'No light at the end of the tunnel' - finances force trainer Noel Wilson to quit

Having had a licence since 2000 and sent out just under 200 winners, he had his final runner when Longroom finished sixth at Wolverhampton on Saturday night.

Wilson, who won the 1993 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Ushers Island during a successful riding career, could now try his luck in the US after stressing that it is getting harder and harder for smaller yards to make ends meet in Britain.

In July, Classic-winning Newmarket trainer Mark Tompkins called time on his career after 40 years citing financial pressures.

"I've had a bit of a wake-up call and had the balls to get out before I'm pushed out, but I think there's an awful lot of people like me," Wilson said.

Noel Wilson had his first winner as a trainer with City Gent (ridden by Calvin McCormack) at Musselburgh in 2001Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I know a lot of my mates who are doing it are just on the edge – it's only a matter of who's going to fall off next really.

"Nowadays the numbers are getting bigger and everybody wants to go to the bigger yards. A few years ago I was in the middle tier, with winners at York and Chester and places like that. But the last five years have been very tough."

Wilson had 15 winners from his current County Durham base in 2017 and ten last year, but has won only one race this season.

"I just seem to have fallen out of fashion," he said. "We're finishing the season with eight horses and it's just not viable.

"You keep your head down and work away and think there might be something round the corner but you have to be realistic, I probably should have packed up a long time ago financially. It's killing me but I have to think what's best for the future."

Wilson, 52, won the Gosforth Park Cup and Scottish Sprint Cup with useful 5f handicapper Pavershooz in 2009.

Reflecting on life for a smaller trainer in 2019, he said: "I don't think people realise how hard it is. We work seven days a week, there's no respite. You're mucking out, riding out and driving the wagon. It's made me sit up and think how we don't have any quality of life, holidays or breaks.

"I worked all Saturday morning, drove the horsebox to Wolverhampton, led the horse up, drove home feeling a bit sorry for myself and got home at midnight. By the time I'd put the horse in and had a cup of tea, I was going to bed at 1.30am and up again at 6.30am as I had to be.

"Hard work doesn't do anybody any harm and that's never been an issue but at the moment there's no light at the end of the tunnel."

Wilson, who rode 24 winners under rules and over 80 in point-to-points, ran a livery yard before training and hopes to remain in racing.

"I'm open to offers, but my partner Alex and I are going to Florida next month to have a look out there and I wouldn't rule out training there," he said.

"The financial side of it is easier, you haven't got rent, rates and electric and water bills. All I have to do is get the horses, they give you the stalls free on the racecourse.

"I'd love to do that as I don't want to stop training and I'm sure if we had six or eight horses out there we could make it pay."

More to read:

Financial pressures force trainer Mark Tompkins to retire after 40 years

Financial pressure forces Grade 1 winner Nick Mitchell to quit training

Sandra Hughes stuns sport with news she is to quit training

Look back on a record-breaking year with the Racing Post Annual 2020, the perfect gift for every racing fan. Bigger and better and only £12.99, this year's 224-page book features all the best stories from a brilliant racing year. Order your copy here