Robert Sangster
Encyclopedia
Robert Edmund Sangster was a British
businessman
, thoroughbred
racehorse owner and breeder. He was British flat racing Champion Owner
five times and his horses won many major races, including two Epsom Derby
s, four Irish Derbys, two French Derby
s, three Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
s and a Melbourne Cup
.
business, and his wife, Peggy (Margaret) Smith. Robert was born in Manchester
and educated at Repton School
and did National service
with the Cheshire Regiment
. While in the British Army
he was the Champion Army Boxer. Sangster was chairman of the Vernons Organisation from 1980 to 1988, selling it in 1988 for £90 million.
Sangster was married three times first in May 1960, to Christine Street, by whom he had three sons: Guy Sangster, Ben Sangster and Adam Sangster and a daughter Kate Amin. That marriage ended in 1978, when he left his wife for socialite Susan Peacock
, ex-wife of Australian Liberal Party politician Andrew Peacock
. Susan Peacock's daughter, Jane
, was married to the racehorse trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam
, who trained for Sangster at Manton Stables in the 1990s. His second marriage did not last long, with Sangster having well-publicized affairs with Jerry Hall
and Susan Lilley. Sangster married Susan Lilley (from the Isle of Man) in 1985, and the couple had two sons Sam and Max Sangster. The marriage ended in divorce in 2000.
Sangster went into tax exile
from the United Kingdom in 1975 and moved to the Isle of Man
. Towards the end of his life he spent much of his time in Barbados
.
. Chalk Stream finished unplaced but Robert Sangster bought the horse and sent him to be trained by Eric Cousins. Sangster's first win in a major flat race came with his filly
Brief Star in the 1969 Ayr Gold Cup
.
, Pat Eddery
and Steve Cauthen
. His trainers included Barry Hills
, Vincent O'Brien
, David O'Brien
, Eric Cousins, Michael Dickinson and Peter Chapple-Hyam
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse owner and breeder. He was British flat racing Champion Owner
British flat racing Champion Owner
The Champion Owner of flat racing in Great Britain is the owner whose horses have won the most prizemoney during a season. The list below shows the Champion Owner for each year since 1894.-----See also:* British flat racing Champion Jockey...
five times and his horses won many major races, including two Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
s, four Irish Derbys, two French Derby
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
s, three Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
s and a Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
.
Personal life
Robert Sangster was the son of Vernon Sangster, founder of the Vernons PoolsFootball pools
A football pool, often collectively referred to as "the pools", is a betting pool based on predicting the outcome of top-level association football matches set to take place in the coming week. The pools are typically cheap to enter, with the potential to win huge money. Entries were traditionally...
business, and his wife, Peggy (Margaret) Smith. Robert was born in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and educated at Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
and did National service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with the Cheshire Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
The Cheshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division.The regiment was created in 1881 as part of the Childers reforms by the linking of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire...
. While in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
he was the Champion Army Boxer. Sangster was chairman of the Vernons Organisation from 1980 to 1988, selling it in 1988 for £90 million.
Sangster was married three times first in May 1960, to Christine Street, by whom he had three sons: Guy Sangster, Ben Sangster and Adam Sangster and a daughter Kate Amin. That marriage ended in 1978, when he left his wife for socialite Susan Peacock
Susan Renouf
Susan Renouf, Lady Renouf is an Australian socialite.Born Susan Rossiter to Sir John Rossiter and Joan Stewart, she was married three times:* to Andrew Peacock, prominent Australian politician...
, ex-wife of Australian Liberal Party politician Andrew Peacock
Andrew Peacock
Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, GCL , is a former Australian Liberal politician. He was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments, and was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia 1983–1985 and 1989–1990...
. Susan Peacock's daughter, Jane
Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jane Fiona Chapple-Hyam is a horse racing trainer.Daughter of former Australian Liberal politician Andrew Peacock and Lady Susan Renouf. Married, then separated from trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam.-Career as a Trainer:Took out a license in September, 2005....
, was married to the racehorse trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam
Peter Chapple-Hyam
Peter Chapple-Hyam is a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He trained Dr Devious to win the Epsom Derby in 1992 and repeated the feat with Authorized in 2007. He managed two Group One wins in his first season as a trainer in 1991...
, who trained for Sangster at Manton Stables in the 1990s. His second marriage did not last long, with Sangster having well-publicized affairs with Jerry Hall
Jerry Hall
Jerry Faye Hall is an American model and actress, also known for her long-term relationship with Mick Jagger, with whom she had four children.-Early life:...
and Susan Lilley. Sangster married Susan Lilley (from the Isle of Man) in 1985, and the couple had two sons Sam and Max Sangster. The marriage ended in divorce in 2000.
Sangster went into tax exile
Tax exile
A tax exile is one who chooses to leave a country with a high tax burden and instead to reside in a foreign nation or jurisdiction which takes a lower portion of earnings. Going into tax exile is a means of tax mitigation or avoidance.-Legal status:...
from the United Kingdom in 1975 and moved to the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. Towards the end of his life he spent much of his time in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
.
Early years
Sangster was introduced to thoroughbred racing through a friend, Nick Robinson, who recommended a bet on Chalk Stream, a horse owned by his grandfather, in the 1960 Lincoln HandicapLincoln Handicap
The Lincoln Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late March or early April....
. Chalk Stream finished unplaced but Robert Sangster bought the horse and sent him to be trained by Eric Cousins. Sangster's first win in a major flat race came with his filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Brief Star in the 1969 Ayr Gold Cup
Ayr Gold Cup
The Ayr Gold Cup is a flat horse race in Scotland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older...
.
Thoroughbred racing and breeding
Sangster's thoroughbred racing and breeding empire included interests in Australia, England, Venezuela, the United States, Ireland, France, and New Zealand. His racing colours were emerald green and royal blue. His jockeys included Lester PiggottLester Piggott
Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....
, Pat Eddery
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
and Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen is a retired American jockey.Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat...
. His trainers included Barry Hills
Barry Hills
Barry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...
, Vincent O'Brien
Vincent O'Brien
Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
, David O'Brien
David O'Brien
David O'Brien was an actor best known for his long-running role as Dr. Steve Aldrich on The Doctors....
, Eric Cousins, Michael Dickinson and Peter Chapple-Hyam
Peter Chapple-Hyam
Peter Chapple-Hyam is a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He trained Dr Devious to win the Epsom Derby in 1992 and repeated the feat with Authorized in 2007. He managed two Group One wins in his first season as a trainer in 1991...
.
British Classic Race wins
- 1,000 Guineas: (1): Las Meninas (1994)
- 2,000 Guineas: (2): LomondLomond (horse)Lomond was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1983 Classic 2,000 Guineas Stakes. He was sired by Northern Dancer, the most successful sire of the 20th Century, whom the National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred...
(1983), El Gran SenorEl Gran SenorEl Gran Senor was an American-bred Thoroughbred race horse, foaled at Windfields Farm in Maryland.An outstanding two-year-old who went on to win European classics over a mile and over 12 furlongs, El Gran Senor received a Timeform rated 136...
(1984) - DerbyEpsom DerbyThe Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
: (2): The MinstrelThe MinstrelThe Minstrel was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in Great Britain and Ireland. His performances led to him becoming the Horse of the Year in the United Kingdom, Horse of the Year in Ireland and being inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.Foaled at E.P...
(1977), Golden FleeceGolden Fleece (horse)Golden Fleece was an American-bred and Irish-trained Thoroughbred race horse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1982. He retired unbeaten from his four races.He was foaled and raised at Hilary J. Boone's Wimbledon Farm in Fayette County....
(1982)