Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has landed his first win as a race horse owner.
The Hawkstonian, a six-year-old grey gelding, aptly named after Clarkson’s beer, galloped to victory in the 13:50 Novices’ Hurdle at Ffos Las in Wales on Friday.
Clarkson, 65, has been waiting for the Hawkstonian’s maiden victory ever since purchasing the horse back in 2023, with the horse having struggled in its first season.
But now it has tasted success for the first time, and the television personality couldn’t be much happier.
On social media app X, Clarkson wrote: ‘Hawkstonians. I’m receiving word that our horse triumphed today at the Blue Ditch course in Wales.
‘I’m going to celebrate with a beer.’
Jeremy Clarkson’s horse Hawkstonian raced to its first-ever victory at Ffos Las on Friday
Clarkson was then questioned for drinking during Dry January, something that he stated doesn’t exist when ‘you have a brewery and a pub’.
Hawkstonian is trained by multiple Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Ben Pauling, who last year admitted that while last season was testing for the horse and Clarkson, he was expecting the wins to come soon, and they have.
‘Jeremy is used to horsepower of a different kind, and one that doesn’t have a mind of its own,’ Pauling said in 2025.
‘So his first season as a racing owner may have tested his patience.
‘It’s great fun to be training for him and all the team are hoping The Hawkstonian will get himself into the winners’ enclosure as soon as he possibly can.
‘We think he’s going to make up into a nice jumper, so this upcoming season is an exciting one with him set to go over hurdles. Hurdling is very much the way forward with him.’
The Hawkstonian’s social media account even suggested that the horse should join the 65-year-old on the beers in celebration, as they expressed their delight at the result.
On Instagram, they wrote: ‘Buy that horse a beer! We knew it was coming …
Clarkson has his own beer called the Hawkstone, which inspired the name of his horse
The TV personality opened the brewery back in 2021 and he also owns his own pub
‘He’s been getting better and better well done to the team @benpaulingracing and well done to every one of our Hawkstonians who have supported him and our friends.’
Clarkson also owns syndicate Old Gold Racing, who he purchased the Hawkstonian through, and that allows other members to own shares in the horse.
It is believed that 3,250 shares were issued in 14 months at £60 per share.
