Jumps trainer Emma Lavelle takes over Ogbourne Maizey yard from Peter Makin
From Emma Lavelle's websiteTrainer Emma Lavelle has bought the Bonita Racing Stables at Ogbourne Maizey from Peter Makin who is retiring at the end of this Flat season after 48 years as a trainer. She will be moving from Hampshire to Wiltshire and to some of the finest gallops in the country.
Since 1998 she has been training at Little Hatherden between Andover and Newbury.
Peter Makin's yard and gallops were on the market for £3,000,000. Word that Emma Lavelle was the successful buyer had been circulating in the village for some time, but it was said the deal was still subject to contract.
Now it has been announced and Ms Lavelle has told the Racing Post: "It's massively exciting. It's the most fantastic place with beautiful gallops and a great deal of history."
Bonita was set up by the theatrical impressario George Edwardes in the 1890s. Before Makin came to Ogbourne Maizey other fanous racing names associated with the yard included Bill Marshall, Sir Gordon Richards and Bob Turnell.
The training establishment has 154 acres of private gallops, 54 boxes in two yards, two houses, two flats, a cottage, a staff hostel and 45 acres of paddocks.
Emma Lavelle told the Racing Post: "I'd love to think we could train more Flat runners, given the facilities, if people want send horses to us, but we'll remain predominantly National Hunt."
As a National Hunt specialist in the Marlborough area she will join its two other jump trainers - Alan King (Barbury) and Neil King (Upper Herdswick Farm.)
Peter Makin will be staying in on in the yard's main house. He says that some of his current horses will go to the sales, some to other trainers and some might stay to be trained by Emma Lavelle for the Flat.