64-year-old British trainer, William Haggas, has established himself as one of the most respected names in UK horse racing. Haggas is also well-known for being the son-in-law of the late horse racing great, Lester Piggott, who was champion jockey an eye-watering 11 times between 1960 and 1982.
Haggas established himself as one of the most meticulous trainers in the horse racing industry. That’s why he’s managed to develop thoroughbred racehorses capable of winning major races in the UK and abroad.
His stables at Somerville Lodge, located in the Suffolk town of Newmarket, are a haven for sporting enthusiasts. His yard has developed over 2,000 winners to date, with his most successful season to date coming in 2021. Haggas-trained horses regularly attract the attention of horse racing syndicates, which flock to acquire shares in thoroughbreds honed and readied at his Newmarket base.
Haggas’ Early Life
William Haggas earliest years were in Yorkshire. Despite initially forging a career in accountancy, his long-held passion for horse racing continued to come to the fore. It wasn’t long before he sought experience in the industry working as an able assistant to some of the leading trainers of the time. Haggas worked for John Winter and Sir Mark Prescott before starting on his own from the Somerville Lodge base where he’s operated since 1987.
It didn’t take long for him to train his first winner, with Tricky Note the inaugural Haggas-trained horse first past the post. He hasn’t looked back ever since.
Shaamit Handed Haggas a Breakthrough
Haggas’ reputation in British horse racing would reach a whole new level in 1996 when promising colt, Shaamit, stormed to win the Epsom Derby. It was a landmark moment for Haggas, demonstrating his ability to develop horses to perform on the biggest stage. It opened doors for him to work with higher-profile owners, who wanted their horses to be based at Somerville Lodge.
At the core of Haggas’ training style is pragmatism and patience. He works hard to understand the unique traits of every horse in his stable, developing them gradually and readying them for peak performance when the time is right.
Aside from Shaamit, he’s developed thoroughbreds that have gone on to succeed overseas and in high-profile UK races. In 2018, Sea of Class, one of Haggas’ finest fillies, came within a whisker of becoming a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion but was pipped at the finishing post. Sea of Class had demonstrated her strong potential with victories in the Yorkshire Oaks and the Irish Oaks in the months leading up to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Other notable winners for William Haggas include Baaeed, who has won ten of his 11 races. With Sea the Stars as his sire, there was no surprise to see his impressive form. He won the Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and even the International Stakes, before losing his last race in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Haggas’ distinguished training career has seen him become one of the most notable figures in Newmarket, the “home of British horse racing”. He’s widely respected for his passion about nurturing future champions and raising the bar for training standards.