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| Staff Writer |
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Johnson Houghton took over from her father, Classic-winning trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton who took over from his own mother in an era when the Jockey Club refused to issue trainer’s licenses to women. And Helen Johnson Houghton, took over the yard when her husband passed, leaving her with two small children and a training yard near the village of Blewbury.
The Group One-winning trainer has trained over twenty-two winners and is considered one of the leading conditioners in the UK and Continental Europe.
For Johnson Houghton, her historic but off-the-beaten-track stable, Woodway (in Oxford) is one of the main reasons for her success as a trainer.
“I think I'm very lucky training where I do, which is right on the downs and we in the middle of nowhere.”
“We don't have to go on the road, and we've got some we've 200 acres of the fabulous gallops.”
In charge of a historic racing stable, Eve Johnson Houghton’s plans for the stable is, “to keep training racehorses and doing what we’ve been doing so far.”
She then thoughtfully adds, “I want myself and everyone around to be healthy and happy, I think.”
“The lockdown has been very hard. I didn't realise how much I needed to be around people.”
“You just take it for granted and when you can't just go and do your friends or family. It is very hard.”
“I’ve missed really simple things. Now I am able to see people smile and that makes me really happy.”
Houghton Johnson’s finest moment to date came when Accidental Agent, bred by her mother,
landed the 2018 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. She attends several yearling sales in the UK and Europe each year but the pandemic foiled her plans, as it did for many others.
“I didn't go anywhere this year but I did attend the Tattersalls sale, which is one of my favourites.”
Beaver Patrol gave Eve Johnson Houghton her second win at the 2009 Dubai World Cup Carnival when returning to form in the Meydan Business Park Trophy at Nad Al Sheba. And Judd Street was a strong fourth in the first running of the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night.
“I loved my visit to Dubai. It was before the Meydan grandstand was completed. We raced at Nad Al Sheba.”
Eve Houghton Johnson is no stranger to the ‘old boys club’.
“No doubt, certainly in my early career there were doors closed to women that are now being opened. There was a definite old boys club when it came down to owners choosing trainers.”
“But I think it's changing all the time. So for me, it's important to see and celebrate women in racing.”