WELCOME TO LILAC FARM

Lilac Farm is a small racing yard close to the historic North Yorkshire racing town of Malton. The business is owned and run Alan, Claire and son Matthew Brown in this idyllic location in the Vale of Pickering.

Starting as a successful transport business serving the yards centred around Malton they have built up a reputation of reliability and friendly professionalism. The yard is built on the knowledge and experience of Alan Brown's career as a top northern jump jockey and Claire's equestrian knowledge as a BHSAI and experience from working with racehorses in a number of racing stables in the Malton area.

Alan was born in Newcastle where he started his career as an apprentice jockey. At the age of 20 he moved to Malton where he went to work for Miles Henry 'Peter' Easterby as a stable lad. This gave him fantastic opportunities and eventually he became a jump jockey riding two of the leading horses in British National Hunt racing - Night Nurse and Sea Pigeon. Alan will always be grateful to Mr M H Easterby for this opportunity. Amongst his many achievements Alan won 2 Arkles at the Cheltenham Festival, one on Clayside in 1981 and the other on Ryeman in 1983. He also won the H.T. Walker 'Goddess Chase' at Ascot in November 1984 on Cybrandian and came second on Night Nurse at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1981.

Alan recalls two important moments in his career - meeting the footballer Jackie Milburn after winning the North East Most Promising Sportsman in 1981 and being asked to go and meet the late Queen Mother in her private box at Ascot after winning the Buchanan Black and White Whisky Gold Cup on Night Nurse.

Alan and Claire's transport business has given them a wide experience of businesses from across the industry. They have drawn on all of this experience in developing Lilac Farm, the facilities and the practices they employ for training horses. Supported by an experienced team they have built a unique facility which is dedicated to bringing out the best in the horses in their charge.