Legend of racing puts home up for sale at £285,000

So there's no doubt that the sport of kings is his main passion, but houses come very close second for Colin Tinkler.

"I've always loved houses and I adore renovating. If I go to someone's home I sit there thinking how I'd redesign it," says Mr Tinkler, 83, a former trainer.

He has "Tinklerised" quite a few properties including his beloved cottage in Huttons Ambo, near Malton.

He bought it 11 years ago after downsizing from his stud farm at Wombleton.

He is now selling it for 285,000 and it represents a very good bet for any buyer given that it cost him 85,0000 and he's spent well over 200,000 on it, including 40,000 on the garden.

"I tore it apart. I've done everything from a new roof to moving the staircase to importing conifers from Italy.

"I've also spent money quite unnecessarily because I am a bit of a perfectionist. I felt the ceiling downstairs was slightly high so I spent a fortune having it lowered just one inch and a leaf daren't fall off a tree in the garden. I like it to be immaculate," says Mr Tinkler, who, when he lived at a hotel for a year between houses, had his room re-carpeted and brought in a joiner to saw down the legs on a couple of the dining tables because they were too high for his 5ft

frame.

His characterful period property is certainly on top form and boasts a living room, fitted kitchen, bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor and a large bedroom with balcony and bathroom on the first floor. Outside are beautifully landscaped gardens.

The surprisingly spacious home, which comes with potential to extend, is named Geega's Place.

"Geega is my nickname and I got it when I was 24. I'd organised a race for a pony club and there was a pony that wouldn't start.

"I shouted and shook my stick and it went off like the clappers. The rather skinny 11 year old girl riding was dumped in a pile of manure. She was so angry she shouted that I was an old Geega. She meant geezer, but the name stuck," says Mr Tinkler who is selling to move to an apartment closer to his son Nigel, a well-known trainer.

His eldest son Colin is also a trainer and horse dealer and his grandson Andrew is a top National Hunt jockey.

Mr Tinkler is famous for starting Full Circle in the 1980s. It was the first ever members' club allowing ordinary race lovers to have a share in a string of thoroughbreds.

He also had a reputation for picking winners.

A well-known personality on the country's race courses, his biggest win was 43,000 on 100/1 outsider Norton's Coin in the Cheltenham Gold cup in 1990.

His biggest loss was 11,000 on a footballing bet.

"People thought I bet heavier than I did, but I was never a feckless gambler. If I went to the races I knew which horses I was going to back and that was it. I took calculated risks and rarely backed outsiders. One exception was Norton's Coin."

His poor sight means he hasn't been to the races for years and he no longer bets.

"To be honest my nerve's gone with betting and with Andy racing I don't want to compromise him.

"Plus people tell me it's not the same. There are no characters now and no chalking up by the bookies. It's all computerised," he says.

"I have a big TV and I watch Andrew. He's a big part of my life and I would love to see him win the Grand National."

Although he has retired from the course and is downsizing Colin Tinkler isn't putting out to pasture just yet.

After writing his autobiography A Furlong To Go, he has just finished a novel and is planning a complete revamp of his new apartment: "I'm not past it quite yet and moving is just another adventure," he says.

Colin's cottage is for sale with Hunters of Malton. For more details phone 01653 699875 or visit www.huntersnet.co.uk

For more of the region's best properties see Saturday's Property Post supplement.

Safe bet for a racing dynasty

Born in Darlington, Colin Tinkler senior left school at 12 and by 15 had amassed a 4,000 fortune betting on greyhounds and used it to buy racehorses to fulfil his ambition of being a jockey.

With no formal training, he wasn't destined for success, but it introduced him to his wife Marie, who was a champion amateur rider.

With money he made in the motor trade the Tinklers bought a property at Boltby in the 1960s and trained their own horses and in the 1980s Colin set up Full Circle, the first members club allowing ordinary people to have a stake in racehorses.

His two sons Colin and Nigel became jump jockeysand Nigel now has a training yard near Malton, while Colin is a horse dealer in Newbury