Heidi Brookshaw, who trains a string of pointers at Market Drayton in Shropshire, is from a family with a long history of involvement with pointing and racing. The Brookshaw name is associated with the Grand National, father Steve having trained Lord Gyllene to win the 150th (and bomb-scare delayed) running of the famous race in 1997 and great-uncle Tim having partnered Wyndburgh without irons to finish second in 1959. Jake Exelby talked to Heidi (pictured on her first day hunting – just before her third birthday) earlier this week about her family, her own careers as rider and trainer, her views on the sport and her plans for the coming season.
Tell me about your family background and your own pointing career
I’ve been involved with horses all my life. My Dad’s side of the family were involved with racing and my Mum’s were into showing – my grandfather Norman Crow won best hunter with Top Notch at the Horse of the Year Show. As well as Tim, who was champion jockey and whose career-ending fall led to the formation of the Injured Jockeys Fund, my grandad Peter rode successfully as an amateur and helped set-up the PPORA. And Richard Burton is my cousin – his Mum is Dad’s sister.
Tim finishing second at Aintree without irons
Grandfather Norman Crow and Top Notch
My Dad rode 148 winners between the flags – he’s never officially retired so says he could still get to 150 (!) – and my mum Zena did a lot of hunting. Dad took out a licence in 1996 after he’d won the Aintree Foxhunters with Rolling Ball so won the National in his first full season.
A young Heidi (blue jacket) after Lord Gyllene's National win
I rode briefly from 1995 to 1997, and had about 20 rides and four winners – one in a Hunter Chase, all on Inch Maid, who was the dam of Home Made, who I trained to win nine points. I started training in 2003, having spent a year in Ireland with Paul Cashman. Nearly all his horses seemed to win that season and I learnt a lot from him.
Heidi on Inch Maid
I started off with just Home Made and Pennyahei, whose dam was the useful Pennyazena, that Mum and Dad trained. All the mare in that line were named after the family – ‘Hei’ for me, ‘Zena’ for Mum and Pennyalina, the grand-dam, for my grandmother. My best season was the year before Covid, with 12 winners.
Who have been the best horses you’ve trained?
As well as Home Made and Pennyahei, Ballyjames – owned by my friend Terry Warburton – Ballyrath, who won the Grimthorpe Gold Cup, Beautiful Dawn who won five races for my uncle and aunt, John and Elaine Fearnell, and Bletchley Castle, owned by my boyfriend David Ellis and whose win and four places at Ludlow last season earned him about £6,000.
Then there were two owned by my racing club. Bay Sly won the Restricted Final at Stratford. He was unique and only Dad could hold him at home – he came as a freebie from Seamus Durack.
Bay Sly winning at Eyton-on-Severn
And we got Sam Cavallaro, who won the two-miler at Cheltenham three times and was placed there twice. We got him by accident – we’d been at the sales to buy another horse which we sent back after I had a bad fall on him out hunting. We were offered Sam Cavallaro instead for just £1,000 and picked him up from Chester services. When he ran at Aintree, his fall at Bechers was so spectacular that the picture was in the Times! Luckily, he was OK.
Sam Cavallaro's fall at Bechers
Happier times as Heidi leads him in after his third Cheltenham win
Which jockeys have you most admired? Why?
When I was riding, Sam Beddoes, Carrie Ford, Jo Priest and Sue Sharratt. Now, Will Biddick, Tommie O’Brien – who gets on well with Bletchley Castle – and James King, all of whom ride for me when they’re available. They’re often on the phone if they haven’t got another ride and Will has said you can guarantee that my horses will be fit!
Who's inspired you most in the world of pointing?
Probably my parents, who’ve always been well into their pointing. When I was younger, they had a big yard with 20-odd horses. They used to do everything – ride out, muck out and take me to school. I have a – very blurry – picture of Mum leading Dad in carrying me, aged three months, while pregnant with my brother!
Zena leading Steve in and carrying Heidi
Heidi aged one with father Steve
What is your favourite course? Why?
Eyton-on-Severn, definitely. It’s a great galloping track, flat and long – in the two-and-a-half mile races, you only jump one fence twice. There’s a massive bank to watch the racing and a good atmosphere. It’s my local track too – we used to live just ten minutes away.
Why do you think there is less pointing in the North West now and do you have any ideas to promote it?
We’ve lost a lot of trainers to the professional game – the likes of Sam Allwood, Olly Greenall and Mel Rowley – they take their horses with them and the owners follow. Also, hunts think they can make money in different ways, for example from a Donkey Derby, which is cheaper to hold than a point-to-point.
But the potential is there – Bangor-on-Dee could probably hold up to five points a season.
What do you love most about pointing?
It’s such a fun atmosphere – everybody smiles, has fun and looks out for each other, win, lose or draw.
What’s been the highlight of your time in the sport?
Sam winning at Cheltenham for the third time when he was 13, three years after his last win there.
What are your ambitions in pointing and racing?
I’ve no ambition to follow Dad into taking out a rules licence and plan to stick to pointing. The regulations are completely different under rules and you need money in the bank and a guaranteed number of horses. All my horses are cheap – Bletchley Castle, at £5,000, would be one of the most expensive.
I’d like to have more big winners to add to the Grimthorpe Gold Cup and the Lord Daresbury Final at Tabley, that I won with Duke Arcadio – a win at Aintree would be good.
What have been your personal funniest moments in the sport?
There are so many that it’s hard to choose. One was when we took Sam to Barbury and legged-up the French jockey Guillaume Viel, who went straight over the other side.
Another was when Dad was starter at Tabley. He wasn’t allowed to start one race as I had a runner, so his assistant – Simon Crank – took over. He let go of the tape with his arm in the air, turned round to Dad and said, ‘This is easy, isn’t it’ – but it was a false start!
Do you have any regrets?
I should have made more of an effort with my riding. I broke my back in a fall – although I didn’t realise at the time – which ended my season, then Dad had taken out his licence, so I was busy going racing and didn’t carry on riding.
What changes have you seen during your time? For better, for worse?
I like the online systems for entries and registration – it makes it so much easier to get hunter certificates.
What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?
I’d try to get people from other equestrian disciplines involved in pointing – there are so many youngsters doing eventing, show jumping and dressage. And I’d promote point-to-points at rules racecourses, like Arena do with their meetings. Carly Sage (one of Heidi’s owners who is heavily involved with pointing) manages the equestrian centre at Aintree – that would be an obvious place to start!
With horse numbers at their lowest ever level, what are your concerns about the future?
I don’t think there’s any reason to panic yet and horse numbers should rise again as we come out of Covid. I’ve got new owners and horses this season – hopefully it will be the same for other trainers.
What would you do to encourage more horses to the sport?
The 28-day rule (allowing horses to switch from rules to points) is good, as are the new Conditions races. In Ireland, I think a horse has to go Hunter Chasing if it wins three Opens – that might make Opens here more competitive.
And sponsors?
We should publicise the races more locally – in Ireland, you can watch the point-to-points that same evening in local pubs. The more you get pointing out there, the more you see the sponsors’ names.
What are your plans for next season?
I expect to have about 15 horses. As well as established horses like Bletchley Castle and Spectacular Rival, I’ll have quite a few new ones, including Buzzard Trix, who won an Irish point last season. I’ve also got the mare Lucky Hit back, who won a Maiden before Covid. She’s just had a foal.
What are your non-horsey hobbies?
I love going to concerts – this summer I’ve seen the likes of One Republic, The Killers, Coldplay and George Ezra.
Where is your dream holiday destination?
Somewhere not too hot, but where I can relax by a pool with family, friends and a good book.
What would you be doing if you weren't involved with horses?
I’ve no idea – all I ever wanted to do was work with horses. I used to take mornings off school to go and ride work at Wolverhampton!