Mark Johnston admitted he “never dreamed of record numbers of winners” after becoming the first trainer to amass 5,000 victories in Britain on Wednesday.
The Scot, who since the start of the year has operated in partnership with son Charlie, became the most prolific trainer in British racing history when Poet’s Society gave him the 4,194 th winner of his stellar career at York in August 2018.
And Middleham-based Johnston, who ended his first season with a licence in 1987 with one success – Hinari Video – reached another milestone as Dubai Mile landed Kempton Park’s opening British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes under Danny Muscutt.
“I never dreamed of record numbers of winners,” said the 62-year-old. “I never, ever dreamed of it.
“It started with one in the first year and five in the second year, so I didn’t walk into a yard of 100 horses.
“We’ve always had our targets – for many years it was 100.
"I was conscious, when we had our first few centuries of winners, I think at the time Henry Cecil held the record for the number of centuries, which was 12.
"We’ve had a century every year since 1994, so I think that makes it 28.”
Of his record-breaking tally, Johnston picked out his Classic triumphs – Mister Baileys’ 2,000 Guineas success of 1994 and Attraction’s 1,000 Guineas score 10 year later – as his most important.
“Mister Baileys was the absolutely breakthrough horse – the Guineas changed our lives,” he added.
“Attraction is the one I’m most proud of, and I suppose her Coronation win was the best, but the Guineas was probably the most significant.”
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