David Chapman: became best known for his handling of sprinters
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Former trainer David Chapman dies aged 77
FORMER trainer David Chapman has died at the age of 77 after collapsing during evening stables and never regaining consciousness after suffering a blackout.
Chapman's granddaughter Ruth Carr, who took over the licence at his Stillington yard, near Easingwold, North Yorkshire in 2008 upon Chapman's retirement in 2008 said on Tuesday morning: "David had been out doing the evening feed and had some sort of blackout and never really regained consciousness.
"He was taken to York District Hospital where he died between 10pm and 10.30pm last night."
Chapman started out training jumpers but became best known for his handling of sprinters, most notably Soba, Chaplins Club, Glencroft and Quito.
Soba started out a plater and went on to win 13 races including the 1982 Stewards' Cup. Chapman trained Chaplins Club to win nine handicaps in a season twice, a feat he also achieved with Glencroft in 1988, while Quito won over £450,000 in prize-money after being purchased as a Godolphin reject by Chapman for only 3,500gns.
A minute's silence was observed before the first race at Newcastle
PICTURE: John GrossickCarr has since continued the family tradition, winning with each of her last three runners. Referring to the stable's recent good form, she added: "He has been my assistant trainer, very much so, and at least he has gone out on a high."
Former steward Michael Hill, who owned Quito in partnership with Chapman, said: "David was a lovely man, very modest and really kind, and his death is a terrible loss.
"I had horses with him for around 35 and we had a great deal of fun. He was a master of the business of getting horses that perhaps hadn't shown as much promise as other trainers had expected, and turning them into frequent winners.
"I remember when Quito won the Ayr Gold Cup, a reporter asked David how he would be celebrating to which he replied: 'I'll be driving the horsebox home.'"
Kevin Darley, Chaplins Club's regular rider said: "David was great trainer, a real gentleman and he is going to be missed by a lot of people.
" I think it is fair to say David was an unconventional trainer, he did things with horses a lot oftrainers wouldn't think of doing, they didn't have a routine, he just worked them or did whatever when he thought they needed it, and with horses like Chaplins Club and Glencroft he trained their brains more than anything else."
Comments