East Renfrewshire, United Kingdom
Jim Goldie
East Renfrewshire, United Kingdom
Jim Goldie is one of Scotland’s most successful and enduring racehorse trainers, operating a family-run yard from Libohill Farm at Uplawmoor, around 15 miles from Glasgow. His involvement with horses began long before his training career: as a teenager he was a successful point-to-point rider, winning the championship final at Sedgefield before eventually moving into the training ranks.
Jim initially trained under a permit and sent out his first winner with Dawadar at Ayr in October 1993. He was granted a full training licence in 1994 and gradually built the operation from a handful of horses into one of the most successful yards in Scottish racing. The official yard describes Goldie Racing as a family business, with Jim’s sons and wider family playing important roles throughout its development.
More than three decades later, the yard has produced winners everywhere from Ayr and Hamilton to Ascot, Goodwood, York, Newmarket and Aintree. Jim’s career has encompassed hardy handicappers, high-class sprinters, staying horses and National Hunt performers, with a particular reputation for developing horses who continue improving well beyond the early stages of their careers.
Goldie Racing is based at Libohill Farm in Uplawmoor, set in the East Renfrewshire countryside overlooking the surrounding hills south-west of Glasgow. Rather than operating from one of Britain’s large shared training centres, Jim and his team have developed their own self-contained training environment around the family farm.
The principal training facilities include:
- 2-furlong circular all-weather gallop
- Circular gallop leading into a 4-furlong all-weather gallop
- Additional 1-furlong pull-up area
- Sand, rubber-chip and fibre all-weather surface
- Grass gallop
- Schooling hurdles and jumps
- Three horse walkers
- Large outdoor ménage
- Extensive turnout paddocks
The layout allows horses to combine conventional gallop work with grass exercise, schooling and turnout from the same private base. The naturally elevated setting also provides uphill work, something Jim has previously highlighted when discussing the preparation of horses such as Euchen Glen.
Group 1 King Charles III Stakes — American Affair, Royal Ascot 2025
1,000 Flat winners — 2025
First Scottish-based trainer to reach 100 Flat wins in a calendar year — 2025
1,000 career winners — 2022
Stewards’ Cup — Hawkeyethenoo, 2012
Northumberland Plate — Nicholas T, 2021
Multiple Group winner — Euchen Glen
Back-to-back Grand Sefton Chases — 2007 & 2008
Multiple Scottish Trainer Championships
Jim’s approach is characterised by patience, observation and finding the individual key to each horse. Rather than relying on a single formula, his career has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to identify the trip, tactics, routine and conditions that allow a horse to show its true ability.
That philosophy has produced some remarkable examples of long-term development. Euchen Glen improved into a multiple Group 3 winner as an older horse after returning from nearly two years away with a serious tendon injury, while American Affair progressed from winning a handicap off a mark of 67 to becoming a Group 1-winning sprinter. Jim has spoken openly about learning horses over time rather than expecting to have every answer from the beginning.
Longevity is another recurring feature of the yard. Horses such as Euchen Glen, Sir Chauvelin, Ayr Poet and Water Of Leith have raced successfully over many seasons, reflecting an operation comfortable working with experienced campaigners as well as younger horses.
The family and team surrounding the horses are equally important. Jim has repeatedly described the operation as a team effort, while Libohill Farm has previously achieved Lycetts Team Champion Accreditation for its staff ethos and engagement. The yard also actively rehomes horses leaving racing into suitable second careers where appropriate.
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