From Tragedy to Triumph: Chester Williams' Unbelievable Training Debut
In a story that blends sporting triumph with profound personal resilience, Chester Williams has made a spectacular start to his career as a racehorse trainer. The 28-year-old, son of Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Nick Williams and brother to Grade 1-winning jockey Lizzie Kelly, has saddled an impressive three winners from his first seven runners, a strike rate that has stunned the racing world.
A Dream Start Against the Odds
Williams's training career launched in dream fashion when his very first runner, Haas Boy, won at Newton Abbot. The victory was made even sweeter as the horse defeated a runner trained by his mother, Jane Williams. The dream continued when Great Dance added a second victory in the bumper. Haas Boy then secured a notable double, winning again at Exeter on Haldon Gold Cup day, which also marked Williams's first runner in front of the ITV cameras.
"I think I would have taken one winner from my first seven runners, but three is unbelievable," Williams said, reflecting on his phenomenal early success.
The Long Road to Recovery
This incredible start is all the more remarkable given the circumstances. Just two years ago, Williams's life and career were turned upside down by a serious head injury sustained in a schooling accident, which forced him to retire from riding.
The former conditional jockey, who had ridden 64 winners, spent five weeks in hospital, beginning his stay in a coma. His recovery was long and arduous, requiring him to learn to talk again during rehabilitation.
"Anyone looking in can think it was miraculous, but I don’t see it like that," he stated. "When you’ve had a brain injury it’s very hard to judge your recovery or where you are. I was in intensive care for a couple of weeks and I was very lucky to have had brilliant support from the NHS over the first six months."
His recovery continues today; he still attends speech therapy and must incorporate a daily nap into his routine as an essential part of managing his health.
Building a New Dream in Devon
With his wife Fliss, Williams has established his yard next to his mother's in Devon. He currently trains a string of ten horses, allowing him to be hands-on. He rides most of his team in their exercise, though he understandably avoids schooling them himself following his accident.
There had been plans for him to become a joint licence-holder with his mother, but after his accident, he decided to go it alone. "I decided I wanted to live or die by my own decisions," he explained. "Although me and my mother train from the same facilities, we train very differently."
Driven by a lifelong passion for the sport, Williams is now focused on building his business. "I’ve been obsessed with racing since I was a young boy," he said. "I grew up with Reve De Sivola, Diamond Harry among a whole host of 150-plus horses in the yard. Now I would kill for one of those. I am working towards having that quality of animal."
