It’s a privilege with huge responsibility to be in charge of a top-class horse. Kate Johnson finds out what it’s like tending to a superstar
Bob Grace, groom to champion sprinter Battaash, for Charlie Hills
“I hate it! Until it’s over, I really hate it!” says Bob Grace, when asked if he enjoys watching Battaash race. At least it’s quick; Battaash has been rated as the fastest horse in the world (he’s clocked 48.63mph).
The pressure is intense. So Bob is happy(ish) when he’s “reached the end of the walkway and the jockey’s gone to the start” and he’s much happier when Battaash is safely back and has hopefully won. But he’s happiest of all returning home and having a beer in the bath.
Bob doesn’t ride and has worked for Charlie Hills, and his father before that, for more than 30 years, and has looked after Battaash since he arrived as a headstrong two-year-old.
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"}
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Freelance journalist
Born in Australia and bought up in the Midlands, Kate has ridden since childhood. After completing her degree and living abroad for several years, she became an award-winning BBC radio producer and Channel 4 documentary producer after which she became a freelance journalist, contributing to the Daily Mail, The Times, The Telegraph and others. She also collaborated with top jumps trainer Nicky Henderson OBE, to write his best-selling memoir, Nicky Henderson: My Life in 12 Horses. She owns currently cares for retrained National Hunt racehorse, Stop the Show.
