History of Kimpton Down

Frank Hartigan trained at nearby Weyhill from 1905 to 1952. By 1935, when he had his 1000th winner on the flat, he said he had won almost as many races under National Hunt rules, but he was not sure how many. There are no records of the final totals, but he had fewer runners in later years so maybe 2,500 in all were trained by him from Weyhill. It is said that the jumpers were trained on the Weyhill gallops, and Kimpton Down was used as a trial ground for the flat horses.

The first major winner was LLANGWYN in 1908. He won the Victoria Cup off 7st 2lb and then ran 3rd in the Derby. That was followed by 2 wins at Royal Ascot. In all he won 7 races running after the Derby defeat, including the Champion Stakes and the important Prince Edward Handicap at Manchester. An odd season for a classic 3 year old, but the major handicaps then held more significance for the breed than they do nowadays. As the next really good one, Lord Rosebery’s WRACK, proved.

He raced for 5 seasons between 1911 to 1915. In the end he won 10 flat races, 6 over hurdles and was also 2nd a total of 11 times. One of the best flat handicappers, he won 2 Newbury Spring Cups plus the Gloucester Hurdle. Indeed, he was only beaten once over hurdles and was the best hurdler of the day. Sold to the Hancocks at Claiborne in Kentucky, he became an important stallion getting several horses actually better than himself.

In 1915 VAUCLUSE won the 1000 Guineas, but was unplaced when hot favourite for the Oaks. In 1919 ROSEWAY also won the 1000 Guineas, and like Vaucluse failed to add the Oaks at odds on, but was 2nd. SILVERN was 2nd in the 1920 St Leger having won the Greenham and been 2nd in the Eclipse, at 4 he won the Coronation Cup. Two years later CRAIGANGOWER was 3rd in the 1922 Derby.

The yard then tended more towards National Hunt. In 1930 SHAUN GOILIN won the Grand National and was 3rd two years later. However in 1935, MESA, having been trained in France to win the 1000 Guineas, was sent to Weyhill to be trained for the Oaks. She should have won, but her jockey got her boxed in and she was only 3rd to Quashed at Epsom.

It was said of Hartigan that “His runners, when trained to the minute, still looked bright and bonny in a well-covered way.” Not a bad epitaph for a trainer.

Toby Balding’s father Gerald then moved from Bishop’s Canning on Frank Hartigan’s death. He died seven years later and Toby Balding inherited the licence in 1959, aged 20.

Soon after taking over from his father in 1957, Toby moved to Fyfield (next to Kimpton).

His best horses were jumpers. HIGHLAND WEDDING (1969) and LITTLE POLVEIR (1989) won the Grand National. BEECH ROAD (1989) and MORLEY SREET (1991) won the Champion Hurdle. His other top class jumpers included the enigmatic KILDIMO, DECENT FELLOW, and ACCIPITER. COOL GROUND won the 1992 Gold Cup during Toby's brief stint at Whitcombe in Dorset.

On the flat, NEW WORLD won the 1959 Portland Handicap. GREEN RUBY won both the Stewards Cup and Ayr Gold Cup in 1986. PALACE STREET won the 1990 John Of Gaunt Stakes and 1991 Cammidge Trophy, and BOMB ALASKA won the 1999 Ben Marshall Stakes. TURBO was the first winner trained from Kimpton Down Stables, winning the 2003 November Handicap. Toby retired in 2004 having trained 2000 winners on the flat and National Hunt.

The yard at Kimpton had been built and finished in late 2003. And Jonathan Geake took over from his father-in-law a year later. The best flat horse Jonathan trained was RIPPLES MAID the Listed winner. Ralph Beckett purchased Kimpton Down in late 2010.