Originally Posted by Big Dipper:
“Blue Refrain - won 3 races at Royal Ascot in 3 years 1978-1980 (Windsor Castle Stakes, Jersey Stakes & Queen Anne Stakes) a considerable achievement for the small Epsom yard of John Benstead.”
One of my favourite trainers and listed as C.J. Benstead. I can also remember, I think it was Clive Benstead who may have been John's dad and hence referring to your "John" to distinguish him from C. Benstead. There was also an I. (Ian,) Benstead who may have been John's brother, who though I didn't know, I knew his reputation as a pigeon fancier racing what was known as the "South Road" from the some of the same points to which I had raced pigeons not many years before, well down into France and even Barcelona.
And before I forget, L. (Syd)
Dale another shrewd Epsom trainer from the sixties and the first trainer to handle the mighty Mill House.