your first kiss or your first winner

Sir Mark Prescott recalled his first winner on Friday, 50 years to the day since Belle Royale provided the long-serving Newmarket trainer with his breakthrough success at the now defunct Teesside Park racecourse at Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham.

Prescott had not long taken over the reins at Heath House Stables in Newmarket, where he still resides, from Jack Waugh at the time of the victory in 1971 when Belle Royale was ridden by the leading lightweight jockey Eric Eldin.

Belle Royale: Sir Mark Prescott's first winner

Prescott had operated on a temporary licence when Waugh was unwell before taking command in 1970 and had fielded only a handful of runners before his initial victory, which came in a mile-and-a-half handicap. By all accounts the landmark contest was staged in pouring rain at a track that was to close ten years later and has since been turned into a shopping centre.

Prescott said of the momentous occasion: "Belle Royale was sent off favourite that day as I remember, but I also recall it being a filthy day with pouring rain combined with the smog from the industrial chimneys all around."

When we put your questions to Sir Mark Prescott, the master of Heath House

He added: "Anyway, I was glad to be there and I remember that Jean Piggailes led her up and an old boy we called Yorkie was travelling head lad. I have a picture of her coming in after the win.

"Belle Royale was owned by Lady Macdonald Buchanan and went on to win a decent handicap at York as I recall."

Sir Mark Prescott (right) walks back in with Belle Royale

Since Belle Royale's landmark success, Prescott has saddled more than 1,500 winners including at Group 1 level with the likes of Pivotal and Confidential Lady.

He added: "As I was saying to Harry Eustace just the other day [after his first win at Yarmouth], you never forget your first kiss or your first winner."

Prescott does not have any runners on the 50th anniversary of his first winner, with Piselli Molli the next entry for the yard at Chelmsford on Wednesday.

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