Bowen brothers win pony racing finals

A trainer’s sons have caused a stir in the pony racing world this season — winning both finals of the Charles Owen series.

James Bowen, 12, took the 138cm contest on Push The Button at York racecourse on 8 September. It was the duo’s 10th victory this season.

Shortly afterwards, his 16-year-old brother Sean completed the Bowen double winning the 148cm final with Cudlic Verona.

Their father is Welsh trainer Peter Bowen — whose Always Waining is the only horse to have won the Topham Chase (over the Grand National fences) three times.

“We are so proud,” said the boys’ mother Karen. “It was a day we’ll remember forever. We thought they could go close, but for both to win was incredible. They are very good friends, too, so were equally pleased for each other.”

Both boys are intent on becoming jockeys when they leave school.

“They study the jockeys and know how to read a race,” Karen added.

Clarissa Daly from the Pony Racing Authority added her congratulations.

“We’ve never had siblings in the finals before, let alone them both win,” she said, adding that the series is seeing a “steady growth”.

“We are up two racecourse fixtures — to 25 — this year and the standard of riding is becoming much higher,” she said.

“All eight of the children graduating from pony racing this season are applying for some form of riding licence, too. It’s very encouraging and we’d like to see more giving it a go.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (19 September 2013).

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