MICK Easterby, male model. It might seem a contradiction in terms to those who know and love this archetypal Yorkshireman.
Spittin' Mick's best friends would never have submitted his name to those who compile the best-dressed lists. He is the sort of man who needs to wear a shirt for a minimum 20 years before he feels he has broken it in.
If Worzel Gummidge ever needed a stunt double, Mick would neatly, or should that be scruffily, fit the bill.
But, after 50 years as a licensed trainer, horse dealer, breeder and farmer, Michael William Easterby, 74, has finally succumbed to the blandishments of York's stewards, who advised him he must wear a topper and tails for this week's Royal Ascot festivities which are temporarily sited in God's own county.
So, for the first time today, he is donning the full Ascot enchilada courtesy of Greenwood's of Harrogate, tailors to the gentry (and others), who saw something in Easterby's fine yeoman figure that had escaped even his nearest and dearest.
Coming free of charge, of course, the morning suit was a touch more attractive to Easterby.
Easterby said: 'It might have something to do with the fact that I got a bollocking from Ascot stewards after Lochnager won the King's Stand in 1976 (his only royal winner).
'I just wore a suit and my flat hat and that seemed to upset folk. It didn't worry me one bit - the 'oss went on to be European champion sprinter, not bad for an animal that cost me £600.
'Greenwood's have lent me the suit as a freebie, which was encouraging.' For a man who likes to resemble a farm yokel,
Easterby has done very well over the years, amassing close to 2,000 winners in a career beaten only by Reg Hollinshead for longevity. The latter received his licence in 1951, four years before Easterby.
They say that even the Queen's host, the Earl of Halifax, is envious of the Easterby acreage stretching from Sheriff Hutton just outside York almost 10 miles to Malton where his nephew Tim, son of brother Peter, now trains.
Modestly, he refuses to discuss wealth. But this grandfather of six is not remotely anxious to opt for a quieter life.
He wants to continue training and breeding horses until that stable in the sky beckons.
Easterby laughs: 'My son David (his assistant, aged 28) wants me to carry on in the job because he thinks I'll be worn out quicker that way.
'Mind you, he's like my dad Billy, who trained in a small way. His great claim to fame was attending every Wetherby meeting and never coming home that same day. David's the same.
'I'm still learning about training. The longer you train the less you know. There is always something around the corner and it will surprise you.
'It's a wonderful life and some trainers make money and some don't. I once spent 400,000gn on a horse and it was useless. My two best horses - Lochnager and Mrs Mcardy - cost less than 1,000gn each.
'I started them both off in handicaps and they went on to win Group One races. My ambition is to live for ever. I am the luckiest man in the world.'
Easterby, who keeps 100 jumpers and Flat horses at New House Farm, trains for every stratum of society and even numbers Lady Herries, daughter of the late Duke of Norfolk who ran Ascot in the 1960s, among his clients.
He adored Willie Carson but these days prefers to use his own jockeys rather than the stars. Easterby added: 'Willie was brilliant and knew how to keep a horse balanced.
'I'm a sentimental old fool these days and prefer to use my own lads, Dale Gibson and Paul 'Mulrennan.
'If you get a big name, they'll sit on the horse and may not know nor care that this is the oss's Derby even if it's a selling plate.' Easterby is in no doubt that this week's meeting will be a success at its temporary venue. He added: 'Yorkshire is the best place in the world to live. If people can't be bothered to come it's their loss. Socialites go to Ascot to be seen. This time, it will be real racing people. I'm delighted York's got Ascot. We'll put on a grand show.'
Easterby horses to watch this week include Sporting Gesture in today's Ascot Stakes and Bow Bridge in tomorrow's Queen Mary (big each-way chance). Blue Spinnaker runs in the Royal Hunt Cup and either Trust Rule, Strong Hand or Dance Tonight in the Duke of Edinburgh handicap.
Any regrets? Only that the Queen's landau has room for only one Easterby when brother Peter is her guest in Saturday's procession.
He said: 'I've never met Queen. I think they were a bit frightened to let me go with her.' Now that Mick is in full possession of the most elegant topper and tails, how he failed to make the cut is anyone's guess.
.JPG)
