Who are K&M Racing?
Based in the heart of the Cotswolds in Stow-on-the-Wold we are in ‘National Hunt Country’, with many top racecourses including Cheltenham within a stone’s throw of our base. Our yard, Martins Hill, offers some of the best facilities in the country.
David Killahena has a wealth of experience working in racing at the highest level, having spent a number of years with Aidan O’Brien and Owen Burrows on the flat and in more recent years with Fergal O’Brien over jumps. He got to know the Martins Hill set up well when leading the team there for O’Brien McPherson Racing over the course of two excellent seasons between October 2021 and June 2023, sending out more than 50 winners in less than 2 years.
Graeme McPherson trained over 200 winners from Martins Hill between 2010 and 2021, enjoying significant success for a fantastic group of owners.
They and the first class Martins Hill team ensure that each horse in training is given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
How it all started…
After a spectacularly unsuccessful career in the saddle which resulted in just 1 winner, Graeme turned his hand to training point to point horses from Martins Hill in 2005. After tasting success with the yard’s first ever runner – MR NABARRO at Cottenham – the yard thrived, enjoying numerous wins between the flags and in Hunter Chases over the following seasons.
The early licensed years
Shortly after enjoying Cheltenham Hunter Chase success with RIEN A PERDRE, in 2010 Graeme took out a full licence to train under Rules. The first winner from the yard’s original 12 boxes came at Southwell courtesy of FAIRIVEW SUE, ridden by Jodie Mogford. A handful of winners in that first season increased year by year, with six-figure prize money being regularly achieved and horses – often unfancied at other years – enjoying success at every level.
What was David doing?
In 2010 David had started working for Brendan Powell, he worked there for two years progressing to the role as Head Lad.
Expansion
In the early years Martin Hill comprised a dozen boxes and the hill gallop. With success came the need to expand. In 2012 what is now the main yard was built and a round gallop went in. An all weather schooling lane to complement the turf schooling grounds completed the work that summer.
David starts at Ballydoyle…
By 2012 David had started working at Ballydoyle to work for Aidan O’Brien as an exercise rider. Getting to ride some of the finest horses in the world as well as learning as much as he could at one of racings finest training operations.
A good year
2017 saw the most successful season to date numerically, with over 30 National Hunt and Flat winners at a strike rate of over 16%. A £1 stake on each of the yard’s runner that season would have returned a profit of £69.08 !
Further expansion and a record year for prize money
2019 saw the completion of the Another Raleagh yard, named after a long-time yard favourite, and the rebuilding of the top yard, to increase the capacity of the yard to 80 boxes. The season also saw us top £200,000 in National Hunt prize money and £250,000 in total for the first time – and the £1 stake would have netted you £22.58 that year !
David moves into National Hunt Racing…
After a long and successful spell as head lad for Owen Burrows, David moved into the world of National Hunt Racing. In August 2019, He joined the team at Fergal O’Brien’s. He spent two years at Ravenswell as Head Lad.
The last year of McPherson Racing
With the merger with Fergal O’Brien on the horizon, McPherson Racing went out with a bang in its final season, with twenty five National Hunt winners at a 13% strike rate, and a 60% win and place record.
O’Brien McPherson Racing
The formation of O’Brien McPherson Racing in October 2021 saw David Killahena move to Martins Hill to oversee matters on Fergal’s behalf. Over the course of the following 18 months more than 50 winners came out of Martins Hill, contributing significantly to two century-making seasons for Fergal.
The new partnership
The decision to end O’Brien McPherson Racing created the opportunity for David to secure a training licence of his own and for the new partnership – K&M Racing – to be created with Graeme. They enjoyed their first winner – the first of many to come – at Stratford in October 2023 with MOON CHIME.
