'I was caught by the dream – and it's gone on to become a compulsion'

It all started in 1984 when I was working in the property business and was persuaded to join my first syndicate – 12 of us in a two-year-old filly called Meteor Miss, trained by Peter Cundell, who came second on her debut at Kempton and then won at Warwick.

It was a fantastic feeling but I had three young children so I came out of racing and didn't come back in again until my late 40s – I'm 65 this year – with Peter Harris, who was the closest trainer to my home in West Hampstead.

It was post-children and I'd made a bit of money, so gradually I became a quarter-owner, then a partner, and then I thought I'd rather have my own colours and name my own horses. I was caught by the dream and it's gone on to become a compulsion. I don't do cars or boats, but I love racing and West Ham United.