HEROS Patrons

HEROS could not continue its valuable work without the support of its patrons.

Marcus Armytage

Lorna Bradburne
Lorna rode for eight years as an amateur before turning her attentions to the media side of racing. She now works for Racing UK, is the voice of Newmarket Racecourses and is also Editor of the Thoroughbred Business Guide. She grew up with a racing background, her mother is a trainer, her father a former successful amateur jockey and her brother Mark is currently a successful National Hunt jockey.

Sarah Clifford (of Bathwick Tyres)

Wayne Clifford (of Bathwick Tyres)

Malcolm Denmark
One of the UK's leading N/H racehorse owners.

Mick Fitzerald
One of the most successful National Hunt jockeys of our generation, he won the Grand National on Rough Quest in 1996 and held the title for leading jockey at the Cheltenham festival for two years running 1999/2000.

John Francome
Former National Hunt jockey and now racing journalist, as well as a television presenter on Channel 4.

Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson is at the forefront of National Hunt racing. He was assistant to the legendary Fred Winter from 1974 to 1978. In 1978 he first took out his own training licence and trained from Windsor House in Lambourn. He moved from there in 1990 to the famous Seven Barrows, where he still trains today. Nicky has the honour of training for HM Queen Elizabeth II

He has trained over 1000 winners and has had many excellent horses through his hands including past stars such as See You Then, The Tsarevich and Remittance Man, and more recent stars such as Marlborough, the late Bacchanal, Isio, Landing Light, Geos and Fondmort to name but a few.

The Lady Eliza Mays-Smith
Racehorse owner and local land owner.

Lady Martin

Sir George Martin
Sir George is a British record producer, arranger and composer and is considered as one of the greatest record producer of all times. He is also referred to as “the fifth Beatle” due to producing all but one of The  Beatles original records as well as playing the piano on some of their best known tracks.

Stuart and Liz Pearce
Racehorse owners and breeders.Sturat is manager of the England under 21 football team.

Captain Mark Phillips
Captain Mark Phillips began his successful equestrian career when he rode for The Beaufort Hunt Pony Club Team for five successive years, reaching the final on three occasions. He went on to win Team Gold Medals at the Olympics, World and European Championships, as well as winning Badminton four times and Burghley once. In addition to being one for the world's leading three day event riders, Captain Phillips has also represented GB in the showjumping arena in two winning Nation's Cup Teams.

In 1989 he designed a highly successful course for the European Championships at Burghley, where he remained the course designer until 2000 and was re-appointed for 2005-2007. He is designing numerous courses in GB and the USA as well as Germany, France and New Zealand.

Richard Phillips

Jenny Pitman
Jenny Pitman's love for horses has dominated her life, at the age of fifteen Jenny started work at a racing yard, and in 1975 was one of the first women to be granted a professional licence to train racehorses.

Since then, Jenny has trained 2 Grand National winners at Aintree, 3 Welsh National winners, the Scottish National, the Irish National, 2 Midlands National Winners. She also trained two Cheltenham Gold Cups (one with her son Mark riding), the winners of the King George VI Gold Cup, the Charlie Hall Memorial, the Mildmay/Cazlet Memorial Trophy 3 times, The Welsh Champion hurdle twice, The Massey Ferguson Gold Cup, The Hennessey Gold Cup, The SunAlliance Chase, The Supreme novice hurdle, the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown, the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. Plus other major races.

Over the years Jenny has received numerous awards including:

  • BBC Television Helen Rollason award
  • People of the Year 40th Anniversary award
  • Pacemaker Award for Trainer of the National Hunt Season 1983/84
  • Piper Heidsieck – Elected Trainer of the Year 1983/84
  • Piper Champagne National Hunt Award
  • The Murphys Lifetime Achievement Award 1998/1999 Season
  • Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Inspiration Award 1999
  • National Training Award 2000 Lifetime Achievement
  • BBC East Midlands Lifetime Achievement Award 2005
  • 1998 – Jenny was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to horseracing.

Jenny retired from training racehorses in 1999 and started her second career, where she already had 2 autobiographies published- Glorious Uncertainty, and Jenny Pitman the Autobiography. Her first novel On The Edge was published in March 2002 quickly followed with Double Deal in November 2002, The Dilemma in November 2003, The Vendetta in November 2004, The Inheritance in November 2005.

Richard Pitman
Former National Hunt jockey and now racing journalist, as well as a presenter on BBC 1.

John Reid
Retired from racing in September 2001, John was a very triumphant flat jockey. His first classic victory came in 1982 in 1,000 Guineas aboard On the House. He followed with wins in the King George and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes twice to name a few. His biggest win came on Dr Devious in the 1992 Epsom Derby.  In Total John rode 1,937 winners and 48 international Group 1.

In 1997 John was made MBE for his services to horse racing – which he continues to date supporting HEROS and riding in charity races. (see HEROS gallery for pictures)

Paul Roy
Paul Roy has over 30 years' experience in the banking and securities industry and is also Chairman of the BHA.

Chris Wright
Racehorse owner and music business executive of Chrysalis records.