Talking Horses: Willie Carson nearly quit racing for a cheese factory


Rider of Nashwan and other greats was nearly deterred by the harshness of stable life, he recalls in a new charity book

Can you imagine Willie Carson as a lifelong factory worker? It could have happened, to judge from the following story of his:

“Working in a racing yard in those days [1962] was unbelievably tough and I often thought about quitting and asking for a job at the local Cow & Gate cheese factory in Middleham, which paid big money compared to racing.”

Related: Trainer Martyn Meade purchases historic Manton stables

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