This is the section that tells you all about the guys and girls who work to make Robin Dickin Racing the success it is.

Robin started his career in racing immediately upon leaving school at the tender age of 14! He joined firstly Frenchie & then David Nicholson, spending eleven years with the latter whilst riding on the flat and then over jumps, riding a total of 115 winners.

As well as riding Robin also ran a livery yard breaking and preparing horses for trainers such as Mercy Rimmel, Capt. Tim Forster, & Gavin Pritchard- Gordon to name but a few!

A fall at Towcester in 1986 left Robin with a double skull fracture, and put paid to his career in the saddle. However plans were well under way to start a training career by this time and Robin was granted a license in the spring of that year. Based at Newent in Gloucestershire in partnership with Derek & Cheryl Holder, the winners soon began to flow, with Mountain Man owned by Yvonne & Roger Allsop starting the ball rolling at Newton Abbott later that summer.

After seven happy years (and over 100 winners) in Newent, Robin, Claire & the team moved to their current yard in the grounds of Alscot Park, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, and have sent out 210 winners under both codes.

A truly versatile trainer Robin is just as happy with sprinters such as the prolific Ballasecret, dual purpose horses such as the talented Kadastrof and just about anything in between!

Robin’s philosophy on training is that happy horses win races! With a strong team behind him, and a happy atmosphere in the yard, the horses are all turned out everyday, which keeps them mentally relaxed and helps with their physical well being.

Robin & Claire married in 1986, the same year that Claire qualified as a McTimoney therapist enabling her to be on hand to treat any back problems that arise in the yard, both equine & human! Prior to that she had taken a degree in biological sciences and ran a veterinary pathology lab for several years, which enables her to have a professional insight into taking and interpreting blood tests.

As well as looking after the horse’s backs, and running her own business treating both people in the clinic at Alscot, and clocking up the miles treating horses away from the yard, Claire assists in the day to day running of the yard & office. Currently grounded from riding out after a knee injury, Claire oversees any veterinary problems that arise and deals with all the other day to day goings on in a busy yard.

Also factored into the equation is daughter Harriet who at 14 is at school in Warwick. Harriet has two ponies that she events which involves a taxi service from Mum all around the country!

Darren came to work for the Dickins after leaving school, and stayed for ten years being promoted to head lad for the last three seasons. He then went to work for Robert Waley-Cohen, and then Kim Bailey before trying his hand at selling shoes and then pet insurance! However the racing bug was never far away, and having kept in touch with Robin & Claire all through his absence decided to come ‘home’ last August.

Darren is in charge of the day to day running of the yard, feeding and keeping the rest of the team in line! He is a talented and natural horseman and frequently is responsible for sorting out problem horses. A key member of ‘Team Dickin’.

This is Badger’s fifth season at Alscot. She also came to us from school, and has established herself as an accomplished member of the team. Never one to creep around the yard quietly, she turns her horses out to a high standard, and looks after all the racing tack as well as doing her four.

Chris is the yard’s conditional jockey. He joined the yard last summer, and has quickly established himself as valued member of the team. He had his first ride earlier in the season on Rothres at Ludlow, and so nearly had the perfect start, finished a very close second and another second followed.

His first ride as a conditional was a winner at Aintree on Entertain Me.

Rachel has worked for us part time for four years. She is here every morning and as well as doing all the usual stuff in the yard plays a key part in ‘rehabilitating injured horses.

She walks hundreds of miles with horses that are starting back after tendon or other injuries, helping us to get great results with horses that have had enforced lay-offs.

(otherwise known as ‘Hangover Hol’!)

Another work experience candidate who stayed! Holly is off to the racing school this summer and we wish them luck! Always a happy smiley character she rides really well and is hoping to have a career in racing!

Lou was travelling head girl here for several years, and has recently returned as a work rider. We are very pleased to have her back as an important part of the team.

Susan has been our book keeper for nearly thirteen years! As well as the books she helps out with all aspects of office work, including keeping Robin in line! She has been persuaded to ride out on a couple of occasions, but prefers to have her feet firmly under her desk these days!

As well owning a couple of shares in horses here, Anna helps to run several partnership horses from the yard. She comes in twice a week and is always enthusiastic and cheerful.

Graham has been our vet since Peter Thorne retired several years ago. He is a partner with the Three Counties Veterinary Hospital, as well as being vet to the Australian team.

A vital part of the team, he visits routinely once a week, and we hope not to see much of him in between! The practise provides a superb facility with state of the art equipment for investigation and surgery when required.

Cliff has been yard man here for nearly ten years, he does all the jobs that no one else wants to do or has not got time for! He looks after the gallops and all the ground work, as well as emptying the muck trailer, mending fences and feeding the field horses in the winter. Life would be a lot harder without Cliff on board!

Arlo has been back shoeing our horses this season after having a break due to ill health. It is great to have him back and he does a great job looking after the feet.

Alan has been doing a superb job sorting out problem feet for us for several years now. He first came to do Shampooed who possibly had the worst feet in the world, and managed to keep her sound enough to win eleven races for us! Another vital cog in the wheel he works closely with Graham & Arlo to sort out any major problems.