Our questions are answered by the wife of Newmarket trainer William Haggas, a well-known face in British racing and a vital hands-on part of their Newmarket operation
If Maureen Haggas’s name has long since been familiar in British racing circles, it was only recently that she gained more widespread notoriety thanks to her spat with jockey Zac Purton.
The wife of Derby-winning trainer William Haggas made headlines in both hemispheres when she lambasted the eight-time Hong Kong champion for his efforts on Lake Forest, last of 12 in defence of his title in the A$10m ($6.48m/£4.95m) Golden Eagle at Randwick. Purton, for his part, joked that Ms Haggas might have been “on the drink” when she made her comments.
Be that as it may, anyone with even a passing interest in horse racing in Britain probably already knew who Maureen Haggas is – not least in that she is the eldest child of the legendary Lester Piggott.
Now, though, 64-year-old Maureen is better known as an integral part of the hugely successful Somerville Lodge operation, often functioning as the team’s official mouthpiece on the racetrack while William stays at home.
From their Newmarket base, the Haggas team has now sent out nearly 3,000 winners in Britain, among them senior Classic victories via Shaamit (1996 Derby) followed by Dancing Rain’s Oaks in 2011. Sea Of Class landed the Irish equivalent seven years later before going close to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory when she was denied by the mighty Enable.
Other major Haggas victories include the Eclipse Stakes (Mukhadram), Irish Champion Stakes (Economics) and a Champion Stakes (Addeybb). Addeybb and stablemate Dubai Honour also pulled off a series of valuable successes at the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The husband-and-wife’s masterpiece, however, came with Baaeed, a brilliant son of Sea The Stars, who swept almost all before him during a sublime career, in which he won ten of his 11 starts, including six at the highest level.
Often the hands-on part of the duo, Maureen goes racing much more than her husband, who, in his own words, would be lost without her.
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
Lester Piggott. Incomparable on so many levels.
Which is your favourite venue, and race, anywhere in the world?
I’m probably not the only person who will say this but York is a brilliantly run racecourse and there are so many fabulous people there, while we’ve had some great days there too and plenty of winners as well.
As for a race, that’s harder. The Derby jumps out as my father won it nine times, while the King George is a fantastic race as well, but I suppose the one we’d love to win is the Arc.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
Hamish, who won the St Simon Stakes at Newbury the other day, which was his 15th win from 28 starts and ninth at Group level. He’s won nearly £1 million in prize-money and I ride him every day. I love that he's been around for such a long time and continues to thrive and perform at nine years of age. It’s a credit to him and all of our team that he’s still able to compete successfully in Group company. He was bred and owned by William’s father Brian and I simply adore him.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
There have been a few I could pick for this, but it’s probably Superstar Leo winning the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2000.
She was a brilliant horse, who went on to win the Super Sprint at Newbury and the Flying Childers at Doncaster, while she was also second in the Phoenix Stakes and Prix de l’Abbaye.
Any winner at Royal Ascot is extremely special as everybody knows, but that victory was another level because she was bred by my father. I think that makes him the only person to have ridden, trained, owned and bred a winner at the meeting.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
Very sadly it’s never going to happen but I’d love to see an on-course bookmaker and off-course tote system in Britain where most of the betting turnover went back into racing and prize-money. This would obviously require government legislation, which, in reality, is never going to happen.
Maureen Haggas was speaking to James Burn
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