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‘He had the X factor’: Boston Black Tie’s breeder tells the story of how the champion came to be

The hack with a point-to-pointing heritage, who had the X-factor from the get-go
Bethan Simons Bethan Simons

    • Boston Black Tie (DJ) is the result of a careful breeding plan.

    “It took me a long time to breed a hack,” says Stephen Howard. “I point-to-pointed his great-grandmother, Lovely Grange, and didn’t want to sell her. She had four foals, one of which – Boston Bellissima – I kept. In turn, she had DJ’s mother, Boston Boudicca.”

    Stephen was instantly impressed by the newborn DJ.

    “He had something – an X-factor or swag – that made you think he was special, though not necessarily a hack right away. They all develop differently.”

    Boston Black Tie as a foal with his dam

    A young Boston Black Tie with dam Boston Boudicca. Credit: Stephen Howard

    Stephen’s friend Nicki Faulconbridge first saw DJ as a two-year-old and a year later, Stephen granted her her wish to purchase him.

    “He’s never been to Nicki’s, though,” says Stephen, who remains a key DJ team member and fan. “He went straight to his producer Helen Baker and he’s lived there ever since; he’s a bit precious and they know exactly how to handle that.

    “He’s very intelligent and quick to learn – as many of Kilvington Scoundrel’s progeny are. That can be to a hack’s detriment as they think they know best. But he’s right up there as a hack for me and has done far more than we could ever expect really. He keeps coming back out and we’re ultra-grateful for that.”

    He adds with a wry smile, “I’ll not be letting go of his sister Boston Bed Of Roses.”

    Boston Black Tie breeding information

    Stable name: DJ
    Height: 153cm
    Year of birth: 2017
    Breeding: by Kilvington Scoundrel out of Boston Boudicca
    Breeder: Stephen Howard
    Best results: Hickstead Derby Meeting hack champion on both his visits, and two-time Royal International hack champion.

    Boston Black Tie’s breeding pedigree chart

    Boston Black Tie’s pedigree chart

    Meet the parents

    “DJ was his mother Boston Boudicca’s first foal,” says Stephen.

    His sire, Kilvington Scoundrel is a decorated stock-getter of HOYS champions.

    “Scoundrel is so prolific at breeding that quality type. At the time, if you were thinking of breeding a hack, you’d have to try him. He’d gone by that point, but there was semen available so it was worth a try.”

    Kilvington Scoundrel’s semen is no longer available but, luckily, Stephen has a full yearling sister – Boston Bed Of Roses – waiting in the wings.

    Other fact’s about Boston Black Tie’s breeding

    1. The Boston prefix has been associated with Welsh ponies since 1968. Stephen inherited the stud, which is based five miles outside the village of Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, in 1996.

    2. Boston Black Tie’s pedigree includes Dolphin Supreme and Yealand Nemesis, who have been responsible for numerous show pony and hack champions.

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    Bethan Simons
    Bethan Simons

    H&H showing editor
    Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
    Bethan Simons

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