Michael was born in England where he was Champion Amateur Steeplechase Jockey and Champion Jump Trainer on three occasions. He began Training in the United States in 1987 at the Fairhill Training Center in Maryland before relocating to his purpose built Tapeta Farm Training Center in Maryland in 1996.
In addition to his record-breaking achievements in the UK, Michael has won over 80 Stakes races in the USA and Canada, including 8 Grade 1s.
Prior to creating Tapeta, Michael spent time at Ballydoyle in Ireland with the great Trainer Vincent O’Brien where he learned extensively about surfaces. Michael’s knowledge of surfaces was further enhanced by Geoffrey Davison from Cambridge Soil Surfaces, a pioneer in turf husbandry and drainage. Michael’s experience training Steeplechase racehorses in the UK was also important in the development of Tapeta. The 3 Training Centers that Michael has built at Harewood (UK), Manton (UK) and Tapeta Farm (USA), were also important factors in the creation of Tapeta.
Michael is perhaps best known in the UK for training the first 5 horses home in Jump racing’s biggest race in 1983, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and for winning the Breeders Cup Mile in 1996 and 1998 with the fragile Da Hoss, who retired to the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park. Further information on Michael is available on www.michaelwdickinson.com
Michael is also in the Guinness Book of World Records four times, including holding the world record for most winners in one day – 12, and was elected to the Steeplechasing Hall of Fame.
