Keith Dalgleish, a former Flat jockey, is excited about the challenges ahead as he embarks on a new challenge as a trainer.
Keith Dalgleish to take over the reins at Belstane Racing Stables
Keith Dalgleish, a fmer promising Flat jockey, is excited about the challenges that lie ahead as he embarks on a new challenge as a trainer at the tender age of just 27.
Dalgleish has taken over the reins at the Belstane Racing Stables in Carluke owned by businessman Gordon McDowall having been granted his licence on February 1.
He hopes to build up his 20-horse string in the course of time and his first runner is likely to be Hold On Tiger, who holds entries at Wolverhampton on Monday and Southwell on Tuesday.
Dalgleish appeared to have the world at his feet as a jockey but was always fighting a constant battle with his weight and was forced to admit defeat six and a half years ago.
He achieved a lot in a short space of time when riding for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston and could name a Group One success in Germany aboard Yavana's Pace among his 285 winners, which also included victories at Royal Ascot with Helm Bank and Fantastic Love.
Now he hopes to make the most of his opportunity among the training ranks at a stable where previous incumbents have included Ian Semple, Linda Perratt and Noel Wilson.
"It's nice to be back involved in racing, I'm delighted," said Dalgleish.
"I was working here for Gordon McDowall and when Noel Wilson left he asked me if I'd like to take over.
"You have to do three (training) modules now. I did one in August, September and November and it takes about six months to get a licence.
"It was something I thought I would love to do, but I didn't see a way of doing it. I'm a salaried trainer and it's brilliant.
"Mr McDowall has given me a great chance, he's a great guy and I enjoy working for him. Though I'm salaried I've got free rein of the place.
"He just has a couple of horses and hopefully I want to try to attract some new owners. It is hard to attract people to buy horses in this climate, everybody's trying to save their pennies. If I can survive the next two years I think I can survive in any time.
"I just want to chip away and try to get a few winners. I haven't got any sort of targets because you don't know what's going to happen.
"I would prefer to have a few more horses. Thirty would have been a nice number to start with, but I'm happy with what I've got and we've got 60 boxes in all.
"I've got a Polytrack gallop and the facilities here are fantastic. I don't think people would believe there is a facility as good as this in Scotland."
Dalgleish believes the successful time he spent as jockey at the record-breaking Johnston yard in Middleham will stand him in good stead in the training game.
"I have spent most of my racing life at Mark Johnston's. Obviously working for him and riding for him the way he approaches it is brilliant," he went on.
"I can't do the same as him, but it has definitely had an influence on how I do things working for Mark. Whatever he's doing, he's doing it right.
"I never ride a horse now, but what I did as a jockey can only be of benefit to me."
A lot of his former weighing-room colleagues are still riding and he intends to make the most of that.
"A few of the owners I've got were here in Ian Semple's time and they used to use Tom Eaves a lot," Dalgleish continued.
"I'm good friends with Joe Fanning from my days with Mark, so I'll probably use both of those if they are available.
"We have a good apprentice in the yard called Shirley Teasdale. I'm sure she'll get a few rides as well and I'm sure she'll do well."
