THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE - In Retirement

It did not take long for Josh Gifford to come out of his much earned retirement at the end of May 2003 after fifty years in racing. He had an appointment at the dentist — but his son, Nick, telephoned and asked if he could travel north to the Doncaster Sales for him instead. Nick had a couple of runners 400 miles away from Findon — at Kelso that day.

and promptly set out to pick a winner. He secured one of the valuable lots at Doncaster for £240,000 and

this proved to be the most expensive horse purchased at auction to race under National Hunt rules.

The horse selected by Josh was six-year-old Joly Bey, bought for a mystery owner who remained anonymous for the time being. As it turned out, the horse was destined for the world champion amateur jockey (and Nick Gifford's cousin) 21 year old David Dunsdon. The horse was a very expensive 21st birthday

gift from his parents.

Joly Bey was not the only costly purchase for Josh to undertake at the Doncaster Sales. A loyal Findon owner, Pat Betts, was looking for a horse to replace his ill-fated Rouble. He paid £81,000 for a promising unbroken three-year-old by the good jumping stallion Bob Back.

Nick had retained his father's two in-house masterful jockeys, Philip Hide and Leighton Aspell and had inherited the staff who had worked at the stable before Josh's retirement.

The Doncaster purchases helped fill some of the fifty five boxes in the yard at the Downs Stables during 2003.

Kristina and Captain Christy

22nd August 2004

Hello!,

It was a pleasant surprise to see "The Downs" Stable Yard and all of the information on Josh Gifford.

I am writing from the United States. My intended, Paul Harriss , is presently employed by Nick Gifford as Head Lad/Assisitant to the Trainer.

I never dreamed that when I typed in Josh Gifford' s name into the websearch that I would be able to see your beautiful area. Now I have a feel for what Paul tries to share with me during our phone conversations. Before I could only use my imagination and now I can see for myself thanks to you. What a thrill!

If all goes well for Paul and his work I will be able to see Findon for myself come October. It is very beautiful. I am going to keep browsing through your website now.

Thank you!

Mary Allison
P.S. I am with my mom in Wisconsin and she too is enjoying searching your sight with me.
Paul visits me where I live in Colorado and helps me train my American Quarter Horses.

Mary Allison, Colorado, U.S.A.

Nick's three-day-eventer sister, Kristina Cooke, has also been known to help him out at Downs Stables when not busy in her own yard.

In February 2006, Tom Winters( who had worked for Josh) got his rewards. Tom had been a familiar sight in Nepcote and lived a few doors from me and first worked as an apprentice jockey at the age of 14 and retired from the saddle to be travelling Head Lad to Josh.

He was 77 years old when presented with a racing painting and bottle of wine when a race at Lingfield Park was named after him.

The race will be known as the Tom Winters Lifetime in Racing Apprentice Handicape Stakes and will be run at Lingfield Park.

The event was organized by Racing Welfare. This is a charity that provides assistance to anyone working, or who has been employed, in horseracing and who may be in need (through accident, illness, age or misfortune). Tom is seen here with members of his family and those from the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Continue if you would like to read about Wee Windy.