Redcar Racecourse Honour Sam Hall

In today’s modern parlance of hype and superlative the word legendary is frequently over used but we would make no apology in applying that description to the great Sam Hall. His obituary in the Sporting Life began: ‘Sam Hall was the very epitome of a popular trainer, a genial, good-humoured, often out-spoken Yorkshireman with a natural inborn judgement and understanding of horses.’

Indeed his record speaks for itself. Multiple wins at Royal Ascot, two Ebors, the Ayr Gold Cup, the St Simon Stakes, the Dewhurst, the Cesarewitch, the November Handicap (five times no less), two Lincolns and the list goes on. Sam also had a tremendous record at Redcar - four Zetland Gold Cups, three Andy Capps (in successive years), the Vaux Gold Tankard and the William Hill Gold Cup.

Sam was the youngest of three brothers who all went on to be hugely successful trainers. In fact Charlie, the middle son, had few peers over the jumps and is annually commemorated with the running of the eponymous‘chase at Wetherby in October. Sam started out assisting both Charlie and elder brother Tom before taking out his own licence in 1949 originally pased at Brecongill in Middleham. In 1967 he moved to Spigot Lodge at Leyburn with the Brecongill stable remaining in the family when Sally Hall, daughter of Tom became, at 29, the first licensed woman trainer in the North.

Sam trained well over one thousand winners and there was never a trainer more adept at preparing a horse for a big handicap. His impact though was far greater than even the incredible statistics. He touched and greatly improved the lives and careers of many individuals who in turn went on to achieve at the highest level.

We are delighted to honour his memory on Friday with a race that is very much the inspiration of former Redcar Director Jack Hanson. Jack has in his own right owned, trained and ridden with great success and aplomb and had some great days in partnership with long time friend Sam Hall.

We are indebted to the support that we have received from Sam’s immediate family in staging today’s race. His daughters Kate Walton (a trainer of winners over both codes at Sharp Hill Farm, Middleham) and Liz Hall (who plays such an active role at Copgrove Hall Stud near Harrogate) are both coming racing on Friday and will be presenting the trophy to the winning connections.

It is Redcar’s privilege to be hosting the fourth running of the Sam Hall Memorial Handicap Stakes.