Gary Moore has pledged to continue to support Huntingdon by sending runners there in the future after ending the 2020/21 season as leading trainer at the track.
The Lower Beeding handler topped the standings at the Cambridgeshire course after ending the campaign, which ran from September until May, with six winners to his name.
Entering the final meeting on Bank Holiday Monday (May 31st) tied on five winners with Jonjo O’Neill and Paul Nicholls, the Grade One-winning trainer secured top spot after Robin’s Dream gained a career first success in the Huntingdon Annual Badge Holders Maiden Hurdle.
As a result of topping the table Moore received five sets of Fairfax Saddles training system, which comprises a saddle, pad, girth and bridle, and is worth a combined total of £5,000.
Jonjo O’Neill picked up three saddle sets for taking the runners-up spot, while Paul Nicholls received one for finishing third.
Moore said: “I think it has been a great initiative and it has been fantastic how Fairfax have supported them at all of the meetings they had last season. To have winners there and then come home with this amazing stuff I just think is very generous and good of them.
“It wasn’t until Jack Pryor (clerk of the course) told me I was in the running for it that I realised how close I was, but I had always planned on running Robin’s Dream there. I will always run my horses at Huntingdon when I can as I have a little bit of luck there and it is a track that suits a lot of my horses.
“This is a massive prize for a smaller track to give away and fair play to them. I will support them as much as I can.”
Reflecting on the victories that helped him clinch the local title Moore picked out the back-to-back wins secured by Kloud Gate, who only returned to action last November after spending 678 days off the track, were his most satisfying.
He said: “Kloud Gate has had his problems along the way and it was only the other year he was sent off favourite for the Lanzarote at Kempton.
“He was put up 7lbs for his first win at Huntingdon but he shrugged that off the other day. It seems to be a track he likes and he would be the most fitting of my winners.”
Robbie Dunne secured the honour of being crowned leading rider at the track in another contest that went down to the wire.
One of four jockeys entering the final meeting with five winners to his name, Dunne ended up finishing at the top of the standings after the Tom Gretton-trained Bagan prevailed by half a length in division one of the Tickets Available For Boxing Day Handicap Hurdle.
Dunne, along with runner-up Nico de Boinville, and third placed Sean Bowen, each received £1,000 worth of Fairfax saddle equipment.
James Wilcox, Huntingdon Racecourse’s General Manager, said: “A huge thanks to Fairfax Saddles who have been a loyal supporter of Huntingdon Racecourse over the last couple of seasons. It is fantastic to grow our partnership this year and provide an excellent prize for those racing at Huntingdon.
“Fairfax have been involved throughout the season, not only sponsoring the prize for the leading trainer and jockey of the season but also awarding a Fairfax Bridle to every winning horse throughout the season.”
