Eking out a living at the bottom end of the food chain when it comes to training thoroughbred race horses is no bed of roses. Even those at the top of the food chain don’t have it easy in this country’s shrinking economy with well-heeled owners who enjoy the sport increasingly hard to come by.

GARY RICH operates a small string out of Ashburton and is no mug when it comes to horses. Born into a racing family, his father Des, won the July with Lightning Shot ridden by Gary’s brother-in-law Leslie Mustard.

57-year old Gary has had an in and out career as a trainer. He first received his open licence in 1989 which he held until 2002. He then renewed his licence in 2014 and now has 21 horses at his Ashburton base. The horse he rates as possibly the best he has ever trained is Kazakh Floater who he trained in 1990.

Gary is proudly sponsored by Hollywoodbets and we look forward to seeing his string growing in the near future.

Sources: Sporting Post and Hollywoodbets