Mark Brisbourne
William Mark Brisbourne, invariably known, at least in racing circles, by his middle name, was a successful National Hunt jockey, with over 50 winners to his name, before turning his hand to training in 1991. However, in May 2019, Brisbourne announced that we was being forced to retire from the training ranks, against his wishes, after Ness Strange Stables in Great Ness, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire – where he had been based for the whole of his career – was put up for sale.
Brisbourne saddled his first winner, Green’s Cassatt, in a lowly Class E handicap at Thirsk on August 1, 1992 and, over the next three decades, went on to saddle another 533 on the Flat and a further 26 under National Hunt Rules, for a career total of 560 winners. He enjoyed the most successful season of his career in 2004, when he saddled 56 winners from 648 runners, albeit at a fairly modest strike rate of 9%.
It would be fair to say that big race wins were few and far between, but Brisbourne did collect the £50,400 first prize for the £100,000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes at Newmarket in October 2003. Brisbourne also did well with several ‘budget’ purchases, notably Adobe, who cost £1,800, and Belle Royale, who cost £800, but was sold for a ‘six-figure sum’ before winning the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park in May 2012.
Social: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mark-Brisbourne-Racing-100051124376863/