Willie Musson - The Trainer

At the age of 16 Willie rode his first point to point winner before going to Cirencester Agricultural College, going on to ride pointers for his father and friends (at 6’ something he was too tall to ride on the flat) and soon notched up 11 winners including Charlie Potheen who went on to win the Hennessy Gold Cup for Fulke Walwyn. Willie incurred a serious knee injury from a point to point fall and was advised to hang up his boots.

In August 1976 Willie took out a National Hunt licence after securing a 5 year lease on a yard in Bramley, Guildford sharing his start with Newmarket’s Mark Tompkins and also Nick Williams who now trains jumpers with success in Devon. The following year in 1977 he became a dual licence holder.

In 1980 Willie moved his 25 horses from Bramley to the Head Quarters of Racing in Newmarket where he leased Phantom House from the late Ryan Jarvis enjoying a four year period. He built up his string to over 40 horses and trained numerous winners including Hurricane Hill to finish third in the Lincoln, and Ore to win the Group 2 Henry II stakes ridden by Lester Piggott also finishing 2nd in the Ascot Gold Cup in 1984.

Then came the revolution and Willie purchased Saville House stables which had been empty for 3 – 4 years. Willie had the property totally renovated and the facilities significantly improved.

He has enjoyed over 20 years of his training career at Saville house with notable further success including Roaring Riva the group winning sprinter.

Saville House

National Trainers Federation

The Stables

Saville House Stables date back to 1887 and comprise of the main house with stables split into two yards. In the mid to late 1930’s Hugh Powney owned the property and trained here until the Second World War. It was then seconded by the Ministry of Food for use as a storage premises.

Since those times Claude Halsey, George Archibald, Pat Moore and Chuck Spares have all trained from this facility, prior to the arrival of Willie and Judy in 1986.