Ralph Beckett

For his grandfather, the banker and breeder of racehorses, see Ralph Beckett, 3rd Baron Grimthorpe.

Ralph Michael Beckett (born June 1971) is a British racehorse trainer who specialises in training horses for Flat racing. He is based at Kimpton, Hampshire.^[1]

Ralph Beckett
Beckett at Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2024
Occupation	Trainer
Born	24 June 1971
Major racing wins
British Classic Race wins: Epsom Oaks (2) St Leger Stakes Irish Classic Race win: Irish Derby
Significant horses
Look Here, Talent, Simple Verse, Angel Bleu, Scope, Westover, Bluestocking

Career

Beckett comes from an aristocratic racing background. He is the grandson of Ralph Beckett, 3rd Baron Grimthorpe, whose horse Fortina won the 1947 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and cousin to racehorse manager Edward Beckett, 5th Baron Grimthorpe.^[2] After gaining experience with various trainers around the world, Beckett became assistant trainer to Peter Walwyn in Lambourn. In 2000 he took over the yard after Walwyn's retirement.^[3]

Beckett achieved his first Group 1 win in 2008 when Look Here won the Epsom Oaks. Further classic success came with Talent in the 2013 Oaks, Simple Verse in the 2015 St Leger Stakes and Westover in the 2022 Irish Derby.^[1]

Beckett was elected president of the National Trainers Federation for 2022/2023.^[4]

In 2024, he was the winning trainer of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Bluestocking.^[5]

Major wins

Great Britain

• British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes - (1) - Simple Verse (2015)
• British Champions Sprint Stakes - (1) - Kinross (2022)
• Cheveley Park Stakes - (1) - Lezoo (2022)
• Epsom Oaks - (2) - Look Here (2008), Talent (2013)
• St Leger Stakes - (1) - Simple Verse (2015)
• Falmouth Stakes - (1) - Prosperous Voyage (2022)
• Sussex Stakes - (1) - Qirat (2025)

France

• Critérium International - (1) - Angel Bleu (2021)
• Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - (1) - Westover (2023)
• Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - (1) - Bluestocking (2024)
• Prix de la Forêt - (1) - Kinross (2022)
• Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère - (1) - Angel Bleu (2021)
• Prix Royal-Oak - (1) - Scope (2021)
• Prix Vermeille - (1) - Bluestocking (2024)

Ireland

• Irish Derby - (1) - Westover (2022)
• Irish Oaks - (1) - You Got To Me (2024)
• Pretty Polly Stakes - (1) - Bluestocking (2024)

United States

• Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint - (1) - Starlust (2024)