You wouldn’t think there are any similarities between Peter Bowen and Pirates of the Caribbean. But the small village of Little Newcastle with its population of only 130 residents boasts two heroes who are both from that small pocket of Pembrokeshire.

In 1682 Barti Ddu, one of the most prolific pirates of the Caribbean, would return from his voyages around the world to his hometown of Little Newcastle laden with chests of gold. Barti Ddu lived in the pub which is now called the Swan.

The only memory of Barti Ddu’s contribution to the local community now, is a single solitary stone on the village green, but Peter and Karen Bowen have deservedly stolen the limelight for now. Almost 500 years later, Peter & Karen Bowen have built an empire from nothing and every bit of their success you can put down to sheer hard work.

It is very much a team effort, eleven years ago, what is now a 74 stabled yard was once a muddy field and Peter & Karen have gone from driving a battered old ford fiesta, renting a couple of boxes in the village and exercising the horses themselves in the local farmers field, to over 50 horses in training and a winners list which most trainers would die for, not forgetting, the work they have created for the local community has been exceptional.

Karen’s experience in the show ring, the point to point field and later under rules has made them a real team. Peter’s father was a greengrocer who instilled a real sense of work ethic into Peter at a young age, he grew up in a hard working environment and to always take pride in what he did.

Winning the Grand National has always been a dream for Peter and that is increasingly becoming a reality. Peter is a perfectionist. He may change his mind a few times about how something should work but he has a determined almost stubborn, yet sometimes blinkered streak if he believes in it. He is both a listener and a doer but not a talker.

Their attitude is reflected upon the performance of their staff. Garren their head lad has worked for them since he was 14 and has stuck with them through thick and thin.

Where many staff members would have fallen by the way side when things got tough, Garren has been there day and night working for the same goal. He himself has quite a property empire throughout Pembrokeshire from the yards winnings over the years.

As an owner, there may be few unanswered phone calls and the likelihood of being treated no differently to anyone else in the yard when you arrive, but emails that bounce back, and the unanswered phone calls are far out weighed by your horse having the best care and every opportunity to win races.

Stately Home was the horse that really put them on the map. "An untrainable tank who was always carting people up the gallops he was very tricky to ride at home" Peter recalls. "He was bought for 800 guineas and he won us £120,000 so he really gave us the kick start we needed".

From seconds in the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Cesarewitch not to mention their long list of winners, this really is a yard to watch this year. Because when Peter & Karen race their horses they enter them with one objective, to Win.

Stately Home winning the Peterhouse Group Handicap ChaseWetherby, 2nd November 1996, Jockey Richard Dunwoody

Major Races Won Swinton Hurdle Topham Chase AGFA Diamond Chase Summer Plate Summer National Channel 4 Trophy (3 times) Scottish champion Hurdle Summer Hurdle Galway Hurdle Durham National Charisma Gold Cup