Alice Haynes: Remarkable Rise, Wins and Racing Exit

Introduction

Alice Haynes is a British former racehorse trainer, amateur jockey and apprentice rider who built a successful operation in Newmarket.

She became known for developing young horses, competing internationally and producing more than 200 winners during five seasons with a training licence.

Her biggest victory arrived when Lady Hollywood won the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg at Longchamp in 2022. Haynes stopped training in December 2025 after concluding that the financial structure of British racing made her business difficult to continue.

Alice Haynes Quick Facts

Information	Verified details
Professional name	Alice Haynes
Born	June 1991
Age	35 years old as of July 2026
Nationality	British
Profession	Former racehorse trainer and jockey
Racing base	Newmarket, Suffolk
Training licence	February 2021 to December 2025
First trained winner	Act of Magic
Major victory	2022 Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg
Leading horse	Lady Hollywood
Career winners	More than 200
Partner	Kieran O’Neill
Current status	Stepped away from training

Her birth month, year and British nationality appear in public company records, while recognised racing publications confirm her training record and current status.

Who Is Alice Haynes?

Alice Haynes is best known for establishing an independent Flat racing yard in Newmarket and achieving international success within a relatively short period.

She entered professional training without coming from an established racing family. Her progress was built through Pony Club competition, eventing, stable work, race-riding and four years operating a pre-training business.

Her story belongs among notable British athlete profiles because it shows how practical experience, horsemanship and persistence can create a route into elite sport.

By the end of her training career, her runners had competed in Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Early Life and Riding Background

Haynes grew up near Ascot, one of Britain’s best-known racing areas.

Horses were part of her life from an early age. She took part in Pony Club activities before moving into eventing and competing at international level.

Her family did not have a major professional connection to racing, so she created her own opportunities.

At around 15, she wrote to Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight and asked for work. Knight gave her an opportunity, providing Haynes with an early introduction to the daily demands of a professional stable.

Learning from Leading Trainers

Working for Henrietta Knight allowed Haynes to learn about horse care, stable routines and preparation at a high level.

She later gained experience with Mick Channon and David Simcock. These roles exposed her to different methods of training Flat racehorses and managing international campaigns.

Haynes also spent time in Australia at Warwick Farm and Royal Randwick. She studied trackwork, speed development and the Australian approach to preparing racehorses.

The variety of these placements became an important part of her education. She learned through direct stable experience rather than following a traditional academic route into the industry.

Alice Haynes’ Jockey Career

Before becoming a trainer, Haynes rode as both an amateur and apprentice jockey.

She recorded 11 winners during her riding career. Her first success came at Wolverhampton, which later became the venue of her first win as a licensed trainer.

Race-riding helped her understand pace, balance and how horses behaved under competitive pressure.

However, she eventually decided that riding professionally was not the career she wanted to pursue over the long term. Her attention shifted towards preparing and developing horses.

Like BMX rider Kieran Reilly, she reached professional sport through practical experience, repeated learning and an unconventional development path.

Building a Pre-Training Business

Haynes founded a breaking, rehabilitation and pre-training operation in Newmarket before applying for a public training licence.

The business prepared young horses for leading trainers including Roger Varian and William Haggas. It also worked with Blue Diamond Stud.

She handled horses at several stages of development, from early education to rehabilitation after time away from racing.

Haynes operated the business for approximately four years. This experience gave her a strong foundation in stable management, staffing, horse welfare and individual preparation. Her official Alice Haynes Racing profile described this period as the groundwork for her later career.

Starting Her Training Career in 2021

Haynes received her trainer’s licence in February 2021.

She began at Cadland Cottage Stables near Warren Hill in Newmarket with a small group of horses. Launching during the pandemic made attracting owners and building stable numbers especially challenging.

Her first trained winner was Act of Magic at Wolverhampton. The victory arrived within three weeks of her first runner.

Haynes originally targeted ten winners during her opening season but finished 2021 with 20. The total demonstrated that her young operation could compete effectively despite its limited size.

Her fast progress reflected the kind of non-traditional sporting rise also seen in British heavyweight boxer Fabio Wardley, who reached elite competition without following the usual amateur pathway.

First Stakes Success with Mr Professor

Mr Professor became one of the most important horses of Haynes’ first season.

He won the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract in 2021, giving the trainer her first black-type victory.

The horse later competed at the Dubai Racing Carnival and showed that her small Newmarket yard could prepare runners for international racing.

Mr Professor’s success also strengthened her professional relationship with Amo Racing, the racing organisation associated with Kia Joorabchian.

Lady Hollywood and Group 3 Glory

Lady Hollywood delivered the defining victory of Haynes’ training career.

The filly first won the Listed Marwell Stakes at Naas before travelling to France for the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg at Longchamp in 2022.

Ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, Lady Hollywood produced a strong performance over five furlongs to secure Haynes’ first Pattern-race success.

She later represented the yard in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, finishing fifth. Reaching the Breeders’ Cup during only the trainer’s second season was a significant international achievement.

Other Important Horses

Several horses contributed to the stable’s rise after Lady Hollywood’s breakthrough.

Fix You won the Listed Polonia Stakes at Cork in 2023. Ziggy’s Dream and Naana’s Diamond added Listed victories in Italy.

Strong Power improved from a rating in the mid-60s to the mid-90s and broke a Lingfield track record.

Lexington Belle progressed from a rating of 58 to close to 90, showing the yard’s ability to improve horses over time.

Aspire To Glory became a six-time winner for Coral Racing Club, while Rogue Invader, Naana’s Sparkle, Tam Lin and Ziggy’s Ariel also produced notable performances.

Cairo’s Royal Ascot Performance

Cairo became one of the stable’s leading performers during its final season.

In June 2025, he started at odds of 100-1 in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He exceeded expectations by finishing third behind Docklands and Rosallion. The result was Haynes’ first Group 1 placing and earned more than £85,000 in prize money.

Cairo later travelled to the United States for an Arlington Million campaign. His performances showed that the yard could still compete at the highest level during a financially challenging season.

Career Record by Season

Season	British winners
2021	20
2022	50
2023	54
2024	56
2025	27

The 2024 total of 56 winners was her career best. Across her five seasons, she trained more than 200 winners in Britain and Ireland.

Her stable also collected stakes victories in Britain, France, Ireland and Italy.

Training Style and Work Ethic

Haynes was recognised as a hands-on trainer who regularly rode horses during morning exercise.

Her eventing and jockey backgrounds helped her assess movement, balance, fitness and behaviour from the saddle.

She used the phrase “small yard, big results” to describe her approach. Each horse received an individual programme covering exercise, race planning, diet and healthcare.

Owner involvement was another important part of the stable. Haynes encouraged owners to visit and understand how their horses were being prepared.

Her method focused on finding suitable opportunities rather than keeping every runner in Britain. International races were often used to pursue valuable black type for fillies.

Relationship with Kieran O’Neill

Haynes publicly thanked jockey Kieran O’Neill as her partner when she announced the closure of her stable.

O’Neill worked closely with the operation, rode horses at home and partnered some of its runners on the racecourse.

She described his support as an important part of her journey through the pressures of establishing and maintaining a training business.

Why Did Alice Haynes Stop Training?

On 4 December 2025, Haynes announced that she would saddle her final runners at Chelmsford that evening.

She explained that British racing’s financial model had made the business unsustainable. Even increasing the number of winners would not have produced enough improvement in the stable’s finances.

Haynes highlighted the limited percentage of prize money received by trainers. She used Cairo’s Group 1 placing as an example, explaining that the trainer’s return was small despite the horse finishing third in one of Royal Ascot’s leading races.

She stressed that the decision was not simply caused by a poor season. The stable had produced a Royal Ascot Group 1 placing, a Glorious Goodwood winner and 27 winners during 2025.

Alice Haynes Racing Limited

Alice Haynes Racing Limited was incorporated in July 2017, several years before she received her public trainer’s licence.

The company later entered liquidation after the training operation stopped.

As of July 2026, the official Companies House record continues to list the company’s status as liquidation.

Alice Haynes’ Current Status in 2026

Haynes is no longer operating as a licensed racehorse trainer.

She stepped away at the age of 34 and said she wanted time to consider the next stage of her career.

She expressed interest in remaining involved in racing, possibly through media work or another industry position. She also left open the possibility of training again in Britain or abroad.

No new full-time training or broadcasting appointment had been publicly confirmed by July 2026. Her established career record remains more than 200 winners, a Group 3 victory, several Listed successes, a Breeders’ Cup runner and a Group 1 placing.

Why Her Racing Career Stands Out

Haynes entered racing without the support of a well-known training family.

She developed her knowledge through stable work, riding, international experience and operating her own pre-training business.

Within five seasons, she progressed from a small pandemic-era launch to victories across several European countries.

Her career also highlighted the financial challenges facing smaller and medium-sized British racing yards. Winning races and producing high-level horses did not automatically guarantee a sustainable operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Alice Haynes?

She is a British former racehorse trainer, amateur jockey and apprentice rider.

How old is Alice Haynes?

She is 35 years old as of July 2026.

When was Alice Haynes born?

She was born in June 1991.

Where is Alice Haynes from?

She grew up near Ascot in England and later based her training operation in Newmarket.

Was Alice Haynes a jockey?

Yes. She rode 11 winners as an amateur and apprentice jockey.

How many winners did Alice Haynes train?

She trained more than 200 winners during five seasons with a licence.

What was Alice Haynes’ biggest win?

Her biggest victory was Lady Hollywood’s Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg success at Longchamp in 2022.

Who is Alice Haynes’ partner?

Her publicly confirmed partner is jockey Kieran O’Neill.

Why did Alice Haynes quit training?

She concluded that the financial structure of British racing made her operation unsustainable.

Is Alice Haynes still training horses?

No. She saddled her final runners at Chelmsford on 4 December 2025.

Conclusion

Alice Haynes built an impressive racing career through determination, practical knowledge and individual care for her horses.

Her journey took her from Pony Club and eventing to race-riding, pre-training and more than 200 victories as a licensed trainer.

Lady Hollywood’s Group 3 triumph, Cairo’s Royal Ascot placing and several international Listed wins proved that her Newmarket operation could compete beyond its size.

Although financial pressures brought the stable’s chapter to an end in 2025, her achievements established her as a respected figure in modern British racing.