The Isle of Man Post Office has unveiled a special stamp collection celebrating the life of racehorse owner and island resident Trevor Hemmings, with proceeds supporting the Injured Jockeys Fund.
The collection features photography by Grossick Imaging and text by Kathryn Revitt, a Trustee of the Hemmings Family Trust.
It honours a man who secured his place in racing history as the first owner to win the Grand National three times with three different horses: Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011), and Many Clouds (2015).
Maxine Cannon, General Manager of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, said: “On behalf of Isle of Man Post Office, it is an honour to celebrate the life of Trevor Hemmings CVO with this landmark stamp issue.
“Trevor’s achievements in horse racing were extraordinary, driven by a love for the sport and enormous respect for everyone involved. This issue reflects those values and proudly supports the Injured Jockeys Fund, a cause close to racing’s heart.”
Racing
Well-known figures from racing and equestrianism shared personal memories of Hemmings for the collection.
Clare Balding said: “Trevor loved his horses. That shone through more than anything in the way he cared for them after they retired. He would always wear his cloth cap even under a top hat at Royal Ascot and he never forgot his roots as a working-class lad from Lancashire.”
Former Champion Jockey Sir AP McCoy said: “I am President of the Injured Jockeys Fund and I know personally what a huge contributor he had been for many years to our charity, especially when we were building one of our rehabilitation centres, Jack Berry house, which wouldn’t exist without Trevor’s generosity.”
Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, who rode Hemmings’ horse High Kingdom to a team silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics, added: “Trevor was the most special man in many ways and one of the hardest working people I have known.
“He had an incredible sense of humour and was a cheeky chap! But his love of horses was where I got lucky.”
The stamps will be released on Released on April 7.