Where are they now?

Gorteenwood

We adored having Gorteenwood ("Lester") here at Hawkesfield Farm. Lester was the kindest sweetest horse to be around and he certainly had his quirks. Lester was a complete creature of routine and frequently had panick attacks when he first came to us. Over the first few months we figured him out and had a great time training him! Sadly after some fantastic 1st and 2nd place runs poor Lester blew a tendon which we feared may happen at somepoint. He is now down in Exeter in recovery and slowly making progress. Once recovered we hope he finds a new home, possibly to be a companion horse. We wish him a speedy recovery and miss him dearly! Such a great horse! 

Frank

Sadly after many years with Mark we have had to retire Frank. Many people know Frank by his reputation of bolting and that is how he ended up here with us. However it was time to retire little Frank, he was never going to be easy to rehome. Frank is not a horse to can ride out unless you want to gallop for 20miles with no steering! Luckily Cat who worked for Mark Gillard Racing fell in Love with this crazy little chap and decided to take him on as a companion horse for her other ones. Frank gets to spend his days grazing with the others in the field, stabled at night and enjoying being a pamered pony!

 

Landenstown Star

Landenstown Star also known as "Billy" or "Billy Bob" has decided that he has had enough of racing, which at 11 years old having raced from a very young age is fair enough! Billy was a pleasure to have at the yard and had some great runs in his time! He is now living a few miles away with Claire a former head girl from this yard. Claire is currently giving Billy the winter off to relax and be pampered, which I am sure he is loving! She plans to bring Billy back into work in late spring and prepare him for the next hunt season! We have no doubt Billy will make a great hunter, he loves hacking out and is an incredible jumper! Sit tight Claire! We wish the Best of luck to them both.

Curtain Razer

we have sadly had to retire Curtain Razer, we think he will be an amazing hunter. He is lovely to ride, very bold and a relaxed chap. Razer went to Ascot Polo Club to attempt to be retrained as a polo horse, sadly it wasnt his thing. However on his return to us, we found him a lovely home with a local gentleman who works for one of Pippa and Marks other businesses. Razer is living right by Hawkesfield farm and his regularly ridden out by his new owner (an ex jockey) who is debating on point to pointing him this season!

Bobtail

Bobtail sadly didnt have much luck with racing and was retired. Nicole who rides out and works in the office completely adored him at the yard. So when he was retired she decided to take him on and he is living not far from Hawkesfield farm . Bobtail is now currently being re-schooled and she is hoping to event him next year.

Petito

Petito retired from racing and was found a very lucky home up in Scotland. He is living a lovely laid back life, going out on hacks exploring the countryside and is completely adored!

Scommettitrice

Scommettitrice a lovely little mare who is greatly missed at our yard (nick named pocket rocket) has no gone on to join Twiston-Davis.

Sir Roger

Sir Roger reitred from racing and is currently being trained as a hunter, hopefully he will be ready to start hunting this season. He is a real beauty, very eye catching big horse and ever so sweet, he make a great hunter for someone!

Lady Bridget

Lady bridget, Sister of Lady Willa has now sadly retired from racing. She is very much loved by Pippa Gillard and always got lots of attention at the yard. It has been decided that she is now going on to train to be a hunter which we are all sure she will love!

 

Paradise expected

Paradise expected the 11yr old mare has now gone on to a new home to point to point.

Lady Willa

Beautiful Lady Willa was retired following an accident in a field. She has now gone on to be put in foal by Kaf Tara (GB) at the Glanvilles Wootton Stud.

 

Don't Call me Oscar

Our much loved Dont Call me Oscar had a great time with us at Hawkesfield farm. He has now gone on to be trained by Martin Keighley, we wish them both the best of luck.

 

Orana Conti

It was with incredible sadness that we said goodbye to the wonderful Connie. She was 30 lengths in front when caught in deep mud infront of the second last at Chepstow. She will be missed terribly by all her family and friends. Many thanks to all who called, texted, emailed and mailed their kind wishes - she was loved by many.

 

Allperksonice

Having won for the yard and landing a fine gamble at Fakenham and always been a source of surprises it is with great delight that we annouce that Perky is currently in foal to Manipulator and is residing with him at the Yew Tree Stud, Corscombe and look forward to training her offspring.

 

Set in Ice

Whilst a complete gent in the stable and a joy to work with, his behaviour when racing was a complete contrast. Having bolted at Wolverhampton causing the equivalent of the Mexican wave in crowd cheers as he went round and round and round again, he has most recently been heard of performing in similar fashion in Holland. We wish his new trainer the very best of luck and know that his owner has new sweetheart for her the yard.

 

Swindlers Lass

Having been ridden out by Pippa her potential as a polo pony was spotted early and when she didn't show any significant form on the track she was snapped up by England Polo Professional, Tarquin Southwell. Lucky Chap!

 

La Polka

Nicknamed Polka Dot - La Polka is currently running with the stallion and may produce something really special, just like she was.

 

Cellarmaster

Another very sad day in the Gillard home was the day that Cellie was diagnosed with Cancer. All the children so enjoyed having him as part of the family. He gave Theo and Fergus their first experiences over hurdles such was his wonderful nature. He was one of the unique ones and we miss him very much.

 

Pauntly Gofa

Gofy returned to his original owner, Louisa, as a wedding present from Mark and Pippa. He is fat and happy and having the time of his life Team Chasing, Hunting and even being taught the etiquette of Dressage - who would have thought it of our greatest NH winner.

 

Gold Ring

We had to make a heartbreaking call this weekend to let the owners of Gold Ring know that he had suffered a desperately unluckly fate - breaking his hind leg in the field, which meant he had to be put down by our vet. We had such high hopes for him and we will always wonder what might have become of this great horse.

 

Littleton Aldor

Littleton rejoined the yard after being sold and left to go to Tim Vaughn he seemed to lose his form and after a lean spell during 2009 Season he showed a welcome return to form on returning to us. He ended his season with a win at Fontwell, two seconds at Chepstow and a fourth at Plumpton. Littleton Aldor is now retired from racing and is living at home while a new career is being discussed.

 

Vacario

Vacario was another of Don Hazzard's horses in training with Mark. Having joined the yard from Charlie Mann, Mark gave him an opportunity to show his form first at an evening meeting at Windsor on the Flat and over Hurdles at Newton Abbot. On each occasion he came 5th and shown good promise evenutally achieving a good 2nd. New trainer Brian Barr took over training Vacario when he was sold on.

 

Casual Garcia

Casual was a stable favourite and ridden out by all four of the children from aged 13 to 4. Owned by Kay Russell, Casual enjoyed end of season sucess when coming first over hurdles at Fonwell and a second at Huntingdon. Since then he has been running on the flat,running at Royal Ascot much to the enjoyment of the entire Mark Gillard Racing family of owners. During his last season he had a great win over fences under Matti Batchelor at Plumpton. He has retired from racing and is current at home with Kay hunting and eventing.

 

Catholic Hill

Catholic Hill, was bought at the Cheltenham sale out of Charlie Mann's yard by Kay Russell, is currently standing at 17.2 hands, and regularly being ridden out by any one of the Gillard children. He ran well with a good 2nd at Plumpton but is currently on a break at home with Kay.

 

Over the Page

With more letters after his name than numbers Over The Page lost his last jockey at Taunton recently. Despite showing great form over Hurdles and Fences racing never seemed to be his favourite pastime so he has retired from racing and gone on to be a great riding horse.

 

Jasper Cliff

Jaspar Cliff was a loved friend who tried racing and then polo and eventing. As a great jumper he came back to racing but despite a place at Wincanton he has retired from racing to be a riding horse.

 

The Name is Don

Don was a great success story. Bought at the Ascot 2 Year old breeze up sales, he won under Liam Kinery at Lingfield and Wolverhampton before heading off to Macao where he will be running on the All Weather racecourses under his new Asian name.

 

Forcryingoutloud

Another sad story – this wonderful chestnut did not enjoy his transfer to the UK from Ireland and sadly never recovered his fitness or health after an injury sustained before his transfer.  We were sad to say goodbye to this wonderful scopey looking chap.

 

Boogie Knight

Loved by all who rode him, this gutsy little chestnut was particularly loved by The Gillard Children but sadly did not quite have the speed for the racecourse.  He is ideally suited in his new career as a successful all round winning pony club pony, and is being just as loved in his new home.

 

Red Law

After two magnificent wins for the yard – one while the Trainer and Red Law’s owner, Tim Seegar, were enjoying their first runner at Cheltenham, Lady Willa, and the other while the two were celebrating at Royal Ascot, it was decided that Red Law deserved a career change and is now enjoying life as the safest of conveyances on the Hunting Field.

 

Yellow Printer

His spectacular victory at Newton Abbott was clouded when he sustained an injury that proved difficult to heal. After several months on the easy list it was decided that this wonderful horse would be happier in the home of one very careful and loving lady owner where he is adored and pampered and living happily ever after.

 

Brave Kiss

Despite a brave effort for the yard over 1 mile on the all weather it was agreed that perhaps Polo was more her game and this much loved all rounder is now spinning around the polo grounds of Ascot Park enjoying life to the max.

 

Jayzee Dancer

It quickly became clear that Jazzee was never going to excel on the race track and that the polo world would gain greater benefit from this short coupled pony with an amazingly quiet temperament.  Jazzee will always be a favourite at Ascot Park.

 

CallherLilly

This yard sweetheart never regained her winning ways after her year off before joining the yard.  Despite earning a place position on her first outing with us she always appeared to be reluctant to really try her best and to protect this much loved friend it was agreed that she would be a better mother than a racehorse – she is back at home with her owners who bred her and we are looking forward to meeting her first foal.

 

Hard House

Named after a style of Music, sadly Hard House’s first outing at Exeter was not the inspiration for a triumphant fanfare.  This wonderful kind and much loved friend is now looking forward to a new career as a general allrounder and hunter in Dorset. He lives alongside Tahiti Dancer on Bulbarrow Hill and has adapted to the quieter life rather well.

 

Tahiti Dancer

Dancer now lives with Cat, our stable lass/rider, on the top of Bulbarrow Hill. Cat and Dancer are enjoying the hacking and more relaxed way of life, although Cat has plans to hunt Dancer, when she gets the time off!

 

Sid

After a good effort, it was decided by Mark and his team that Sid's future did not lie in racing. He now lives with Adrienne and is looking forward to being a happy hack with the occasional day out hunting thrown in. He still lives in Dorset, not far from Mark and Pippa's house.

 

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