Aiming for Ascot - Leeds Rhinos skipper makes the running in sport of kings

Leeds Rhinos captain Luke Gale has saddled up with two of the club’s former stars to take on an entirely different sport.
The racehorse owned by Luke Gale, Danny McGuire, Ben Jones-Bishop and Craig Harrison,  which they hope to name The Pearl.The racehorse owned by Luke Gale, Danny McGuire, Ben Jones-Bishop and Craig Harrison,  which they hope to name The Pearl.
The racehorse owned by Luke Gale, Danny McGuire, Ben Jones-Bishop and Craig Harrison, which they hope to name The Pearl.

Gale, along with Rhinos legend and ex-captain Danny McGuire and former Grand Final winner Ben Jones-Bishop, is proud owner of a novice racehorse, which is now in training with Phillip Makin at Easingwold, near York and set to make its debut later this year.

Gale is a racing fan and was part of a syndicate in the past, but is getting more involved in the industry this time.

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He said: “Me, Ben Jones-Bishop, Danny McGuire and Craig Harrison - who is the agent for all three of us - wanted to get back into it and we bought a mare to breed off.

Luke Gale. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.Luke Gale. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
Luke Gale. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

“Now she’s in foal and is due in April and we have bought a filly to run as well.

“We bought her from sales as a yearling and she’ll be ready to run in probably March or April, when the flat season starts.”

The filly has not yet been named, but the owners - whose company White Rose Bloodstock Ltd was set up three months ago - hope to pay tribute to one of rugby league’s all-time greats, Ellery Hanley.

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Harrison was chairman of Doncaster when the former Wigan, Leeds and Great Britain star was appointed coach there 14 years ago.

Gale began his career in Rhinos’ academy, but joined Doncaster in 2007 and played under Hanley.

He was at scrum-half when the Dons beat Oldham in the 2008 National League Two Grand Final, clinching promotion to what is now the Championship.

Hanley left the South Yorkshire club after that game and Gale moved on to begin his Super League career with Harlequins.

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Explaining the choice of name, Gale said: “She’s a bay and her mother’s called Broughtons Jewel so we want to stick with that theme and call her The Pearl.

“I’m not sure if that name’s available yet; you have to register and see if it’s allowed, but that’s what we are hoping for and it’s her nickname anyway.”

Gale has high hopes for the equine’s chances when she eventually sets hoof on a racetrack for the first time.

“She is a real strapping sort, she physically looks well, hence why we called her The Pearl,” he added.

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“It will be interesting to see how she progresses. She is what’s called an early two-year-old so she’ll know her job and she’ll be quick - or hopefully she will be.

“You never know, we might be going to Royal Ascot - or even York. We’ve had a runner at York before - she finished fourth, but to have a winner there would be a dream made.”

The sport of kings is a diversion from the day-to-day intensity of rugby league for Gale, as well as Jones-Bishop, who now plays for Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR assistant-coach McGuire.

“I have always been interested in horses, more from the racing side,” added Gale who is in rehab after suffering a pectoral muscle injury in Rhinos’ first pre-season training session, two weeks ago.

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“Now we have kind of got a foot in all camps, selling and breeding as well, so I can’t wait to see how it progresses.

“Hopefully she can get us to the winner’s enclosure, that would be class, but it will give us a bit of interest throughout the year.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the new business, at any level, can email [email protected] for more details.

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