Mark Prescott

Sir Mark Prescott, 3rd Baronet (born 1948), is an English race horse trainer with over 2000 winners to his name, including Alpinista, winner of the 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He is based at Heath House Stables, a historic 50-box yard at the bottom of Warren Hill in Newmarket.

Sir Mark Prescott in 2005

Background

Prescott is the son of Conservative Party MP Stanley Prescott and grandson of Sir William Prescott, 1st Baronet, who was also a Conservative MP. He attended Harrow School and in 1965 inherited the Prescott baronetcy from his uncle.

Prescott left school aged fifteen, with plans to become a jockey. He was riding in a race at Wye in 1965 when he broke his back in a fall, resulting in a nine-month hospital stay. He then joined the yard of Jack Waugh at Heath House Stables and took over the licence on Waugh's retirement in 1970.^[1]

Career

In a career spanning more than fifty years, Prescott has trained over 2,000 winners. Although a British Classic has eluded him, he has won a French Classic as well as numerous Group races and major handicaps. Notable amongst his horses have been Spindrifter (winner of 13 races as a two-year-old in 1980), sprinter Pivotal (winner of the King's Stand Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes in 1996), Confidential Lady (winner of the French Classic Prix de Diane in 2006), Marsha (winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes in 2017), and multiple Group 1 winning sisters Alborada and Albanova.^[2] His greatest prize came when Alpinista, owned and bred by Kirsten Rausing won the 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe under Luke Morris. "It has been just a marvellous journey – I'm lucky to get a good one at this stage of my career" said Prescott of Alpinista after her victory.^[3]

In the early days of his of career Prescott employed assistant trainers for a period of two years but since 1999 William Butler has occupied the position and will take over the licence when Prescott retires. His former assistants include leading trainer William Haggas.^[1] George Duffield was stable jockey at Heath House for 31 seasons from 1974, winning 830 races for Prescott.^[4] He was succeeded by Seb Sanders,^[5] with Luke Morris riding as first jockey to the yard since 2012.^[6]

Personal life

Prescott is unmarried. His interests include field sports such as hare coursing, fox hunting and bullfighting, he also developed a deep passion for the Gaelic game of hurling through his companionship with a young Newtownshandrum boy named Eric Curtin.^[1] On 1 September 2009, Prescott and television cook Clarissa Dickson-Wright received an absolute discharge from Scarborough Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to hare coursing whilst attending an event organized by Yorkshire Greyhound Field Trialling Club in March 2007.^[7]

He is distantly related to actress Sue Johnston, via her maternal line, as discovered by ITV's DNA Journey; aired 16 Oct 2024^[8]

Major wins

Great Britain

• Champion Stakes - (2) - Alborada (1998, 1999)
• Cheveley Park Stakes - (1) - Hooray (2010)
• King's Stand Stakes - (1) Pivotal (1996)
• Nassau Stakes - (2) Last Second (1996), Alborada (1998)
• Nunthorpe Stakes - (2) - Pivotal (1996), Marsha (2017)
• Yorkshire Oaks - (1) - Alpinista (2022)

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France

• Prix de Diane - (1) - Confidential Lady (2006)
• Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - (1) - Marsha (2016)
• Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - (1) - Alpinista (2022)
• Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - (1) - Alpinista (2022)

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Germany

• Preis von Europa - (2) - Albanova (2004), Alpinista (2021)
• Rheinland-Pokal / Grosser Preis von Bayern - (2) Albanova (2004), Alpinista (2021)
• Grosser Preis von Berlin - (2) Albanova (2004), Alpinista (2021)

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Ireland

• Pretty Polly Stakes -(1) - Alborada (1998)

References

1. "Sir Mark Prescott plans to bow out gracefully". The Times. 4 November 2017.
2. "Sir Mark Prescott: educated, erudite, refreshingly eccentric – and eyeing Arc success with Alpinista". thoroughbredracing.com. 2 October 2022.
3. "'It's been marvellous' - Prescott's finest hour as awesome Alpinista lands Arc". Racing Post. 2 October 2022.
4. "Duffield calls time on a classic career". The Guardian. 12 March 2005.
5. "Former champion jockey Sanders now work-rider for Godolphin". Racing Post. 28 March 2017.
6. "Morris looking to make most of Prescott link". The Times. 7 June 2012.
7. "Clarissa Dickson-Wright and Sir Mark Prescott plead guilty to hare coursing". Horse & Hound. 3 September 2009.
8. "Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston". Rotten Tomatoes. 16 October 2024.

Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Richard Stanley Prescott	Baronet (of Godmanchester) 1965–present	Incumbent