find out more about

William Knight

Based in Newmarket, the headquarters of thoroughbred racing, William Knight Racing has a state of the art modern training yard and access to the finest training facilities run by The Jockey Club Estates.

William

Career Highlights

Q&A

meet the trainer

William Knight

Since starting out on his own in 2006, William has built up a successful training operation.

There have been 450 winners – including successes at Group 2, Group 3 and Listed level. ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE put William on the map back in 2010 when he won the Group 2 Goodwood Cup and Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. Since relocating to Newmarket in 2020, SIR BUSKER took up the mantle of flag bearer with success at Group 2 level. CHECKANDCHALLENGE was close on his heels with Group 3 and Listed wins, with both horses being placed in Group 1s in 2022. 2024 saw FROST AT DAWN burst on to the scene with an impressive Group 3 win in Dubai on Super Saturday, beating the track record over 5f.

William, an honours graduate in Equine Business Management at the Royal Agricultural College , Cirencester, has certainly got ticks in all the right boxes as far as doing the job to a high standard is concerned. He honed his horsemanship skills either side of the Millennium, performing key roles as assistant trainer to leading handlers John Hills and Ed Dunlop. With the latter, he spent five informative years, playing an integral part in the international successes of such names as champion filly OUIJA BOARD, multiple Group 1 winner LAILANI, INDEPENDENCE and other top-class horses.

In May 2020 William started a new chapter in his training career as he moved his team from Sussex’s historic Angmering Park to the state of the art Rathmoy Stables in Newmarket.  Boasting some of the best facilities around, the yard has its own equine swimming pool, spa and treadmill. Since moving back to Newmarket William has posted two of his most successful seasons, with a prize money haul of £688,000 in 2022. 2024 was an even better year, with 40 winners and a strike rate of 18% (56% winners to individual runners). The overall prizemoney for 2024, including foreign raids was £740,000.

William heads into 2025 with a larger string of older horses and some exciting 2yos, confident that he can build on the success of 2024.

We work hard to make it real!

Our Journey

First Royal Ascot winner

William Knight’s first runner from Rathmoy Stables, Sir Busker, won the Betway Handicap at Newcastle before landing the Silver Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in his first season at Newmarket.

May 2020

In April 2020, William Knight relocated from Angmering Park, Sussex to Rathmoy Stables in Newmarket.

300+ Winners

William Knight trained his 300th winner in 2019 as Soto Sizzler won the Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom on Derby Day

Stakes Success

William’s first black type winner was Illustrious Blue, who won the Festival Stakes (L) at Goodwood in 2007. He went on to win the Glorious Stakes (G3) at Goodwood in 2009, the Sagaro Stakes (G3) at Ascot and the Goodwood Cup (G2) in 2010. William has enjoyed additional black type success with King Of Dixie, Fire Ship and Aussie Reigns

First Winner

The Danetime filly Marmaida gave William his first winner at Yarmouth on 1st June 2006. This was her racecourse debut and she beat her stablemate Straight Face by a neck.

It's Official

August 2005: William is granted his training license and sets up William Knight Racing

quick fire questions

Q&A with the boss!

What attracted you to training?

I grew up on a farm surrounded by horses and always had a huge passion for racing. After studying International Agriculture and Equine Business Management at the Royal Agricultural College, I went to work for John Hills as his assistant, which was my first proper job in the racing industry. I then spent five years as assistant to Ed Dunlop where I learnt a huge amount, which gave me the confidence to set up as a trainer in my own right. 2013 is my eighth year training and I haven’t regretted a single moment!

What has been your biggest thrill to date?

It has to be Illustrious Blue winning the Group 2 Goodwood Cup.  He was a wonderful horse to train and won ten races for us including Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races plus a valuable Handicap in Dubai.  He also took us to Australia for the Melbourne Cup which was a wonderful experience.

What do you enjoy most about the job?

Obviously winning big races is a huge thrill, but I also find it extremely gratifying winning with any horse at an level. Getting a horse to fulfill its maximum potential is my aim, regardless of its ability.  On a day to day basis, when I stand up on the gallops watching the horses on a clear morning, with views across the heath stretching as far as Ely Cathedral, I think it can’t get much better than this!

Who do you admire most in sport and why?

As I am a massive rugby union fan I think it has to be Jonny Wilkinson. His dedication, professionalism and achievements, in my opinion, ultimately make him the best fly half England have ever had.

If you could have trained one horse, who would it have been?

I was fortunate to have been associated with some great fillies when I was assistant trainer to Ed Dunlop, such as Llalaini and Ouja Board, so continuing with the fillies it would have to be Enable. She’s been a magnificent racehorse, captured the public imagination and continues to do so as a result of the sporting gesture of her owner keeping her in training for us all to enjoy.

What do you enjoy outside of racing?

As I mentioned before I enjoy watching rugby – both internationals and club rugby. I support Leicester Tigers, although I used to play for Wasps under 21’s back in the day. In the summer I enjoy playing golf and in the winter months a bit of shooting. In between I like to spending as much time as I can with the girls, my wife Emily and daughters Zara and Georgina.