About Us
Founder
Global Group Racing
Our Team
Albert House Stables
Founder
Dr Johnny Hon
Hong Kong born Founder and Executive Chairman of Global Group International Holdings Dr. Johnny Hon is an international entrepreneur and investor, race horse owner and breeder. The dynamic career of the Cambridge graduate has taken him through diverse international endeavours within his portfolio of companies that range over banking, biotechnology, entertainment and leisure, financial services, financial technology, gaming, media, mining, property development and sports.
Dr. Hon is active in a variety of political, diplomatic and philanthropic initiatives, and he has a great passion for horse racing. Over the last 21 years, his interest and involvement in the racing industry has steadily grown alongside his business ventures, and after making significant investments in Bloodstock and approaching the fifty winner mark as an owner, he decided to further his racing interest by acquiring Albert House Stables and establishing Global Group Racing.
Some notable achievements contributing to Dr. Hon’s racing success include Global Applause having four wins, with two coming in Listed company when he beat Mehmas in the National Stakes at Sandown as a two-year-old and then when he beat El Astronaute at Doncaster in the Scarborough Stakes at four. Global Spectrum has had the distinction of winning in three different countries. After winning two Novices in the UK he then picked up the valuable Group 2 Al Biddah Mile in Qatar. Subsequently he moved to Hong Kong where he was renamed Golden Spectrum and has picked up a valuable handicap at Happy Valley.
Whilst Dr. Hon has his own horses in Albert House Stables, his vision is to also own horses alongside industry friends and to welcome new owners. He has also started a breeding programme and is aiming to further develop this in the future. Albert House and Global Group Racing is managed by a team of experienced professionals, which includes qualified and proven horse trainer Chris Dwyer. Dr. Hon is very ambitious and sees this venture as a long-term project that will lead to success at the highest level and he is confident that having a training base in the internationally renowned town of Newmarket will enable him to implement the ideas and innovations that he hopes will lead to further racing success.
As Global Group Racing becomes further established Dr. Hon aspires to target races further afield and to increase the calibre of horses at Albert House Stables. The foundations of Global Group Racing have been put in place to ensure success from an early stage and Dr. Hon and his team are very excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.
For more information, please visit www.johnnyhon.com.
Global Group Racing
Global Group Racing Ltd is the brainchild of Dr. Johnny Hon. Dr. Hon has been involved in UK racing since 1999 and he has developed a passion for horse racing that has grown over time. Excited by the idea of owning racing stables, Dr. Hon acquired Albert House Stables earlier this year and simultaneously established Global Group Racing. With the bloodstock market being depressed by Covid-19, Dr. Hon believed the timing was right to become more actively involved in the UK racing scene.
Technology is something that Dr. Hon is a big advocate of and Global Group Racing is already working to embrace the current technology that is available in the racing industry as well as developing new ideas and taking on future technological developments at an early stage.
Transparency will be at the heart of Global Racing. Owners will be able to access all of the data we produce for their horses. We want our owner experience to be inclusive and it is important that owners have fun. We will produce a regular report on all of the horses at Albert House and photos and videos will be sent frequently.
We are lucky to be located at the heart of Newmarket on the doorstep of renowned Warren Hill. This gives us access to a fantastic variety of gallops, which ensures we can tailor a horse’s training regime to their needs. Dr. Hon and the Global Group Racing team have developed innovative selection and training methods for horses and the boutique nature of our operation means that each horse will be treated as an individual and given all the time and attention they need.
Global Group Racing also has international ambitions giving horse owners a platform to connect with other owners around the world offering training and exposure to international races. We will buy horses to target races abroad, as well as look to partner with trainers in other countries. Trainers from different countries boast different expertise and Dr. Hon’s international vision to select, train and sell horses along with his connections in the US, Europe, Middle East and South East Asia offer our clients the opportunity to buy and sell horses through Global Group Racing both to and from countries around the world. This will provide variety and unforgettable memories, as we will make sure that the trips abroad are tailored to your needs.
Albert House Stables is a place where all will be welcome, so please do get in touch if you would like to come and visit. We would love to show you around the stables and the surrounding area. Our new home is known as a ‘lucky stable’ and so far it has proven to be just that.
- Our Team
Chris Dwyer – Trainer
Chris has a wealth of experience and has been involved in the horse racing industry for over half a century. Having ridden as a flat jockey, Chris started his training career in 1990 and has trained over 400 domestic winners. Cyrano’s Lad coming 4th in the Group 1 Nunthorpe was an incredible result given he arrived with Chris as an unheralded six-year-old. Chris had 110 winners from his last 4 seasons training (2014-2018) with a small stable of 20 horses, striking at a rate of 14.5%. We believe Chris is the perfect person to be at the helm of the training operation. He is a man of integrity and has a wealth of information and experience that will be invaluable to Global Group Racing Ltd.
Tim Hide – Racing Manager
Tim was born in Newmarket and his family have been involved in horse racing since the 1800s. His father Anthony Hide was a successful racehorse trainer in Newmarket for many years and his Uncle Edward Hide was a top jockey. Edward Hide won the Epsom Derby on Morston in 1973 and rode 2,593 winners in the United Kingdom. Tim’s brother Philip Hide was a successful jumps jockey and trainer too.
When his father retired Tim continued to work in racing stables and on stud farms during his University holidays. Upon graduating with a degree in economics, Tim decided to pursue a career in London where he spent nine years trading the financial markets, but he continued to follow racing closely and was involved in racehorse ownership during this time.
Four years ago Tim decided to return to the horseracing industry. He worked for Trainer Ed Dunlop for two years and he has worked closely with Global Group for the past two years. Tim’s financial experience coupled with his intimate knowledge of the racehorse makes him a valuable asset to the Albert House Stables and Global Group Racing team.
- Albert House Stables
The historical Albert House Stables was originally built in the 18th Century, but fell into disrepair after laying dormant for 17 years. Phil Cunningham undertook a restoration project in 2014, which included building a new three bedroom house on the site. Phil did a magnificent job and the 23 box yard produced a Royal Ascot winner post restoration when Rajasinghe won the Coventry Stakes in 2017 for Trainer Richard Spencer.
Albert House Stables holds quite a fascinating history. Starting with Richard Waugh, the eldest son of Dawson Waugh, who trained from Albert House in the 1800s before moving to the Imperial Stud in 1878 to train for the German Emperor. William Walters moved to Albert House to train in 1905, after a short but successful spell as a Private Trainer to Lord Rosebery. He trained at Albert House for 35 years until the start of World War 2. The best horse he trained at Albert House was the 1930 July Cup winner, Sir Cosmo. The legendary Bruce Hobbs used Albert House as his second yard for many years from 1968. Following his retirement until 1997, Albert House was used as a starting step by many trainers including Richard Shaw and Giles Bravery.
Located on the Moulton Road, the stables have access to Newmarket’s unrivalled training grounds, which cover 2,500 acres consisting of 50 miles of turf gallops and 14 miles of artificial surfaces. It is a prime location and the popular Warren Hill and Long Hill are just a stone’s throw away. It is a fantastic facility from which to train our team of horses.
