Mark Johnston Racing has built up a very strong management team on which the success of the yard depends. It is through the investment in people that the company has been able to expand and better itself continuously. MJR employs a total of 120 people each carefully picked for the job.

We recognise the importance of the people we employ and therefore have committed a great deal of resources to training and development.

Mark Johnston is the managing director of Mark Johnston Racing Ltd. and it is his determination and ambition which characterise the yard. He is ably assisted by his wife Deirdre and both understand everything there is to know about training a racehorse.

Nicky McGrath is in charge of making entries for horses, declaring horses, and organising travel arrangements. Nicky is assisted by Rebecca Goldsbrough. They are the first point of contact with the owners.

The other main behind the scenes workers are the stable staff who are responsible for the care and riding of all the horses.

If you are interested in a job at Mark Johnston Racing then please use this form to send us your details.

Principal members of the team can be seen below:

Mark Johnston Managing Director and Trainer
Deirdre Johnston Director and Assistant Trainer
Jock Bennett Assistant Trainer
Nicky McGrath Racing Secretary
Carrie Sanderson Yard Manager
David McLeod Yard Manager
Jane Hedley Yard Manager
Andrew Bottomley Yard Manager
Andrew Larnach Yard Manager
Penny Skilton Yard Manager
Chandrapal Singh Yard Manager
Robynne Watton Senior Travelling Manager
Hayley Brough Travelling Manager
Mark Billingham Travelling Manager
Justin Buckham Travelling Manager
James Tate Vet
Rogerio De Suza Filho Vet
Full Name: Deirdre Johnston Job: Assistant Trainer / Director Birthday: 04.10.1962 Place of Birth: Glasgow xxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? Kxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxxx What was your best day in racing? xxxx And your worst? xxxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? - Deirdre and Attraction
Full Name: Brian Bennett (Jock) Job: Assistant Trainer Birthday: - Place of Birth: - xxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? Kxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxxx What was your best day in racing? xxxx And your worst? xxxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? - Jock and Soapy Danger     Full Name: Nicky McGrath Job: Racing Secretary Birthday: 04.10.1962 Place of Birth: Northallerton There are few places more daunting to a newcomer than the office of a busy racing stable. Entries, declarations, riding arrangements, early closing races, horses going to the sales or coming from the sales, staff problems, liaison with the press, contact with owners, maintenance of vehicles and property, wages, accounts…..all bad enough in themselves to the uninitiated without dealing with M Johnston, Esq, in the middle of one of the poorest runs of results he has had in many, many years. This is the scene into which Nicky McGrath has entered this summer in her new role as Racing Secretary with MJRL. That she lives to tell the tale speaks volumes for her attitude! Nicky has grown up around horses and racing and has always wanted to have a career in the sport. She has had a spell in racecourse management (Sedgefield) and has also trained on her own account. She has brought all these discrete skills into her new position and is learning the ropes fast. We thought it was high time for our owners to get to meet the girl behind the voice and we hope she will enjoy a long and happy career in the Middleham madhouse which passes by the deceptively normal name of….”the office. What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? I have grown up within the industry and around horses. I have ridden since I was very young and started riding out at 14. I have always wanted to work within the racing industry although I initially wanted to be a racecourse manager. Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? Desert Orchid. I know this probably sounds slightly odd but when I was a lot younger I was totally obsessed with him. I even wrote into “Jim’ll Fix It” to see if I could ride him out. Surprisingly I never got a response. What is your favourite racecourse, and why? Wetherby Racecourse as it is the best jumps track within the North of England and is a good place to catch up with friends. It is also only twenty minutes from home. Who is your favourite actor/actress? Brad Pitt Who is your favourite singer/band? Robbie Williams - for various reasons Which is your favourite TV programme? The X Factor and Judge John Deed Do you have any hobbies outside racing? I have an ex racehorse (Jonjo) who I am currently retraining and hopefully will event. He tends to take up much of my time outside work. I also enjoy socialising with friends whenever I can and trying to keep fit!! What is the best thing about your job? Dealing with people on a regular basis and learning something new everyday, as this is my first season as a racing secretary. And the worst? Working weekends, although I am probably luckier than the majority of the staff as on my weekends off I don’t have to work on a Saturday morning. It is still the worst aspect of the job. What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? As I haven’t worked in racing that long and don’t take the horses racing etc this is slightly tricky to answer. However, my biggest achievement in racing so far is probably surviving my first summer in the office at Mark Johnston Racing, as it has been a very steep but enjoyable learning curve. As a team, we also did well at Sedgefield Racecourse and achieved our targets for consecutive years. What was your best day in racing? My best day in racing to date is training a horse called Billie John to finish 4th in a Hunter Chase at Sedgefield back in May 07. And your worst? My worst day in racing was when my favourite horse, which my Mum trained, and I rode out won a race at Perth but unfortunately had severed a tendon in the race and had to be put down. Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? Yavana’s Pace he was the most consistent horse any owner could wish for. If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? Definitely the hours/weekends worked. In order to have a weekend off you have to work twelve consecutive days, which is really not heard of in many other industries. In the middle of the season, when it can be very busy, twelve days can seem like a very long time. If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? Screen Star. This is not the most original answer in the world but the way she won at Redcar was very impressive. With regards to an older horse, Annemasse has been very consistent this season and can hopefully continue to be.
Full Name: Carrie Sanderson Job: Yard Manager Birthday: - Place of Birth: - xxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? Kxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxxx What was your best day in racing? xxxx And your worst? xxxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? -
Carrie
Full Name: David Robert MacLeod Job: Yard Manager Birthday: 29.10.1956 Place of Birth: - In Summer 2006, David MacLeod joined Mark Johnston Racing in the important role of Yard Manager. David has held a variety of roles in the world of horses. From riding and showing his pony he progressed to the hunting field, to a brief career in the saddle and then to training on his own account at Thirlestane in the Borders. His highest rated horse in the stable was Chief Dan George. A real horseman, the staff and horses who form David’s yard will no doubt benefit immensely from this rich vein of experience, and, for his part, David is looking forward to working as part of a large successful team. What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? The owner of the estate where we lived had horses & ponies and asked me when i was 9 if i would like to help out in the yard. She taught me to ride, gave me a pony of my own which i hunted and took to shows. Aged 14 I had a holiday job gor 6 weeks at Harry Bolic's at Hawick. I was then offered a job at w H Crawfords at Haddington and worked there for 15 years. Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? Pat Eddery - A true professional. What is your favourite racecourse, and why? Kelso: lots of good memories Who is your favourite actor/actress? Tim Robbins & Margaret Tutherford Who is your favourite singer/band? Shirley Bassey, the only singer I would pay to see Band: The corries & Wishbone Ash Which is your favourite TV programme? Falty Towers & Phoenix Nights Do you have any hobbies outside racing? Bit of golf, fly fishing, Scottish history & reading What is the best thing about your job? Seeing happy people looking after happy horses And the worst? Good horses that don't try What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? Getting a horse called Billy Two Rivers to win a race. He was a chronic windsucker, had ulcers, collicked at least once a week, and was prone to getting set fast. In the end he lived in a field and was only ever fed pony nuts. What was your best day in racing? Getting my first ride over hurdles And your worst? Whenever a horse you are close to has a fatal accident. I have had a few worst days. Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? Definitely Riberac – a nice filly to do but not a filly to upset! If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? Personaly: nothing If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? -
David going upsides on City Well
Full Name: Jane Hedley Job: Yard Manager Birthday:   Place of Birth: - xxxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
Jane
Full Name: Andrew John Bottomley Job: Yard Manager Birthday: 03.05.1968 Place of Birth: Malton   xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
Andrew
Andrew and Nakheel
Full Name: Andrew Larnach Job: Yard Manager Birthday: 12.05.1971 Place of Birth: - xxxxxxxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? It was mt father: his hobby and interest Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? John Francome: great judge, fantastic horseman What is your favourite racecourse, and why? Cheltenham: 1st class in every way Who is your favourite actor/actress? Morgan Freeman Who is your favourite singer/band? Robbie Williams Which is your favourite TV programme? Ch4 Racing Do you have any hobbies outside racing? Football What is the best thing about your job? Results And the worst? Having to work weekends What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? To have ridden on every jump track in the country What was your best day in racing? Riding my first winner ever on one of my father's horses And your worst? The day W A Stephenson (my old boss) passed away Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? - If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? I'd keep the old school rules If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? Colorado Rapid
Full Name: Penny Skilton Job: Yard Manager Birthday:   Place of Birth: - xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
Full Name: Chandrapal Singh Job: Yard Manager Birthday: 01.03.1979 Place of Birth: Bankli, India A visitor to Kingsley House and Warwick House Stables is sure to be struck by the cosmopolitan nature of the staff. It would be an interesting exercise to work how just how many nationalities have been represented within MJR’s staff team over the years. In horse racing, and in particular at MJR, the need to secure the finest staff takes precedence over any narrow nationalism. Yard Manager Chandrapal Singh comes from a famous racing family in India. I’m sure that for many of you, experience of Indian racing will be reading about it in the days before all weather racing in Britain as the exotic location for busmens’ holidays for jockeys such as John Lowe. However there is a long tradition of racing in India, and Chandrapal brings experience of that rich tradition to Middleham. What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? I was born into a family which has produced four trainers. At a very young age I got involved with horses – so young that I don’t remember when, or how. I suppose I’m just following the family footsteps. Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? It has to be my grandfather. He won every Indian classic three times (1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Oaks, Derby and St Leger) with fillies. What is your favourite racecourse, and why? Nad al Sheba. Memories of the great Dubai Millenium running away with the Dubai World Cup still linger in my mind. Who is your favourite actor/actress? Kate Winslet. Who is your favourite singer/band? Michael Bolton Do you have any hobbies outside racing? If I have time, I like to play table tennis. What is the best thing about your job? I love the early mornings. And the worst? Having to work on weekends What was your best day in racing? Yet to come, I hope. And your worst? I lost one of my brothers on the racetrack due to a fall. Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? Attraction, for her Classic successes. If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? Selfishly I’d take Royal Ascot and the Breeders’ Cup to India as racing back home still lacks sponsors, glitter and glamour. If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? For the two-year-old I like Champery. From the older horses, it’s Soapy Danger…should go miles!
Full Name: Robynne Watton Job: Senior Travelling Manager Birthday:   Place of Birth: -   xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
Full Name: Hayley Brough Job: Travelling Manager Birthday:   Place of Birth: -   xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
Hayley at Epsom
Full Name: Mark Billingham Job: Travelling Manager Birthday:   Place of Birth: -   xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
Mark at Newcastle Races
Full Name: Justin Buckham Job: Travelling Manager Birthday:   Place of Birth: -   xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
Full Name: James Tate Job: Vet Birthday:   Place of Birth: -   xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx
James attending to an emergency on the High Moor
Full Name: Rogerio De Souza Filho Job: Vet Birthday:   Place of Birth: -   xxxxx What attracted you to the racing industry and how did you first get involved with horses? xxxxx Who is your Racing Hero/Heroine, and why? xxxxx What is your favourite racecourse, and why? xxxxx Who is your favourite actor/actress? xxx Who is your favourite singer/band? xxxx Which is your favourite TV programme? xxxx Do you have any hobbies outside racing? xxx What is the best thing about your job? xxxx And the worst? xxx What do you consider your biggest achievement in racing to date? xxx What was your best day in racing? xxx And your worst? xxxx Which is/was your favourite ever MJR-trained horse? xxx If you were given the power to change one thing about the racing industry as a whole or your job in particular, what would you change? xxx If you had to nominate one two-year-old and one older horse for the Klarion’s readers to follow next season, which horses would you choose? xxx