In an already sad month, the deaths have been announced of two highly respected and popular former Yorkshire-based trainers, Tim Etherington and Tommy 'Squeak' Fairhurst.
Tim Etherington took over the helm at Wold House Stables in Malton in 1994 on the retirement of his father Jimmy, one of the leading jockeys in the north in the 1950s and '60s who had bought the property subsequent to the retirement of Pat 'Rufus' Beasley. Jimmy Etherington, who has outlived his son, enjoyed significant success there with the likes of the 1978 Royal Hunt Cup winner Fear Naught (GB) (Connaught {GB}) and 1979 John Smith's Magnet Cup winner Tesoro Mio (GB) (Cavo Doro {GB}). Tim maintained the stable's reputation as a source of big handicap winners, most notably sending out Fullandby (Ire) (Monashee Mountain) to land the Portland H. at Doncaster in 2007. Two years later he took another of Doncaster's big sprint prizes when Fullandby scored in Listed company in the Wentworth S. Another stakes-winning sprinter with whom Tim did well was the headstrong Burning Thread (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB), the winner of six races including a Listed race, the Scurry S. over five furlongs at Sandown in 2010.
Prior to succeeding his father, Tim had previously been employed for three years as Andrew Wates's private trainer at Henfold House in Surrey. During this period he sent out Repeat The Dose (Ire) (Abednego {Ire}) to win the Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 1992 and he also won two novice chases with Mr Wates' subsequent 1996 Grand National winner Rough Quest (GB) (Crash Course {GB}).
During his final years as a trainer, Tim had run an equine transport business, taking horses to the races for other trainers in the Malton area as well as for himself, and he continued to do this after relinquishing his license. In 2020 the BHA appointed him as an independent member of the judicial panel, a position for which he was perfect because of his lifetime of experience within the sport and the universal respect in which his integrity was held.
Out of the blue, Tim was recently diagnosed with throat cancer, from which he died aged only 62 in Mexico, where he had gone for treatment.
Tommy Fairhurst, universally known as 'Squeak', was an integral part of the racing community in Middleham for as long as pretty much anyone alive can remember. Born in 1927, he served his apprenticeship with the village's then leading trainer Matt Peacock, during which time his boss trained the 1945 Derby winner Dante (GB) (Nearco {Ity}). He then rode as a jockey until 1968, as well as working as head lad to another of the doyens of the Middleham trainers' ranks, Ernie Weymes. He began training in the historic Glasgow House in 1969 and quickly established himself as one of the most astute trainers in the north, particularly adept with sprinters and two-year-olds. He enjoyed his finest hour as a trainer when the speedy juvenile Barrys Gamble (GB) (Nishapour {Fr}), previously the winner of the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Beverley, completed an early-season hat-trick by scoring over five furlongs at Royal Ascot in 1988, landing the Windsor Castle S. under Pat Eddery.
Two of Squeak Fairhurst's sons worked for their father, Chris and Antony. When their father retired at the end of the 1993 season, the former, who had been riding as a National Hunt jockey, took over the licence in Glasgow House, where he trains to this day. Squeak, who lived and breathed racing, remained a very popular figure in the village. It was only recently that his health deteriorated, and he died in his sleep on Friday, aged 95, with his family around him.
The TDN offers its condolences to the Etherington and Fairhurst families, and to all the friends of these two stalwarts of northern racing.
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