Wesley Ward: 'When I first came to Royal Ascot I realised I was at the deep end'
Jonathan Harding speaks to the US trainer about his favourite meeting
Royal Ascot is going to be very different this year. There will be no racegoers dressed up to the nines in top hats and tails, no royal procession and, for the first time in 11 years, no Wesley Ward.
This is a devastating blow for the US trainer, who has recorded ten winners since his love affair with the meeting began in 2009, when Strike The Tiger caused a 33-1 upset in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Ward has come to terms with the fact he will not be able to travel due to the 14-day quarantine period for people entering the UK, but he has sent seven equine representatives to fly the flag.
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- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard