The Ruth Carr Racing Club - for more affordable, accessible racehorse ownership go to the Own a horse page

Introducing Ruth Carr

Click here to view video footage and an interview with Ruth on her hopes for 2009.

Over a year into training Ruth has trained 15 winners and more than 40 placed horses.  Her hands on approach and time spent getting to know every horses individual personality and needs brings out the best in each of her equine inmates.  Her horses spend much of the day turned out in paddocks.  The colts and those that don't mix well go out seperately but 20 of the geldings go out togeather which takes them back to nature and brings out the herding instinct in them -   there's definately a pecking order!

                                                                 Ruth's first winner as a trainer Avontuur at Wolverhampton

                                           Ruth's first double with Moheebb (top) and Sunley Soveriegn (bottom) at Hamilton

                                Ruth pictured with her three winners in a week.  Left Top Jaro, middle Moheebb, right Sunley Soveriegn.

Ruth's Background

Born into a family heavily involved in horses, Ruth learnt to ride before she could even walk - on a donkey borrowed from Scarborough beach for the winter! The donkey was upgraded to a Shetland, and a young Ruth was soon hooked. Riding show, gymkhana and jumping ponies through her early school years, Ruth was soon begging her Grandfather, David Chapman, to ride his racehorses. It soon became a daily routine to bike to Granddad's and ride a couple on the gallops before catching the bus to school.

Ruth couldn't wait a day too long for her first race ride, and on her actual 16th birthday she was lucky enough to have a ride in an Amateur Riders Race at Redcar. There were 28 runners and State Governor, a horse trained by David Chapman and owned by his brother John unfortunately finished last! Undeterred, and after lots of perseverance and hard work, Ruth went on to ride 28 winners on the Flat, 8 over Hurdles and about 20 Point to Point winners during her racing career.

She represented Great Britain in a Euro America Competition, having rides at Lonestar Park and Laurel Park in America and 2 rides in Germany. Ruth also rode in the Lady Riders Challenge Series in Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. In 1997 Ruth rode 13 winners in all, 9 on the level, both Turf and All Weather, making her leading Amateur Rider on the flat. Her proudest moments were when riding winners against the professional jump jockeys - especially the men!


Ruth has assisted her Grandfather for fifteen years since leaving school, and has spent those years learning his unique training methods. The importance of treating every horse as an individual has been greatly impressed on her - how to make their time enjoyable, the importance of varying their routines, and how to keep them happy in their minds.

She has driven many miles in the horse box, travelling horses for over 10 years - from Folkestone and Salisbury to Ayr and Musselburgh. She has represented her Grandfather in all aspects at the Races, including saddling, giving the jockeys instructions, stewards enquiries, Press interviews and liaising with owners and officials.