In a matter of years James has quickly established himself in the world of training and has saddled almost 500 horses from his picturesque Jamesfield Place Stables.
Racing Family
James could not be better qualified for the job as he comes from a family steeped in horse racing. His uncle, Michael Dickinson, was a successful professional jockey before becoming Champion National Hunt trainer three years in a row prior to moving to the USA where he trained multiple Grade One winners including dual Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Da Hoss.
James’s father Tom was also a successful jockey before taking out a trainer’s licence to guide the likes of Ask Tom to Grade One success over obstacles and Welsh Emperor to Group Two success on the flat.
In 2004, James married Lucinda, daughter of retired trainer Len Lungo, who was also a successful professional jockey before sending out nearly 650 winners from his Scottish base near Dumfries including Cheltenham Festival winners Celtic Giant and Freetown, Northumberland Plate winner Mirjan and Ayr Silver Cup winner Against The Grain.
James immersed himself in horseracing from the earliest possible age. He rode his first point-to-point winner at the minimum age of sixteen and followed this with several more winners in point-to-points and under National Hunt rules as an amateur jockey. He also trained numerous point-to-point winners whilst studying for his veterinary degree.
Qualified Veterinarian
James is a fully qualified veterinary surgeon which certainly helps with training racehorses! He spent 6 years assisting Mark Johnston as a senior veterinary surgeon and with his invaluable experience, knowledge and expertise, James couldn’t be better qualified for training. Whilst being a vet is not an essential requirement for becoming a successful racehorse trainer, it is a significant advantage. To be able to understand the anatomy and physiology of the horse and to diagnose injuries quickly and accurately enables me to treat them safely and effectively, thereby ensuring a full but rapid return to the racecourse.
Jamesfield Place
The yard was built in 1988 before James arrived in 2011 and it is a beautiful establishment on the quiet Hamilton Road.
There are beautiful red brick-built boxes with excellent ventilation and fully rubbered walls to prevent injury, a tapeta indoor school for warm ups, an indoor lunge ring, veterinary facility, equine swimming pool with tide machine, and turn out paddocks for horses which was a big plus for us moving King Of Ithaca here.
For more information on James Tate please see his website.