SHEILA LEWIS knows a thing or two about sorting the foul from the foals.
The part time beautician, part time trainer is having a big impact on the racing world this season.
Having not won more than twice a year until October she landed a stunning 1,182-1 treble at Hereford to put her name up in highlights and now has nine winners for the year.
In October she said: “It’s absolutely amazing.
“We’ve only got a small yard and we’re happy to get two winners a year let alone three in a day.”
She trains eight horses in the village of Three Cocks near Brecon in the Welsh hills each morning, running her beauty salon in the afternoons.
But she thinks spending more time with her horses during lockdown helped her get into the groove and pick up some impressive wins.
She told the Mail on Sunday: “I’ve juggled the two jobs for five years. It has been really tough because they’re completely opposite.
“I’m out with the horses then I have to get my act together and get my glam kit on for the salon.
“In March we were locked down so I had to close the salon. I concentrated on the horses and threw myself into the training. I think there’s definitely a connection.
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“In July we opened up again but my salon has taken a huge hit and I’m only taking a third of what I was taking.
“The positive is it has all turned around. The horses are now paying for the salon rather than the salon topping up the horses.”
And going into more detail about his business, she told the Racing Post: “My owners are mostly local people.
“There are a few from the salon. They come in for a leg wax and I ask them if they want to buy a racehorse. I’m thinking of doing a special offer: buy ten facials and you get a discounted share in one of the horses.
“I mentioned I was looking for owners while giving somebody a pedicure and she put me in touch with Graham Wilson [owner of Straw Fan Jack]. Before I knew it he had sent me a few horses.
“Everybody in the village is behind us. My clients often back my horses and spend their winnings in the salon. It all comes full circle.”
She’s a regular on Instagram and posts pics of her horses in action and celebrating after the no regular victories.
She now has nine winners for the year, more than she achieved in her previous six years combined.
Lewis now sits third in the trainers’ championship, behind only Paul Nicholls and Sam Thomas.
She added: “Horses are my passion and I enjoy the challenge of each one. I know them all so well now I could probably draw their legs.
“I’m obsessive about them and like to focus on the smaller details.”
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