From the Armed Forces to Horse Racing Champion: In conversation with Jamie Snowden

In November 2025, Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) partnered with leading racehorse syndication firm, Old Gold Racing, to give up to 3,500 supporters the opportunity to own a share in a racehorse.

The racehorse, Rebel Tribesman, was purchased by Old Gold Racing, and is being trained by renowned racehorse trainer Jamie Snowden, who has trained over 560 winners throughout his career.  

Following Rebel Tribesman’s recent win at Warwick Racecourse, we caught up with Jamie to discuss his military background, his journey into horse racing, his success as a trainer and what drew him to the Walking With The Wounded racehorse. 

1. Can you tell us about your connection to the Armed Forces?

I was lucky enough to gain a ‘Bursary’ from the Army to go to Newcastle University, so once I had graduated from Uni, I was always heading to Sandhurst, and then the Army for a Short Service Commission.

2. What motivated you to pursue a career in racehorse training?

I had ridden horses all my life and started riding in Point-to-Points when I was 16 years old. During a gap year, I worked as an Assistant Trainer for a flat yard in New Zealand and continued to work for several trainers while at Newcastle University. Whilst at Sandhurst, I was lucky enough to be a ‘last minute call up’ to ride Folly Road for the Royal Irish Regiment in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown in 2002 and went on to win the race. Having then commissioned into the Kings Royal Hussars, I was lucky enough to win the Grand Military Gold Cup and the Royal Artillery Gold Cup a total of four times each. I went on to work as a Pupil Assistant and Amateur Jockey for champion trainer, Paul Nicholls, and then worked for four seasons as Assistant Trainer and Amateur Jockey for Nicky Henderson before branching out on my own in 2008.

3. What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

I am incredibly proud to be where we are today. It’s so hard to narrow it down to one episode or one race, but to have trained over 560 winners including multiple Cheltenham Festival winners, several Grade 1 winners, a plethora of Grade 2 and Listed winners, the Hennessey winner, the Paddy Power winner, and not forgetting a winner for Their Majesties The King and Queen, is incredible. I’m just so lucky.

4. Do you remember how you felt when you carried the Queen's colours to victory whilst riding First Love at Sandown in 2006?

It was an incredibly proud moment as it was such an honour to even ride in those wonderful colours, let alone win in them. I was even invited to the Late Queen’s 80^th Birthday party!

5. You’ve trained a lot of successful horses in your time and have now taken on Rebel Tribesman, the horse raising funds for WWTW. What is it about Rebel Tribesman that drew you towards training him?

Being by Crystal Ocean he has a wonderful pedigree, and he is a half-brother to multiple winners, Some Detail and Filey Bay, who was placed in the Betfair and County Hurdles whilst also a winner on the flat. He was beaten by only 2 lengths into 3rd on his debut in a Point-to-Point at Garthorpe, before winning a bumper at Aintree on his debut under rules. He looked like a horse who was guaranteed to win races for Old Gold Racing, and I knew we’d have an awful lot of fun with him.

Shares in Rebel Tribesman are available to purchase, with £10 from each share being donated to Walking With The Wounded to help fund our mental health, employment, and wraparound care coordination services. Find out more: Become an owner in Rebel Tribesman