England loses colourful trainer

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 27

England loses colourful trainer

Ryan Price, one of England's most colourful and successful trainers, retired on November 8. In 1937 he started training in Yorkshire from stables he shared with another young hopeful, Noel Murless. The war interrupted his ambitions in racing, but, typically, he ended up as a captain in. the commandos and for a time he was “Minder” to General Montgomery. With the help of his stable jockey, Fred Winter, he began to dominate jumping racing for a time after the

war. Their victory with Kilmore in the 1962 Grand National was a fitting climax to one of the most successful partnerships in the history of steeplechasing. Two of his major successes on the flat were with Ginevra in the Oaks and with Bruni in the St Leger. But his friends believed his heart remained with the jumping game. A few years ago Fred Winter and Richard Pitman visited Ryan’s stable at Findon to inspect some likely jumping prospects. As the rugs were pulled off the first

four horses Ryan Price started his very best sales pitch: “Each of these could win the Triumph Hurdle,” he told Fred Winter. Winter had been hearing the same patter for 30 years and quietly told Ryan to be more realistic. Looking faintly embarrased, Ryan nodded his agreement. Then they moved on to the next horse in line for inspection. “Now this fellow is a real athlete,” said Ryan, his enthusiasm flowing again. “This is a racehorse. He will win the Triumph Hurdle by a hundred bloody yards.”