There are very few in horse racing who decide as a 26-year-old jockey that they aren’t good enough and decide to retire. Richard Fahey wasn’t by any means bad; in fact, when he decided to retire, he had 100 winners to his name, across both flat and jump racing.
Unbeknown to many, Fahey was born in Nigeria; his father being an Irish electrician, with the family eventually relocating to Ireland and just before his 18th birthday, he called Yorkshire in England his home.
Despite his obvious misgivings, Fahey was a good jockey and demonstrated this early on, sharing the Conditional Jockey’s Title for the 1988/89 season under the legendary trainer, Jimmy Fitzgerald.
Transition Into Training
Prior to starting his career as a trainer, Fahey spent time buying and selling horses (trading), to give them an idea about identifying and buying “undervalued” horses. In 1993, he took out his trainer’s license at Manor Farm, Butterwick with a small stable of horses. He demonstrated an immediate talent, with his first winner coming in September of that year with OK Bertie at Haydock.
Fahey’s first major breakthrough as a trainer though, came in 2002, with Superior Premium who won the Cork and Orrey Stakes (now the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes) at Royal Ascot at 20/1.
His former father-in-law, Peter Easterby, was a big influence on his career, from whom he learned the ropes and business discipline that was needed to run a large stable.
The Musley Bank Era
During his time operating out of Musley Bank, near Malton from 2005, Fahey built a legacy, essentially transforming a run-down yard into a state-of-the-art 120-acre facility that became home to over 200 horses.
Featuring a mile-long gallop, equine spa, an indoor ride and multiple treadmills, it is one of the most impressive and sophisticated training centres in the north of England. Without a doubt, the arrival of his assistant trainer, Robin Ryan in 2005 marked a turning point in Fahey’s career, with numerous successes soon following.
Carlisle Bell success for Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan courtesy of the fast-finishing Carnageo pic.twitter.com/ZwxSijA9Ow
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) June 28, 2017
After years of building and hard work, 2015 was Fahey’s most successful year, as he equalled the then British record of 235 winners and six years later, he became one of an elite British class to hit 3,000 career victories, with this coming via Hong Kong Harry at Ayr.
Fahey’s Stars
Without a doubt, the trainer has trained some fantastic horses during his career and had some great wins. One that stands out particularly is Wootton Basset who earned Fahey with his first Group 1 win in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère at Longchamp.
Meanwhile, Perfect Power was another superb horse who became well-known for its sprinting ability, showcasing his talents with wins in the Norfolk Stakes, Prix Morny, Middle Park Stakes, and the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
A notable also includes Spirit Dancer, famously owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and which has contributed considerable success on an international stage, twice winning the Bahrain International Trophy, in addition to the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Fahey’s training philosophy over the years has made a case that northern yards can compete with the powerhouses of the south, including the likes’ of Newmarket, with his methods being based around routine, discipline and simplicity.