“I was in the Salon Painting Nails a Year Ago” – a Story of Racehorse Trainer Success

Large scale horse racing events are quickly gaining traction in popular culture. The Kentucky Derby is one of America’s most popular sports happenings. And it is also one of the most popular betting draws in the country. Across the pond, in the United Kingdom, horse racing is also thriving. Great Britain holds some of the most prestigious and beloved horse racing festivals in the world. So, it is no surprise that Brits tend to frequent online betting sites.

And speaking of online betting sites, race horsing is becoming one of the most popular sports at many bookies. So much so, that many of them publish ante-post betting markets for the next year as soon as the event has finished. For anyone interested, some sportsbooks have already released their ante-post offerings for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

Obviously, the horses are the starts of these events. But, what about the people behind the horses? Those who have dedicated a good chunk of their time into learning the behaviors of these magnificent beasts. In this article, we would like to shine a spotlight on Sheila Lewis, a fantastic trainer who was not afraid to chase after her dreams.

Who is Sheila Lewis?

Sheila Lewis is a Welsh woman, who only a year ago worked at her town of Brecon’s local native salon. However, as she was painting nails, Sheila was dreaming about Cheltenham. We mentioned it before, but for those who are new to the world of racing, Cheltenham is one of Great Britain’s most prestigious and most beloved horse racing festivals. So, it is no surprise that a small-time horse trainer like Lewis was fantasizing about a life where her horse could win the big race.

Recently, however, Sheila Lewis’ dream came true. One of her geldings, the 7-year-old Straw Fan Jack managed to get to the Cheltenham Showcase. Certainly, Ms. Lewis would have been satisfied with that. But it did not end there. Not only did Straw Fan Jack get to the Showcase, the gelding also managed to win, propelling himself and his trainer to instant superstardom.

Only recently did Sheila Lewis quit her job at the nail salon to focus on her career as a horse trainer full-time. Throughout the last year, she has had a great degree of success. Quite a few of her horses won some major races, bringing in more horses to her small business. However, according to Ms. Lewis, this latest victory is the most unexpected, and possibly even the most important. Certainly, the victory will contribute greatly to her small business, and put her on a path to success.

Straw Fan Jack’s Success

Straw Fan Jack is undoubtedly Sheila Lewis’ star horse. It was thanks to his major victories that Lewis’ name caught on. And her reputation has only improved recently, as Straw Fan Jack has affirmed his status as a champion by winning two additional races at Cheltenham. The Novices’ Chase was the gelding’s most recent win. A race he won with the aid of jockey Sean Houlihan.

Houlihan is certainly an experienced jockey, who has competed in over 1000 races throughout his career. Of those races, he has won 65, and landed a placement in 302, for an overall success of around 6%. More importantly, Mr. Houlihan shows tact and avoids confusion, both on the race course and off it.

Straw Fan Jack’s success has prompted Sheila and her team to dream even bigger. After the gelding’s victory at the Novices’ Chase, Ms. Lewis talked about her desire to take him even further. She even made an allusion to desiring a go at the Arkle. Whether she can accomplish that remains to be seen. But one thing is certain. Sheila Lewis is certainly a success and an inspiration to aspiring horse trainers the world over.

Some Final Words

Currently, Sheila Lewis is somewhat of a rising star in the world of horse racing. And she has certainly earned her success. She has worked tirelessly to produce some truly strong and capable horses. Her star, Straw Fan Jack currently sits at many sportsbooks with 33/1 odds for some of the biggest events of next year, including the Arkle and Cheltenham.