SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Star Sports has announced that it is sponsoring racehorse trainer Brian Toomey for the 2024 flat season.
The British bookmaker praised the ex-jockey for the amount of high-profile owners in his portfolio which include: Amo Racing, Clipper Logistics, Jimmy Fyffe and Jeff Smith.
Harry Redknapp provided him with his first winner when Wake Up Harry won at Kempton on 20 December.
Luke Tarr, Head of PR at Star Sports, commented: “Brian’s story is truly inspirational. To achieve what he has, both in his recovery from such a serious head injury and in his determined pursuit of a trainer’s licence, shows exactly what he is made of, and we are delighted to sponsor the yard.”
The 34-year-old, who was forced to retire as a jockey after a bad fall at Perth in 2013, has embarked on his first full season as a trainer, based at Bowstridge Farm in Chalfont St Giles.
Toomey will provide regular updates on the yard’s runners, his views on the biggest races and meetings during the Flat season, and video content looking back at his career as a jockey, his recovery from the fall and life as a new trainer.
“He has already attracted some massive owners and we’re excited to produce some top-quality content with Brian at the beginning of what we’re sure will be a very successful training career,” Tarr added.
Toomey joins leading jockey Harry Skelton, who joined the operator in October 2023, as well as recently retired legendary rider Davy Russell in Star Sports’ stable of racing ambassadors.
“Becoming a trainer has been a dream for a long time,” stated Toomey. “My story is an unusual one and I know how lucky I am to be here.
“I’m hugely grateful to all the owners who have supported me at such an early stage of my career, my landlord at Bowstridge Farm as it’s such a brilliant place to train and now to my new sponsors, Star Sports.
“I’m looking forward to telling my story as a new trainer and updating Star Sports’ customers on our runners, as well as my views on the big races and issues in the industry.”
