Workington’s Janice Coyle has been paying tribute to veteran trainer David Elsworth who has just announced his retirement.
Janice spent 18 years with the Elsworth stable and was the member of staff responsible for one of Britain’s most loved racehorses Desert Orchid. She led him up in most of his big race triumphs.
She told the Cumbria Crack: “David will tell everyone he is bad tempered, but really he was a lovely kind man. He was a father figure to everyone in the yard.
“I watched some of the race highlights and tributes played on TV and the tears were streaming down my face. All the memories came flooding back.
“A couple of years ago I was invited to his 80th birthday party and it was a brilliant, a reunion of so many good people involved with the stable over the years.
“I hope they throw a party to mark his retirement because that will be some do I bet.”
Back in the day Janice looked after three or four horses in the yard – mucking out, brushing and feeding – and with Elsworth a dual purpose trainer she had flat horses to attend to as well as National Hunt.
Indeed Elsworth has been called the most successful dual purpose trainer in the history of racing – and Janice also had her big moments on the flat.
“I looked after a lovely filly Miss Silca Key when she won the Jersey Stakes at Ascot in 1984,” she recalls.
However Janice will always be associated with Desert Orchid, the nation’s favourite who won four King Georges, two Whitbread Gold Cups, an Irish Grand National and much more besides, most notably the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Now out of active racing, Janice is employed by Martin Collins Enterprises, the UK’s top equestrian surface manufacturer and installer, but is keeping her hankie close by over the next few days.
“I’m going to be blubbering when they show more clips on the TV and talk about David’s training career. They were wonderful days that I will never, ever forget,” she said.
Janice who supplied the picture, said: “I love the picture. It means a lot to me. My mam and dad were so proud.
“I would like it to be an advert to anyone who wants to fulfil their dreams.”
