Dante sign fires Jason to rewards (From York Press)

Dante sign fires Jason to rewards

10:33am Friday 18th November 2011 in Turf Talk By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

BATTERED round the edges, pocked with verdigris and scarred by time, a simple sign still carries the weight of a racing legend.

It’s been 66 years since Dante won the Derby, the last Northern-trained horse to lift the banner of Middleham high at Epsom. But at the Manor House Stables, where his triumphs were trained and planned to the last detail, his legacy remains powerful.

Jason Ward knows he is in illustrious company.

The town’s newest trainer had coveted the Dante yard for two years – having to forsake a move initially because it was “too much, too soon” for his then fledgling operation. Now, having acquired his licence in June and upped sticks from Nottinghamshire to North Yorkshire, the 41-year-old is hoping to add to the lure of the historic stables.

“To be honest, it was out of our range two years ago,” Ward said. “Then, a couple of months ago, we went to look at another yard in Middleham and, as we came past, we saw Manor again and we got the yard.

“It’s just amazing. It’s a brilliant fit for the business and to occupy Dante’s yard is particularly special as the horse achieved such legendary status. The village is steeped in racing history and folklore.

“It’s a place where you really feel in the middle of things and the people are tremendously friendly. All the trainers here share advice and there’s a real communal spirit about the place because everyone is passionate about racing and wants the industry to continue going from strength to strength. Even though we’ve been here just a short period of time, it already feels like home.”

Ward has been around the thoroughbred game all his life.

His father was Doncaster trainer Bob Ward and his grandfather, Charlie, was also a jockey. Jason’s career in the saddle spanned more than 400 rides and took in spells in Scandinavia, France, Germany, America and Canada.

When his riding days were over, he turned to training – as an assistant to Garry Woodward before spending seven years under James Fanshawe. Most recently head lad to Richard Whitaker, Ward struck out on his own in the summer, having learned much from his former employers.

“You learn something wherever you go,” he added. “I went abroad when I was 18 – you go away a boy and you come back a man. With James I learned about patience. We had a lot of Cheveley Park yearlings and you learn to be patient with them.

“With Garry, I learned about the all-weather. That’s something I knew nothing about with James. We hardly had any of those runners. You learn how to be a bit cute. At the Whitakers, after spending four or five years out of the game, they gave me a free hand and I have a lot of respect for them.”

Ward is starting small. The 39-box Manor House yard has around a dozen occupants at present. But that at least allows him to exercise what he feels is his greatest training attribute. It’s all about attention to detail.

“That is key as is keeping things stressless,” he explains.

“We have a very happy yard. We are a close family business, my brother assists, my better half is a veterinary nurse, who also does all my admin, and my mother brings vast experience.

“We want to put the best in and, hopefully, get the best out.”

All he needs now is a winner. Sweetnessandlight almost did the job, finishing second at Redcar after going off at 100-1 last month, and Ward is hoping he won’t be hitting the crossbar for much longer.

“It’s driving me mad,” he confessed.

“We have had two seconds and three thirds since we have been here but we know we are not too far away. I couldn’t be happier with how things are going. To be in Middleham is a dream come true for a racehorse trainer.

“The facilities are simply fantastic. The conditions are perfect for training. There’s simply nowhere in the North I would rather be than here.”

For more information about Jason Ward and his new yard, click onto his facebook page by typing Jason Ward Racing into the search bar.