Mick & David Easterby

Peter Easterby: 1929 - 2025

Posted: 08.45 • Mon 9 Jun 25

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Easterby, my dear brother, who died peacefully this morning at 5am.

Born Miles Henry Easterby on 5th August 1929, he became known as Peter when he was young.

Peter set up as a racehorse trainer at Habton Grange in 1950 with just seven horses but it took a while before he had his first winner. That winner came over hurdles at Market Rasen on March 7th 1953 when Double Rose was first past the post. Two years later King's Coup would provide Peter's first flat winner when successful at Thirsk. Little did Peter know at the time that these horses were the green shoots of what would blossom into a legendary racing dynasty.

The 1960s and 70s saw winners both on the flat and over jumps as Peter ran a successful dual purpose yard.

Peter was the British jump racing Champion Trainer three times and is the only trainer to have saddled over 1,000 winners in Britain in both flat and National Hunt racing.

Amongst the well known horses trained at Habton Grange were Saucy Kit, winner of the Champion Hurdle in 1967, Alverton, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1979 and Little Owl, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1981.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Peter Easterby's stable housed two of the leading horses in British National Hunt racing. Sea Pigeon won the Champion Hurdle in 1980 and 1981 and on the flat was also the winner of the Ebor Handicap and Chester Cup (twice). Night Nurse was the Champion Hurdle winner in 1976 and 1977 and later became a leading steeplechase, finishing second to his stablemate Little Owl in the 1981 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Night Nurse just failed to become the first horse to complete the Champion Hurdle-Cheltenham Gold Cup double.

Peter retired in February 1996 having trained 2,513 winners and the licence was taken over by son Tim who has continued the success at Habton Grange.

Peter touched the lives of so many people. He will be greatly missed by the family and the many friends he made in both the racing and farming communities.