Legendary Horse Trainer Peter Easterby’s Remarkable Life Story
There are many prestigious and iconic pioneers who have since played a pivotal role in shaping horse racing into the prodigy that it is known as to this day, with one such figure being the late great Peter Easterby who’s legacy within the industry will span for many decades thanks to the many accomplishments and records that were set under his tutorage.
The Easterby family name is one of the most coveted in all of professional racing as it stems from the immense success that was attained during Peter Easterby’s many successful years as an active trainer up until his retirement in 1996 where he cemented himself as one of the most successful British trainers in the history of the sport. His legacy has since been carried on by his brother Mick and his son Tim who have also gained a reputation for their incredible amounts of success that they have attained during their professional career as they hope to follow in the footsteps of legacy that Peter has since left behind.
Tragically, Peter recently lost his life in early June of 2025 at the age of 95 after a peaceful passing with his close family and friends by his side, leaving behind plenty of unforgettable memories of an icon who was described by many as a true gentleman and a mentor to many other upstart trainers.
To honor his life and the incredible career that he enjoyed across racing throughout his time amidst all the action, here is a quick rundown on the legendary tenure of Peter Easterby and how he shaped the entire British horse racing landscape during his peak years during the late 1970s through to the 1990s.
Achievements and Notable Winners:
In total, Easterby has trained a staggering sum of 2,513 winners of various different racers across a forever pristine career that spanned for 46 years until his retirement in 1996.
His accolades include several noteworthy honors at the highest level including a three-time jumps winning trainer, five-time Champion Hurdles and three Cheltenham Gold Cups alongside several other impressive winnings.
What made Easterby such an iconic and respected name in racing is his back catalogue of success across various different types of racers as he seemed capable to train any horse so long as its four legs were in fine condition.
His keen eye for spotting various ‘diamond in the rough’ upstart talents allowed Easterby to enjoy many decades of success across various events from Sprinters to hurdlers and steeplechasers to name but a few. Many of his horses were often chosen as the bookies favorite in any of the upcoming horse racing betting odds that were present ahead of race day, such as the listings that are now available on 888 Sport, as his many years of success were seen as an easy choice for which stallion to back on race day for many punters.
Some of Easterby’s most famous winners came throughout his more dominant years during the 60s, 70s and 80s that include Saucy Kit who won the Champion Hurdle in 1967, Alverton who is the winner of the 1979 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as fellow winner Little Owl in 1981 and back-to-back Champion Hurdle winner Sea Pigeon who remains one of the most successful competitors of the 1980s racing scene in Britain.
Humble Beginnings and Legacy:
Unlike most other competitive trainers who are almost fed a silver spoon into the pathway of inheriting a top training position, Easterby came from a much more rugged background but was certainly destined to become one of the very best trainers that British racing has ever witnessed.
Easterby was a lover of all things agriculture and country which likely stems from his early life as a teenage worker for his uncle with his late father also having a background as a farmer and an amateur rider.
Peter and his brother Mick both experienced hardship during their days working laborious hours but were able to gain some valuable insights from their uncle, Walter, who was himself a horse trainer.
After completing a two-year service with the Royal Veterinary Corps, Easterby returned to his family home and begun pursuing a career in training at just 21 years of age.
It would take Peter three years before he claimed his first taste of victory on the track as Double Rose pocketed £102 in a novice hurdle at Market Rasen back in 1953, which would soon be the start of a training tenure for the ages.
Peter’s impact on the racing world as a whole has stretched across many generations of trainers with his son Tim now taking the reigns in the hopes of bringing even more glory to the beloved and vastly respected Easterby family name. Peter Easterby was not only one of the very best trainers that the British racing scene has ever witnessed but also retained a humble and kind personality even amidst all his years of success, and will certainly be celebrated for his achievements both on and off the track for decades to come.
