‘You’re insulting me’ rages millionaire owner as he leaves racing for good after 30 years
A FLAMBOYANT millionaire owner famed for arriving at the races in a helicopter no longer has a single horse in training.
John Fretwell was a big-time owner in his day – and an even bigger punter.
GettySelf-made millionaire John Fretwell, seen here with the binoculars behind trainer Eoghan O’Neill, no longer has a single horse in training[/caption]
He’d bury his horses in the betting, placing massive wagers on the runners in his eyecatching lime green silks.
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And he made no bones about it – readily admitting that the money he won punting kept his operation going.
But, in what can be seen as a sad demise after 30 years of runners on the Flat, he no longer has a single, solitary horse in training.
Fretwell, a self-made millionaire, says his decision to leave is a sign of the times in the sport of kings.
The former owner, who had prize money earnings of more than £300,000 in 2005, his best year, had just one runner last season.
Tickets, with paltry earnings of £245, went to new owners in March this year and, with it, brought to an end one of the great periods of ownership.
Speaking of his decision to pack it all in, a fed-up Fretwell told the Racing Post: “I love the game.
“I’ve had a winner on every Flat track in Britain bar Epsom and I’ve had some great horses, but I’m disenchanted with it.”
Fretwell said his stakes went up into the tens of thousands – but were only to get back what he had paid for a horse.
He sold one horse, Electric Waves, for £200,000 having paid just £8,500 for her.
In a golden period from 2003 to 2010 his earnings reached a whopping £1.2million.
He described as ‘barmy’ the affordability checks implemented to make sure he can afford to have a bet.
Fretwell added: “You’re insulting me by asking for my bank statements.”
The former owner’s biggest winner – financially, at least – on the track came courtesy of Temple Meads’ £98,500 Weatherbys Super Sprint win at Newbury in 2010.
That same horse would go onto claim the Group 2 Mill Reef later that year under trainer Ed McMahon.
While Electric Waves and Medicine Path also became Black Type performers, with Always Hopeful a Group 2 winner and Silent Times victorious at that level as well.
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