A HORSE trainer has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award for the work he has done in helping to turn around the lives of two young men.
Peter Winks is the owner of Homefield Racing Stables, on Rotherham Road, Middlecliffe.
His stables has been setting the world of jump racing alight, with his team dubbed ‘The Barnsley Burglars.’
But Peter has helped two men from the village go on to have careers in horse riding - one is now based in Newmarket and the other in Malton.
Peter, 61, said: “I got the two lads involved with horses and got one coming down and riding. Nobody would insure me for him,
“I did it all off my own back. I got him going and got him a job in Newmarket, where he still is, looking after and riding race horses, earning about four or five hundred pounds per week.
“There was another lad, a year last Christmas he hadn’t touched a horse and now he’s leading horses around parade rings all around the country.
“He’s a grand young lad, he’s only 17.
“I put them forward to a racing school in Doncaster, they got qualified and sent to a yard, but then it was up to them.
“They both ride, and are both doing well.”
Peter said two girls were wanting to start riding with him, but the insurance was expensive.
He said: “I want to try and help some more people, but it is difficult. It would be nice to have some funding.”
One of Peter’s horses also attended the funeral of Craig Pyne, from Middlecliffe, who was a big supporter of the stables. Bay gelding New Kid in Town led the hearse through the grounds of Ardsley Crematorium earlier this year.
Peter said the stables was opened about 25 years ago, but had only been racing professionally for the last six or seven years. He became interested in horses through his father and would go racing with him.
Eventually, he bought his own horses and though he received little help, the stables is now thriving.
He has had quite a few winners over the years, the biggest being Peter’s son Ryan riding to victory on Chestnut Ben in the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh.
“I think we had about 12 winners last year, and six this year which is not bad for a little yard.
“It’s fantastic to be nominated, it’s nice that all the hard work seems appreciated.”
