Martin Pipe

rdf:langString Martin Pipe

rdf:langString Somerset, England

rdf:langString Martin Charles Pipe CBE (born 29 May 1945), is an English former racehorse trainer credited with professionalising the British racehorse training industry, and as of 2021 the most successful trainer in British jump racing. The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Somerset, near Wellington, England, at stables. Pipe is broadly credited with professionalising National Hunt racing. He made multiple simple but effective changes to what had been then the traditional methods of training racehorses, specifically those in jump racing. His training innovations included using interval training, using daily blood tests to assess fitness, and keeping horses lean during the racing season, all intended to ensure his horses were at peak fitness for races. His methods came into broad use during the period he was training. Pipe was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to horse racing. He retired in 2006. His son, David Pipe, took over as trainer with Pipe assisting. As of 2021 he was the most successful trainer in the history of British jump racing.