Ronald James Farquharson bought a sporting establishment in Chitterne in 1906 when he returned to England after a successful career in Ceylon as a tea and rubber planter. Farquharson had owned and ridden horses as an amateur in Ceylon and India and chose Wiltshire as his base for a new venture as racehorse owner and trainer. He also acquired Chitterne Lodge and Tilshead Lodge for his training and stud farm purposes, as well as Chitterne Farm and 3000 acres of farmland. Chitterne Lodge had been used as a sporting country retreat in the past, most recently by lord of the manor W H Long; Tilshead Lodge had been an equestrian establishment since at least the 17th century when the King’s horses were stabled there.

Chitterne Lodge c1916

At Chitterne Farquharson probably had the block of stables built and used Lodge Cottage to house his stable lads. He installed his racing stables manager in Chitterne Lodge. In the 1920s this was a Mr G Clancy, who had not only winning horses but also a winning man in his employ. In 1927, Ernie Stancer, one of his young stablemen won the stable lads’ flat race at a sports meeting arranged for jockeys and stablemen at Doncaster Races. Princess Mary presented Ernie with his prize of 35 shillings, shook his hand and congratulated him.

Gentle Shepherd was probably the most famous of Farquharson’s horses, but he never raced. As a stud horse at Tilshead he sired a few winners, including Shepherdess. Shepherdess’ winning descendants were Truckle, Rural Lass, Combined Operations, Clover Bud and Go Ballistic. Farquharson’s greatest racing success was with Mount William, winner of the Irish Derby and Wokingham Handicap. Ronald James Farquharson died in 1934.

During World War 2 the War Department compulsorily purchased Chitterne Lodge, the Stables and 3000 acres stretching from Chitterne to Shrewton. The Stables were closed for the duration of the war and troops were billeted in the Lodge and the stables.

Jim and Mary Ford bought Chitterne Lodge and the Stables from the War Department in 1957. Jim ran the Racing Stables, and his wife Mary ran the Lodge as a Guest House.

Jim’s most successful horse was Gay Donald, the winner of the Cheltenham Gold cup in 1955 when Jim was his trainer at Park house Stables, Cholderton. Gay Donald accompanied Jim to Chitterne two years later. Gay Donald was ridden by jockey Tony Grantham and owned by the Burts, a farming family from Sutton Veny. He was a very friendly and idiosyncratic horse who loved Liquorice Allsorts and tucking into Jim’s sardine sandwiches for lunch on an awayday. For many years one of the horseshoes from his huge feet hung on display on a beam at the village pub, The King’s Head.

Jim had many other wins and was a popular trainer in racing circles. He is remembered through the Jim Ford Chase held at Wincanton every year, and the Jim Ford Cup, the winner’s cup that he and Mary donated.

Sadly, Jim died in 1970, and the Racing Stables were sold to Ian Dudgeon, who lived at first in Lodge Cottage, where Jim had housed his stable lads, and eventually in Paddock House, built on a patch of land next door to the Lodge that Ian bought from Mary Ford.

Ian carried on training horses at the stables for many years and had an all-weather track constructed behind Paddock House. He put the house and stables up for sale in 1987. The stables were sold to developers and converted into eight cottages.

Thanks to Bernard Pike for pointing out that Gay Donald won the Cheltenham Gold Cup before he came to Chitterne.