Two Brothers on his way to winning at York in October

Mick & David Easterby's 2024 Racing Year



Mick & David Easterby's 2024 Racing Year


Posted: 08.19 • 31 Dec 2024 • Racing


It's been a busy 2024 with plenty of action on the track and many tales to tell.

We have sent out 498 runners on the flat, resulting in 44 wins and 106 places. The horses have collected a total of £485,458 flat prizemoney. The 44 wins have been shared out amongst 28 individual horses from a total of 90 horses who have raced on the level.

The distinction of being the most successful racehorse of 2024 saw the honours split five-ways as prolific winners Beauty Choice, Eligible, Late Arrival, This Years Love and King Of The Jungle recorded three victories each.

The top earner was Ayr Bronze Cup winner Diligent Resdev who netted a total of £34,291. He had a habit of popping up at big prices, winning at York at 40/1 and Ayr at 16/1. If you'd put £1 on Diligent Resdev every time he raced in 2024 you'd have earned yourself £52.

Two Brothers also recorded two wins and his backers will have picked up £39 to a level £1 stake.

Top earner Diligent Resdev earned his backers £52 to a level £1 stake


We're mainly a flat yard these days but we have also sent out four jumps winners, with Yorkshire Lady, Hazy Glen, Bust A Move and Chicago Gal all winning over hurdles.

The home-breds have gone well in 2024, with Acrisius, Alpha Magic, The Grey Lass and Where's Jeff all bred here at New House Farm. The latter's win at Beverley was of particular note as it took the gallant nine-year-old through the £100,000 prizemoney barrier.

Special mention should also go to two horses who won under both codes. The ever popular Yorkshire Lady and the much-missed Chicago Gal both recorded wins on the flat and over hurdles in 2024.

Home-bred Alpha Magic was a 40/1 winner at Thirsk in July for owner Andrew Pollock


The year 2024 will be remembered for some big priced winners. Alpha Magic's only run gave him a 100% strike rate for the year when he was returned at 40/1 after winning at Thirsk whilst the aforementioned Diligent Resdev was also a 40/1 winner at York.

It's been a good season for the juveniles which bodes well for 2025. We had six individual two-year-old winners with the stars being Laurens Dream and Scatter Penny who both recorded two wins in a row.

At the other end of the age spectrum there won't be many more popular winners than the oldest horse to score for us in 2024. That prize went to The Resdev Way, who at the age of eleven was a winner at Wolverhampton in November for owners Nick and Paula Wright. The veteran has now won 13 times and is one of the most popular inmates at the stable.
Eleven year old The Resdev Way won at Wolverhampton in November


We'd like to express our thanks to all of the owners who have entrusted us with their horses in 2024 and we hope you've all had lots of enjoyment. The leading owner this year with ten victories was Lee Westwood, and Eligible's win in December clocked up a half century of winners that we've trained for the golfing star which began with Hoof it back in 2009.

The year has seen our jockeys in fine form and the stable's winning-most rider was Joanna Mason with 25 wins from 225 rides, followed by Billy Garritty with 12 winners. Apprentice Lewis Chalkley also weighed in with five wins, including the Ayr Bronze Cup in September.

Peter 'Spider' Webb retired in 2024 after over 50 years service


On the subject of staff we must mention here the retirement of Peter 'Spider' Webb after over 50 years service. Spider joined in the early 1970s as a work rider and in recent years has worked as a yard man. We wish Spider all the very best and are happy to see he is in good shape and enjoying his retirement.

Joining Spider in retirement were 35 of our horses, a notable retiree being multiple winning hurdler Albert's Back who will be staying here at the yard as a hunter.

English Wren (left) was one of many horses rehomed in 2024


Away from the track we have been busy rehoming horses, with both ex- and unraced horses finding new careers as far afield as Scotland, Kent and Hampshire. Racehorse welfare is top priority with us here at Mick & David Easterby Racing and we expend countless hours making sure our former racehorses find good homes when their racing careers are over. The same care is also provided to those horses who don't make it to the track, and our rehomes included several who are yet to be named.

The horses retiring have made way for an influx of new recruits and we have a record number of yearlings who are currently being prepared for their debuts in 2025.

Foster mare Poco and Connie


On the subject of young horses, we must mention the call that went out in May for a foster mare following the loss of broodmare Chip N Pin. We were genuinely moved by the offers and help came in the shape of Poco from Katey in the north east. Poco did a magnificent job rearing the foal, now named Connie. Returning in October to Katey, she was also joined by retiring broodmare Jaunty Flight who has been rehomed. Also retiring from the broodmare roster, 19-year-old mares Choral Singer and Flower Appeal have headed to Bedfordshire to enjoy life on a pick-your-own fruit farm with Elisabeth.
It's been a good year, with plenty of ups and down, and we've put together a list of the winners and listed them by horse so you can see how your favourites have performed this year.

Some stats from 2024

Flat: 498 runners
44 wins, 106 places, strike rate 9%

Jumps 4 wins

Doubles:
3 April King Of The Jungle and Beauty Choice (Catterick)
22 July Chicago Gal and Refuge (Beverley)
2 August Grey Lass and Sondad (Southwell)

Cross card doubles:
11 Jan Calcutta Dream (Chelmsford) and Eligible (Southwell)
10 May Chicago Gal (Market Rasen) and Contrast (Ripon)

Winning-most horse shared between Beauty Choice, Eligible, Late Arrival, This Years Love and King Of The Jungle (3 wins)

Top earner Diligent Resdev £34,291

Top jockey Joanna Mason 25 wins from 220 rides, 11% winning strike rate

Longest travelling winner: Acrisius (Brighton) 289 miles

Biggest price winners Alpha Magic (Thirsk) and Diligent Resdev (York) 40/1

Top owner: Lee Westwood 10 wins

Flat course visited: 30

Most runners at Southwell: 69

Most successful courses: Beverley and Southwell 7 wins each

90 different horses ran on the flat and 28 of them were winners

Oldest horse to win: Diligent Resdev 11 years old

Cross code winners: Yorkshire Lady and Chicago Gal both won on flat and over jumps




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link Winning Racehorses of 2024