THE future of a Cheshire racehorse training centre is now stable after securing a £75k funding package to protect jobs.
Malpas-based Oliver Greenall Racing secured the £75,000 funding package from NatWest to safeguard its future after racing was put on hold due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
The centre, which is currently training 40 horses for both flat and national hunt racing, recorded 20 winners in the 2018-2019 season and was on track to improve on this before the 2019-2020 season was cut short due to coronavirus.
Oliver Greenall, of Oliver Greenall Racing.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) funding from NatWest has enabled the centre to continue caring for the horses in its stables at Stockton Hall Farm and maintain training schedules.
Horseracing was one of the first sports to resume behind closed doors in June, and the horses are now being prepared for the upcoming season.
Previously a jockey for 10 years, Oliver Greenall launched the business in 2015, utilising his many years of experience training horses at Mick Easterby’s yard and working with Sir Mark Prescott.
The farm, which has been used to train racehorses for 10 years, has a range of facilities to support the wellbeing and training of its horses, including a one-mile gallop track suitable for all weathers and schooling grounds on site.
The horses are trained and cared for by a team of 12 employees, whose jobs have been saved by the CBILS.
Oliver Greenall said: “We have built a strong reputation for training horses to successfully compete in major races across the UK.
"Before the coronavirus pandemic, we were on track for our best season yet with a number of wins already under our belt.
“The support from NatWest has enabled us to continue training the racehorses in our care and future-proof the business while horse racing was paused.
"We are now looking forward to our next season with a team of much stronger horses and hope to achieve our most successful results to date.”
Phillip Mills, relationship director at NatWest, said: “Oliver and the team are committed to delivering the best possible care for the horses entrusted to them and they have maintained a great performance track record.
"We were pleased to support the business with a CBILS funding package and we will continue to work with Oliver in the future as the business expands.”
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