John Hales RIP

Those Irish p-t-p trainers are going to miss him

Apparently wanted to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup very badly and slightly sad that he never managed it.

That said, his horses won plenty of other big ones and contributed hugely to the racing scene

RIP

RIP

Sad news as already stated he contributed hugely to horse racing.

Sad news. Owned many a good horse.

Pretty certain the RP article about his passing has a factual error though. It states "Politologue secured him a third Champion Chase when transferred to Dan Skelton", but I am sure Nicholls trained it.

I don't know the man from Adam, but I grew up watching his colours being carried by some great horses such as One Man and Azertyuiop which gave some great memories and a thrill watching.
He made it easier to follow his horses by usually buying a grey !
 
One race that sticks in my mind was the 2004 Queen Mother Champion Chase, which Azertyuiop won, beating Flagship Uberalles, Tiutchev, Cenkos and the great Moscow UR'd . All horses which ran for years and were real favourites of the racing public.

Owners like this we owe such a debt of gratitude to, for the spectacle they provide for all of us to enjoy.
Thank you and RIP John Hale.

He had some great days racing.RIP

Definitely trained by Paul Nichols monarch.

One Man was our ( the North )  Desert Orchid.

Everyone saying what a great bloke, but going back to the One Man days I used to think he came across as being quite tetchy. One of the first owners I can remember who always seemed to think it was some sort of requirement that he led the horse in. Not sure why any of them need to do that. The horse is the star.

Leading Midlands-based racehorse owner John Hales - who owned the great grey One Man as well as Grand National winner Neptune Collonges - has died at the age of 85.

Hales made his money through the Golden Bear Toys company he co-founded in 1979, which went on to produce toys and merchandise from major children's shows such as the Teletubbies, the Basil Brush Show, Thomas the Tank Engine and In The Night Garden, from their business in Telford, in Shropshire.

But he was best known for his work in sporting circles, most notably with the greatly loved One Man, trained in Cumbria by the late Gordon Richards, and his Aintree winner, the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges almost two decades later in 2012.

One Man famously won the King George VI Chase twice in 1995 and 1996. But, although he failed to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he dropped in trip to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival in 1998 - a race he won again with Azertyuiop (2004) and Politologue (2020).

In his latter years, Hales has enjoyed shared joint ownership with legendary ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Peter Done and Ged Mason.

They paid 740,000 euros (£618,577) last year for Caldwell Potter, who is in training with former champion trainer Nicholls.

Nicholls said on X: "It is with great sadness to report that John Hales passed away last evening.

"A great man and a fantastic owner and friend for many people. Thoughts with his wife Pat and his wonderful family. He will be missed by so many in racing. RIP John."

Hales was at Windsor to enjoy his last winner just 12 days ago when Harry Skelton rode Protektorat, for brother Dan Skelton, to a 22-length win over Venetia Williams' Djelo in the Fleur De Lys Chase.

Yes RIP but what a fantastic life he appears to have had....I can remember myself crying the day One Man died....was absolutely gutted

Awful day dancing pretty sure the course had to pass an inspection due to the desperate ground if only .

Black armbands at lingfield, I thought it was for Gina Mangans dog who died yesterday

I did my bit for him,helped him to toilet and let him go first,as he looked unsteady on his feet,Betfair chase day 2023 haydock, protectorate running.

RIP some great horses owned by one of the characters in the game. Also thanks for Azertyuiop part of the double with Best Mate that gave me my biggest win at the Festival.