Racing Stables

Grand National Glory

The legendary association of the village with racehorses had its greatest moment of glory in 1981 when 'Aldaniti', trained at Josh Gifford's Downs Stables, was ridden to victory by Bob Champion, who two years earlier had been given eight months to live.

'Aldaniti' also had overcome tendon strain and a broken hock bone, and its triumphant return to Findon from Aintree produced extraordinary scenes of emotion and jubilation.

Hurdles on the Gallops Torn Down in Anger

Findon was at the centre of a High Court Justice Case almost one hundred years ago when two local racehorse trainers were in dispute over usage of the Gallops.

'Gore and Douglas versus Gully'

To set the idyllic country scene, three Findon family names are paramount.

Robert Gore, an Irishman and always known as 'Bob' was born in 1859. His father had been a Resident Magistrate and Bob had a successful and varied career as a gentleman rider in Germany, Austria, Russia and Denmark. When 'Downs House' in Findon came on the market, Bob was interested. Bob and Irene Gore purchased the Downs Stables in 1899 and they arrived in Findon with a small string of horses, mostly from Ireland, for training 'over the sticks'.

(Photograph of Robert Gore by unknown photographer)

George Gully had previously ran a training establishment at Epsom but at the beginning of the century he also came to Findon to train horses on the springy turf of the Downs. The newcomer's training yard was at Nepcote Lodge Stables in Steep Lane, and at the time this was the only property in the lane.

Edwin Douglas was born in 1848. He was a renowned animal painter in the style of Landseer, and from 1892 lived at 'Fox Down', north of Cissbury Ring, with his wife, Christiana.

(Photograph of Bob Gore's string of racehorses on the road to the Downs by unknown photographer)

When initially moving to Findon, Edwin Douglas had been unsure of what to do with the land he had bought around 'Fox Down'. Fortunately, Albert Short the local farmer of Findon Farm was keen to rent it for grazing his sheep. So the problem was solved, an agreement drawn up and Edwin Douglas had a comfortable income by allowing the land to be used by the gentleman farmer and also by Bob Gore for training his horses.

(Photograph of Bob Gore supervising a training session on the Findon Gallops by unknown photographer)

This is how litigation had taken place in connection with a dispute over which racehorse trainer had the right to school horses on the Findon Gallops. The sequel was seen in an action in the High Court of Justice and entered in the list of the Chancery Divison as "Gore and Douglas versus Gully". The first named having applied for an injunction restraining Mr Gully from trespassing on the Gallops to train his horses.

Bob Gore prepared his affidavit with care. He stated that he daily exercised 24 horses on the Downs. He also swore that his stable lad, John Williams had witnessed Mr Gully trespassing on the Downs with several horses at 2 p.m. on 9th October, 1906. He had immediately sat down to write in the strongest terms to Mr Gully. Mr Gully was beligerant and stood by his believed right to train on the Downs. He said he had a lease giving him the right to train on he same ground and there was ample space for all to train their horses and erect hurdles.

(Photograph of a national style fence on the Findon Gallops - 1913 by unknown photographer)

On 18th October, the sound of hooves clip-clopping up Steep Lane was heard and a certain Harry Wells hurried to Bob Gore's flint faced stable yard to report that Mr Gully's horses were on their way up to Nepcote Green. Before long they were on the Two Mile Gallop. Mr Gully had dismounted and handed his horse to a lad and proceeded to dismantle Bob Gore's hurdles and throw them aside in the bushes. The sheep scattered to a safe distance and stood and stared at the proceedings.

On the day of the case, lawyers' clerks had arrived and shuffled in laden with brief cases and piles of legal books bound with bows and straps. These they deposited in a dismal untidy pile making tilting stacks on the seats assigned to Counsel and instructing Solicitors.

The 75 year old Justice Kekewich, honoured on the occasion of the King's birthday the previous week, and made a member of the Privy Council, took his seat a minute before half past ten. The stuffy Court was crowded.

Twenty members of the Bar, dressed in full wig and gown, with stern countenances, were in attendance. The Solicitors and their clerks looked bored sitting in the first six rows of oak seats confronting the Judge. It was all in a day's work to them. Among them was Bob Gore who had made the journey in pursuance of his grievance, together with his solicitor who had instructed Counsel on Bob's behalf.

Mr P O Lawrence QC, bewigged and begowned, rose to make an application.

"My Lord, in the action of Gore and Douglas against Gully, I have a motion to restrain the defendant from trespass".

Mr Manning, who appeared for the Defence, then rose from the bench to explain to the Court that he had communicated with the defendant but had not as yet received a reply. He concluded,

"I can only say that the defendant lives in a rather remote part of Sussex and has not been allowed enough time to give instructions".

Mr Lawrence outwardly laughed at this suggestion and proceeded to explain that the action was brought by Mr Gore and Mr Edwin Douglas. Mr Douglas was owner in simple fee of certain property known as 'Fox Down' on the Findon Gallops and had granted Mr Gore the exclusive right to train his horses there. Mr Gully of Nepcote Lodge Stable insisted on training horses on the same land.

"He interferred with the hurdles and other fences put up by Mr Gore".

He added that Mr Gully claimed the right to do so and thus the necessary action had to be taken to restrain him.

Reading from a lengthy document before him, Counsel said that Mr Douglas stated he was the owner of that area of the Down, position and extent which was delineated. He added that...

"Mr Gore had exclusive right and liberty at all times to train his horses there".

He went on to explain that the arrangement was to hold for five years and the rent paid to Edwin Douglas was £5O per annum. He added,

"He had authority to put up a reasonable number of artificial fences and to improve, make and widen the Gallops".

His Lordship: "Well, Mr Manning, what have you to say?"

The judge had a glint in his eye.

Mr Manning: "It is difficult for me to say in the absence of anything from the Defendant".

His Lordship: "You had better have an injunction".

The case was concluded. A sigh of relief. In the space of seven minutes the majesty of the court had disposed of the case and decided on Counsel's statements supplemented by documentary evidence. It was rumoured in Findon at the time that residents had seen some lively antics during training sessions and could have colourfully enhanced the proceedings if called to give evidence under oath. Bob Gore returned to Findon with the sure knowledge that Mr Gully would cause no further disruption on the Gallops - at least for a time.

(Photograph of training on the Findon Downs in the days of Bob Gore c1909 by unknown photographer)

To conclude the rural scene, George Gully continued to train at Nepcote Lodge Stables until 1909.

The London Times on 24th October, 1914 announced "the regretable death of Mr Edwin Douglas, the animal painter, who died at his residence in Sussex on Thursday". The local newspaper of 28th October, l914, reported "British art is the poorer by the loss of Mr Edwin Douglas". It was recorded that Albert Short the farmer was at the graveside of his landlord and neighbour with the Douglas family.

(Photograph of 'Jerry M' leading 'Covercoat' and the rest of the string past 'Downs House' Findon by unknown photographer)

Bob Gore is perhaps the best remembered of these characters in Findon. He won the Grand National in 1912 with 'Jerry M' who was ridden by Lester Piggott's Grandfather, Ernie Piggott. He had a victory parade from Downs House down Stable Lane in Findon on 13th April, 1912. "The best horse I trained" recorded Bob Gore.

(Photograph of Bob Gore with 'Covercoat' the winner of the Grand National April 1913 by unknown photographer)

He won the Grand National for the second time the following year with 'Covertcoat' and he remained at Downs House for some 40 years until he died. The Stables were eventually sold and when Irene Gore died, the furniture and effects, including 700 ounces of silver, gold cigarette cases, diamond pendant and racing curios were auctioned. A few people were left in Findon with memories of the Court Case at the beginning of the century when the hurdles on the Gallops were torn down in anger.