A PIONEER OF PROFESSIONAL RACEHORSE SYNDICATATION IN THE UK
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All horses trained by leading UK trainers
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Frequent opportunities to visit your horse, often including breakfast, lunch, or champagne receptions
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Over 35 years of winners, including several Group level successes, and more than £5 million in prize money
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Smart buying strategy using refined criteria to select horses with value and potential
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Supportive syndicate community, creating a welcoming and enjoyable ownership experience
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Race-day hospitality with owners’ badges and champagne, win or lose
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Access to exclusive private members club style social events including stud tours, picnics at Royal Ascot, drinks parties at Glorious Goodwood, exclusive dinners in The Jockey Club rooms and our prestigious Yearling Parade at Loseley Park
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All single-horse, 16-share syndicates
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Each owner receives a pro-rata share of all prize money and any sales proceeds
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Professional management of all horses and syndicates, including administration, regular video updates, and extensive communication
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Transparent accounts with all costs budgeted, unspent funds returned, and audited statements provided
FOUNDED IN 1988
the thrill of ownership, success on the track and the opportunity to socialise…
Founded in 1988, Kennet Valley Syndicates are one of the founders of shared racehorse ownership in the UK, with a rich heritage spanning over 3 decades.
Our enduring success is a testament not only to our expertise in selecting quality yearlings at an affordable level, but also to the fun and welcoming community enjoyed by our members.
Owning a racehorse with Kennet Valley is an exhilarating and deeply rewarding experience. We take pride in offering a truly personalised, high-end service that caters to the unique needs of each member. Over the years, our syndicates have become a cherished space where both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike can forge lasting friendships, united by a shared passion for the sport.
MEET THE TEAM
SAM HOSKINS
RACING MANAGER
Sam co-manages the day-to-day operations of Kennet Valley, liaising with trainers and communicating with syndicate owners. He is also the co-founder (with Luke Lillingston) of Hot To Trot Racing and is a small breeder in his own right.
PIERS WINKWORTH
RACING MANAGER
Piers, son of former trainer and owner/breeder Peter, regularly hosts at the races and on trainer visits. Unfortunately he is also the one that sends you the bills! He lives in Surrey with wife Nina and two racing mad boys.
LUKE LILLINGSTON
BLOODSTOCK ADVISOR
Luke is a leading international bloodstock agent and responsible for our yearling purchases. He’s helped many clients achieve considerable success at the highest level around the world.
CLARE LAWES
RACING ASSISTANT
Clare is involved in the administrative side of Kennet Valley, along with organising our events programme and hosting at the races. She is a keen horsewoman and racing fan with lots of hands-on experience in the racing/bloodstock industry!
ALICE WHITTINGTON
ASSISTANT RACING & MARKETING MANAGER
Alice works alongside Sam and Clare in coordinating the day-to day operations, whilst also running all of the marketing for Kennet Valley. She has spent her entire life immersed in horses and racing, having grown up in Lambourn and is a keen amateur photographer. Alice was an integral part of her husband, Harry Whittington's successful National Hunt yard, where together they enjoyed success at the highest level.
OUR TRAINERS
ANDREW BALDING
KINGSCLERE, BERKSHIRE
Andrew Balding has been based at the historic Park House Stables in Kingsclere since taking over the licence from his father, Ian, in 2003. He made an immediate impact by training Oaks winner Casual Look in his very first season and has since established himself as one of the UK’s leading trainers. Renowned for his skill in getting the best from horses of all ages and types, Andrew’s yard has consistently earned over £4 million in prize money each season since 2021 - demonstrating the strength and depth of his operation. A master on racing’s biggest stages, Andrew has enjoyed Classic and Royal Ascot success with standout horses such as Alcohol Free, a four-time Group 1-winning filly, Kameko and Chaldean - both 2,000 Guineas winners. In 2024, Kalpana’s commanding victory in the Group 1 Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes capped another remarkable season. Kennet Valley has shared a long and successful partnership with the Balding family, highlighted by Group horses such as Charles the Great, Firebreak Flashcard, and Tullius. Andrew currently trains rising star Comic Hero, along with talented older horses Fantasy World and Fast Society for Kennet Valley. Andrew and his wife Anna Lisa are exceptional hosts, always making our owners feel welcome when visiting Park House - an idyllic setting nestled in the rolling Hampshire countryside, rich in racing heritage.
OWEN BURROWS
LAMBOURN, BERKSHIRE
Owen Burrows is a relatively new trainer within the Kennet Valley portfolio, but he has already enjoyed brilliant success in a short space of time with Fair Wind, who has won four races and earned just under £100,000 in prize money. Selected his first yearling for Kennet Valley last autumn, Owen has hit the ground running once again with Calendar Girl, who made an impressive winning debut at Newbury recently. We are excited about what lies ahead with this filly. Based at Farncombe Down Stables just outside Lambourn, Owen is nestled in the heart of the West Berkshire countryside, surrounded by miles of stunning gallops across a variety of terrain and surfaces. Supported by a highly dedicated and skilled team, this unique and peaceful setting provides the ideal environment for horses to develop to their full potential. A highly respected trainer, Owen honed his skills under the tutelage of David Nicholson and Sir Michael Stoute before taking out his own license in 2016 with the Shadwell operation. Since then, he has quickly established himself among the UK’s elite trainers, with high-calibre horses such as Hukum, Alflaila, Anmaat and Minzaal. In recent seasons, Owen has maintained an impressive strike rate of around 20%, reflecting the depth and quality of his stable. His growing reputation and steady record suggest a bright future ahead, and Kennet Valley is proud to support his exciting journey.
WILLIAM KNIGHT
NEWMARKET, SUFFOLK
William Knight has been one of Kennet Valley’s most successful trainers and an integral part of our team for many years. He is now based at the impressive Rathmoy Stables in Newmarket. Since relocating there in 2020, William has enjoyed some of his best seasons - highlighted by a 40-winner haul and over £740,000 in prize money in 2024, including international success in Dubai. He is best known to us as the trainer of our legendary flag bearer Sir Busker, the much-loved nine-year-old who has been a Group 2 winner, Group 1 performer, and continues to give us great days on the track. William also guided Dual Identity through a highly successful career, progressing from a rating of 70 to 100 and earning just under £150,000, with multiple wins and notable runs including a narrow defeat in the Cambridgeshire and chasing home Sir Busker into second place at York last summer in a memorable Kennet Valley 1-2. This season, Blue Train has rewarded patience with a recent win at Wolverhampton, while promising youngster Raise The Stakes is being prepared for his debut later this summer. William’s calm, professional approach and consistent results make him a hugely valuable part of the Kennet Valley portfolio, and we look forward to more success together in the seasons ahead.
CLIVE COX
LAMBOURN, BERKSHIRE
Clive Cox is a highly successful trainer, known for his ability to nurture top-class sprinters and milers. Clive began his training career in the late 1990s and quickly established himself as a leading figure in the sport. His training achievements include a string of Group 1 victories with standout horses such as Lethal Force, Harry Angel and Golden Horde. Clive consistently ranks among the UK’s top trainers.
ED WALKER
LAMBOURN, BERKSHIRE
Ed Walker is based at the beautiful Kingsdown Stables in Upper Lambourn and has become a highly respected figure within British racing. Over recent seasons, he has built a reputation as one of the most progressive and capable trainers in the country. So far in 2025, Ed and his team have enjoyed an exceptional run of form, including multiple Group-level successes and a scintillating Royal Ascot double. Ed currently trains our much-loved Mollie Foster, who provided her Kennet Valley owners with some unforgettable moments last season. Her year culminated in a superb performance at the Curragh, where she finished second in the €500,000 Goffs Sales Race, collecting just shy of €100,000 in prize money. True to her ‘pocket rocket’ nickname, she continues to run with great heart this season, and we remain confident that a return to the winner’s enclosure is close at hand. Ed also trains our exciting two-year-old Golden Brown, who has shown plenty of promise and run with great credit despite being narrowly denied a win. Recently gelded and still learning his trade, he has big targets ahead in valuable sales races later this season - and we are looking forward to seeing how he progresses in the coming months.
CHARLIE HILLS
LAMBOURN, BERKSHIRE
Charlie joined our roster in 2014 having taken over the license from legendary father Barry. Based at Faringdon Place Stables in Lambourn, Charlie comes from a distinguished racing family. Less than 2 years after taking the helm at Faringdon Place, Charlie trained his first classic winner when Just The Judge won the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She was swiftly followed by European Champion 2 year old filly and Breeders Cup winner Chriselliam. In recent years more top-class horses have emerged including 2 European Champion sprinters in the shape of Muhaarar and Battaash, plus Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain.
HARRY EUSTACE
NEWMARKET, SUFFOLK
Harry Eustace has lived and breathed horseracing from an early age. Growing up at Park Lodge Stables in Newmarket, where his father James Eustace trained for over 30 years, Harry was immersed in the sport long before he sat in a saddle. His passion for racing was clear from the start. While studying at Harrow and later at the University of Edinburgh, he gained valuable experience at Tattersalls Ltd and at the family yard during holidays. Keen to broaden his horizons, Harry worked with leading trainers around the world, including Lee Freedman and Peter Snowden in Australia, Christophe Clement in the United States, and closer to home with Chris Wall, Jeremy Noseda, and William Haggas. In 2011 he completed the prestigious Irish National Stud course, earning the internationally recognised Thoroughbred Breeding Certificate. His time abroad and in Newmarket gave him a wealth of experience across all aspects of the industry. In 2021 Harry took over the licence at Park Lodge Stables, continuing the family legacy with his own vision and expertise. Building on early success, in January 2024 he expanded into Highfield Stables on Newmarket’s prestigious Bury Road, where he looks forward to furthering his achievements.
EVE JOHNSON HOUGHTON
BLEWBURY, OXFORSDHIRE
Eve Johnson-Houghton has been training racehorses with great distinction on the Oxfordshire Downs above Blewbury since 2007. Racing is deeply rooted in the Johnson-Houghton family. Eve is the daughter of Fulke Johnson Houghton, who trained at Woodway for more than 40 years, following his mother Helen and grandfather Gordon. Continuing this proud family tradition, Eve has established herself as one of the leading trainers in the country. She has become a prominent force on the Flat in recent years, achieving notable victories at Royal Ascot with Accidental Agent and the talented two-year-old Chipotle. This year has already seen further success, highlighted by Zavateri’s Group 1 triumph at The Curragh in September, and she continues to build on an impressive record. Returning as a Kennet Valley trainer, Eve brings her wealth of experience and expertise back into the fold. With a proven record of producing top-class performers, Eve Johnson-Houghton continues to enhance Woodway’s long-standing reputation as one of the leading training establishments in British racing, and we are delighted to welcome her back this year.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KENNET VALLEY?
We would love to hear from you and tell you about our syndicates.
