Jeremy Clarkson has announced he will be celebrating with a well-deserved beer after his racehorse, The Hawkstonian, secured its first competitive victory at Ffos Las racecourse in west Wales. The syndicate-owned grey gelding, named after Clarkson's own Hawkstone Brewery, triumphed in a closely-fought novice hurdle race on Friday afternoon.
From Farm to Racecourse: The Hawkstonian's Journey
The Hawkstonian represents a unique connection between Clarkson's agricultural and entertainment ventures. The horse is named specifically after the Hawkstone Brewery, which produces beer using ingredients sourced directly from Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire. This creates a full-circle narrative connecting the television personality's farming enterprise with his foray into horse racing ownership.
Syndicate Success Story
The racehorse is owned by a syndicate fronted by the former Top Gear and current Clarkson's Farm presenter, with management handled by Old Gold Racing. Remarkably, shares in the horse were originally available for just £60 each, with 3,250 shares offered to the public. A substantial group of these syndicate members traveled to the west Wales track to witness their horse's breakthrough victory in person.
Training duties fall to Ben Pauling, whose family connection to Clarkson's agricultural operations adds another layer to this story. Pauling's relatives originally worked the land that now comprises Diddly Squat Farm and were instrumental in teaching Kaleb Cooper - the farm manager featured prominently in Clarkson's Farm - essential agricultural skills.
Racing Performance and Victory Details
The Hawkstonian's racing career began in November 2024 with a sixth-place finish in a National Hunt Flat Race at Uttoxeter. After two additional bumper runs, the horse showed promising form by finishing in the frame for the first time during its third start at Ffos Las in February last year.
This season marked the gelding's transition to hurdling, with previous performances including a third-place finish at Sedgefield in November and a fifth-place result at Huntingdon in December. Returning to Ffos Las as a 15-2 chance for Friday's 2-mile novice hurdle, The Hawkstonian delivered its breakthrough performance under jockey Ben Jones.
Race Analysis
Ridden strategically by Jones, The Hawkstonian raced prominently among the leaders before taking command three hurdles from the finish. The horse demonstrated impressive resilience by maintaining its advantage against a strong late challenge from Emerald Breeze, ultimately securing victory by three-quarters of a length in a determined display of staying power.
Celebrations and Reactions
Although absent from the racecourse due to other commitments, Clarkson enthusiastically acknowledged the achievement through his social media channels. The presenter shared footage of the race on his X account alongside a celebratory message that referenced both the victory and his brewing enterprise.
"Hawkstonians. I'm receiving word that our horse triumphed today at the Blue Ditch course in Wales. I'm going to celebrate with a beer," Clarkson posted, directly connecting the horse's name with his brewery's products.
Ed Seyfried, Chief Executive Officer of Old Gold Racing, expressed equal delight at the outcome. "Standing in the wet and the mud at Ffos Las was all worth it in the end!" Seyfried commented. "Seeing The Hawkstonian get his first win is great for Jeremy and the shareholders and we look forward to more fun days ahead. I'm sure Jeremy will be watching the replay back with a pint or two of Hawkstone tonight."
The victory represents a significant milestone for both Clarkson's racing syndicate and the broader narrative connecting his television career, farming operations, and brewing enterprise through the medium of horse racing. With this maiden success secured, attention now turns to The Hawkstonian's future racing prospects and whether further victories might follow for Clarkson's distinctive racing venture.
