Howard Johnson has spoken of his horror after armed raiders held him and his wife at gunpoint and robbed them of more than £100,000.
Johnson, 56, was reading the newspaper at his farm outside Crook, County Durham, on Sunday night when two men in balaclavas broke down his front door and forced him to open his safe.
Johnson said: “I have never been as frightened in my life before – and I have been kicked by bulls and horses and was nearly killed by a cow.”
The robbers, armed with a revolver and a 7in (18cm) knife, smashed their way into his home at White Lea Farm in Roddymoor at about 10.30pm.
Earlier, Mr Johnson had spotted a car nearby as he finished his jobs for the day but thought it belonged to a “courting couple”.
He said: “All of a sudden I heard a horrendous thud – I thought a picture had come off the wall.
“I jumped up and rushed to the door and there was two of them saying, ‘We’re going to get you. Open the door’.
“They were braying (hitting) on it and I couldn’t keep them back.
“They overpowered me and chucked me against the glass doors.
“I shouted up to my wife Sue, ‘We’re getting burgled’.”
Johnson was held at gunpoint while one of the robbers armed with a knife went upstairs to the couple’s bedroom where Mrs Johnson had been resting, and she was brought down.
The trainer said the men forced him to open his safe, and took away “six figures” of cash.
They then went upstairs and also stole money he had won at Aintree at the weekend.
He said it was lucky that their five-year-old granddaughter was not staying with them, as had been planned.
The robbers fled, but left a chilling warning not to call the police for three hours or they would shoot the couple.
Armed police were on the scene within minutes after the Johnsons raised the alarm.
They were interviewed overnight and were unable to return to their home today until forensic examinations were carried out.
Mr Johnson said: “I couldn’t act, they would have killed us. I just kept cool.
“They (the robbers) never got excited and they weren’t shaking, they were professionals.”
The trainer said the money taken was being saved up to buy his wife a dream cottage.
“It’s just as well we had the cash. If we didn’t, I don’t think I’d be talking to you now,” he said.
“This is the biggest fright I have ever had.”
Durham Police are expected to release more details later.
Durham Police said investigations into the robbery at Mr Johnson’s home were under way.
A spokesman said: “A horse owner and trainer was robbed of £100,000 after two armed men burst into his County Durham home late last night.
“Mr Johnson, who trains Royal Rosa which ran in Saturday’s Grand National, reported that two men, one armed with a knife forced entry through the front door.
“One of the men dragged Mr Johnson’s wife out of bed and then held a handgun to his head forcing Mr Johnson to open the safe before the robber and his accomplice fled.
“Initial information resulted in armed response vehicles attending the premises.
“Officers also conducted a search of the premises and surrounding area.”
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