James Fanshawe is a long-standing thoroughbred horse trainer, highly respected and has achieved much success, including numerous Group 1 winners. Although associated with Flat racing he has a dual purpose licence and has sent out two Champion Hurdle winners.
Fanshawe was born in 1961. His family part of the equestrian world. His father, Brian, an amateur jockey, and quoted as ‘an exceptional horseman’ who was Master of the Cottesmore Hunt. His grandfather, Richard, an equestrian, who had a military background and attained the ranked of Major. In fact, such was his horsemanship, that he competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin.
In his formative years, James Fanshawe worked within the horse racing industry, initially gaining experience with National Hunt trainers George Faribairn, Josh Gifford, and David Nicholas, who is his aunt’s husband.
During the 1980s, he was assistant trainer to Sir Michael Stoute based at Freemason Lodge Stables, Newmarket.
In 1990, he took out his own trainer’s licence at Pegasus Stables at Newmarket, built by jockey Fred Archer in 1884. He originally leased the stable in 1988 but purchased it in 1994 where it was renovated to its former glory.
It now has 74 boxes. The stables have a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. Horses train on the Newmarket Heath, owned by Jockey Club Estates. In fact, they manage fifty miles of turf gallops and fourteen miles of artificial canters.
At the stable, they have a horse walker and several turn out paddocks.
His first winner came in May that first season when Black Sapphire won at Salisbury. In fact, he would field his first Group winner that year with two-year-old Radwell taking the Solario Stakes.
Many readers will remember his success with Environment Friend a magnificent grey who won the Eclipse Stakes Group 1 at Sandown in 1991.
Perhaps his greatest success came in 2000 when Arctic Owl won the Irish St Leger. At the time of writing, Fanshawe has one Classic success.
Another noted success was seen with Audarya (2020) winning the Prix Jean Romanet and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Personally, Soviet Song was a superb two-year-old filly winning the Fillies’ Mile Group 1. She went on to win the Sussex Stakes.
James is married to Jacko and they have son, Tom.
The stable goes from strength to strength.
