Trainer with cancer fights back tears after saddling first winner in six years

19 July 2023 , 13:36

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Clare Ellam: saddled her first winner since 2017 (Image: @AtTheRaces/Twitter)

Trainer Clare Ellam fought back the tears when she sent out her first winner since December 2017 on Tuesday.

Ellam, who is based in Market Drayton, Shropshire has only trained seven winners over the jumps and on the Flat since she took out a licence in 2015.

But she had a long wait before Eightytwo Team ended the drought with victory in a handicap chase at Southwell at odds of 11-1. And she revealed to Sky Sports Racing that she had been undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

“I’ve been battling breast cancer for the last two years, which is tough,” said Ellam, who was given a hug by interviewer Leonna Mayor.

“But the horses have kept me going.”

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Ellam has a stable of just four horses. She has trained Eightytwo Team since May last year and the success at Southwell was her first in 25 starts.

“I refuse to give up with her," she said. "She is a one-paced mare. She always tries and she always gives 100 per cent.

“She lost her bottle last year when she had a fall at Uttoxeter and it’s took us 12 months to get her back to where she was.

“I’ve never lost the faith in her. I loved her to bits. She’s a great mare. She’s made our day.”

Jon Lees