“Jump racing will appeal to anyone that has a love of horses and a spirit of adventure; and the most satisfying way to take part in the action is to follow the fortunes of your very own racehorse. Here at Thorndale Farm, in our stunning Cotswolds surroundings, you and your horse will benefit from brand new training facilities as well as a friendly and dedicated team.”

Kim Bailey has trained nearly 1000 winners and is lucky enough to have achieved the magical “Big Three”, The Grand National (Mr Frisk, 1990), The Cheltenham Gold Cup (Master Oats, 1995) and The Champion Hurdle (Alderbrook, 1995).

For the last five months I have been documenting life at Kim Bailey Racing. Whilst the horses have been a prominent feature of my attention I have focused mainly on the incredible team of people behind the success stories of the horses. Be it Kim himself or the stable hands, everyone has a role to play at the highest standard possible in order to produce the best results. Behind the exhilarating cheers and adrenaline of race day there are months of long hours in every weather conditions, numb fingers, tired eyes and hard work.

Above all there’s a side that I have been privileged to witness, there’s a family, a friendship and a brotherhood that in my opinion is the back bone of the winning horse on race day. The numerous stories I have been told (that shall not be included in this book!) all demonstrate that behind the gruelling work there is a bond between all involved in a racing yard. It’s an adventure; it’s a way of life.