Charlie Pike, a 24-year-old from Ludgershall, has officially begun his career as a fully licensed racehorse trainer after becoming the UK’s youngest to hold the position.
His appointment comes as micro-share syndicate Racing Club relocates its horses to the historic Danebury Racing Stables in Hampshire, where Pike is now based full time.
Charlie was granted his training licence by the British Horseracing Authority in December 2025 and currently has just under 50 horses in his care at Danebury, a yard situated beneath Danebury Hill near Stockbridge and widely regarded as one of the most significant training centres in British racing.
Danebury Racing Stables, together with the adjoining Stockbridge Racecourse, is one of the most historic and picturesque racing yards in England. It was once regarded as one of the great headquarters of British racing, rivalled only by Newmarket. In the 19th century, the area drew the elite of the turf and high society alike, becoming synonymous with sporting excellence and prestige. Nestled in the heart of the Hampshire countryside near the market town of Stockbridge, the historic Danebury yard sits beneath the ancient Danebury Hill, a site rich in both prehistoric and equestrian heritage.
Speaking during a visit to the stables earlier this month, Charlie told us of his excitment, saying “We’re at the beautiful Danbury Racing Stables, this is an exciting time here at this historic location. I’m a racehorse trainer and we’ve got just under 50 horses here under my care.”
The move to Danebury follows changes in training arrangements for Racing Club, which confirmed Charlie’s appointment alongside the relocation of its horses from Newlands Stables in Lambourn. All horses have now settled into their new surroundings.
Despite his age, Charlie acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. “It’s pretty daunting, but I think age is just a number,” he said. “I’ve been around horses for a long time and you never stop learning. I suppose with my age I’m probably a little bit more ambitious than others, and I’m really looking forward to getting going.”
Charlie prepared for the role during his time as assistant trainer to Paul Attwater, following Attwater’s retirement from Newlands Stables. Under Attwater, the yard built a strong reputation for professionalism, producing winners including Blackwaterfoot at Ffos Las Racecourse and Brosay, an Ascot Racecourse winner and Racing Club VIP Syndicate representative. Newlands Stables has since been taken over by Ed Walker.
Reflecting on how his passion for racing began, Charlie said: “I was probably around 10 years old when I first started, just on ponies locally. I very quickly got bored of that and decided to look down a racing path.”
He added: “I started at Jimmy Fox’s when I was 12 and spent probably the best part of four years there. That’s where I really got the bug. I learned so much working very closely with him.”
After a short spell riding as a jockey, Charlie decided training was the right route for him. “I took my licence out as a jockey and rode for a couple of years, but I’m quite tall and I quite like food, so that didn’t last too long,” he joked. “The next thing was to go down the training route.”
Charlie has since built up experience across both Flat and National Hunt racing, working with established trainers including Richard Hannon, Jamie Snowden and Barry Brennan.
Describing his day-to-day responsibilities at Danebury, he said: “Day-to-day work is really just making sure the horses are happy and healthy, organising the exercise routine and organising the team. We’ve got a small team at the minute, but a good small team, and it’s about making sure everyone is happy and doing the most they can to look after the horses in the best possible way.”
Looking ahead, Charlie is focused on getting runners on the track and establishing his name. “For 2026, I’m just looking forward to getting horses out and running,” he said. “Hopefully we can bang in a few winners early doors and start to get my name out there.”
He also highlighted several horses to watch, adding: “Gary’s got two smarter horses we’ll probably be looking at some of the big festivals with. We’ve also got proven animals like Brosay and Muddy Moonee. Brosay is an Ascot winner, and Muddy Moonee was placed at Royal Ascot and then picked up black type in France, so she’s really exciting.”
Charlie has already sent out his first runner since taking out his licence, marking an important early milestone in his training career. His debut runner came on 6 January at Wolverhampton Racecourse, where Lightningboltzoom contested a Class 6 handicap over one mile and half a furlong. The horse finished fifth of nine, beaten just over ten lengths, under jockey Harry Davies, and returned at odds of 18/1.
While the result did not yield an immediate winner, the run represented a significant first step for the 24-year-old trainer, providing valuable experience as he begins his career at Danebury Racing Stables.
Racing Club said Charlie’s appointment represents a commitment to long-term development and stability at Danebury. The syndicate has also added a new colt, From Me to You, to its roster for the forthcoming season. The colt will be trained by Richard Hannon and is described as an exciting prospect.
As Racing Club continues to grow, it says the expansion reflects increasing interest in shared racehorse ownership. Its 25/26 syndicate offers members the chance to own a share in a racehorse, including regular updates, a share of prize money, race-day badges, hospitality at courses such as Newbury Racecourse, and stable visits.
The syndicate adds that all shares are managed with a strong emphasis on horse welfare, transparency and ethical standards, as Charlie Pike begins his training career at one of Britain’s most historic racing yards.