Sean Bowen leads family celebration with sixth Welsh Jockey of the Year title
Sean Bowen has been named National Hunt Jockey of the Year for the sixth time. The two-time British champion jump jockey picked up the award at the Welsh Horse Racing Awards on Thursday, 8 October at Chepstow Racecourse. He celebrated with his family trackside. BBC Sport
Bowen hailed the quality of Welsh racing as he accepted the prize. That rang true on the night. Welsh yards, breeders and owners filled most of the roll of honour.
It was a Bowen family night. Peter and Karen Bowen, Sean's parents, received the Outstanding Contribution to Welsh Racing Award. His brother James Bowen shared a Special Recognition Award with fellow jockey Ben Jones.
In the training ranks, Evan and Cath Williams were named National Hunt Trainer of the Year. National Hunt is jump racing, where horses clear hurdles and fences. Mickey Bowen was runner-up. David Evans was named Flat Trainer of the Year. Flat racing is run on the level, with no obstacles.
The horses took centre stage too. Haiti Couleurs was named National Hunt Horse of the Year after giving Bowen victory in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow at 5/1 for Newport trainer Rebecca Curtis. Chepstow Racecourse The Welsh Grand National is a long-distance handicap chase, where better horses carry more weight. All Ways Glamorous was named Flat Horse of the Year.
Elsewhere, Daniel Muscutt was named Flat Jockey of the Year. Kelly Thomas of Maywood Stud was named Breeder of the Year. Walters Plant Hire won Owner of the Year.
The timing matters. The awards were held on the eve of the Welsh Racing Festival, which begins at Chepstow on Friday. Bowen goes into that meeting second in this season's jockeys' championship behind Harry Cobden. He defended the British champion jump jockey title in 2025-26.
Last year he rode four winners across three days of the festival meeting. He returns with a live book of rides. That includes Queenie St Clair at 40/1 in Friday's feature, the Welsh Champion Hurdle, a top race over hurdles where long odds mark her as an outsider.
What makes this stand out is the grind behind the glitter. Six Welsh titles and two British championships come from early mornings, schooling and miles on the road. For fans walking through the Chepstow gates, this means the man of the night is straight back to work.
