One-horse power

The keen horse owner is applying for a hackney carriage license to impress the tourists who come to Doncaster for the St Leger next month.

He took his carriage out for a trial run during the recent Leger trials meeting at the newly refurbished 32 million Doncaster racecourse, giving friends a free trip from the Rockingham Arms to the Town Moor course.

The proposal is a joint project between Mr Rushton and Rockingham Arms boss Jim Davies.

They have insurance arrangements lined up and are now just waiting to hear whether they will qualify for a license from Doncaster Council.

The second hand carriage is a replica of an 1800s style vehicle, made in steel, which he stripped down and refurbished.

It is pulled by his own horse, a cross breed cob called Rocket, which he says is ideal for the job.

Mr Rushton said he had wanted to run a horse taxi service for years.

He said: "A few years ago I thought about doing something like this in the centre of Doncaster where I could take people around and explain the stories behind buildings like the Mansion House or the Corn Exchange.

"I found out about things like insurance at the time. Now I've applied for a hackney licence. I need to know how much it would cost and what restrictions there would be on me.

"But I really want to do something in time for the first race meeting. This week I was just taking friends, and it worked like clockwork.

"Jim reckons it must be 100 years since Doncaster had a horse-drawn taxi and he could be right.

"For people getting their first experience of a horse drawn vehicle, I think it would be really enjoyable. Everyone waved at us as we went past when we took it out last week."

It is not the first time Mr Rushton has been seen out about in a horse-drawn carriage in the borough.

In January he was one of a number of horse enthusiasts who took part in an organised trip from Bentley to the town centre with their horse-drawn vehicles, which the participants hope to make into an annual event.