Few trainers have left a bigger mark on British racing than Mark Johnston. Renowned for the scale and consistency of his operation, Johnston became the first trainer in Britain to saddle 5,000 winners before handing over the licence to his son Charlie.For the latest installment of TDN's Words To Live By series, Gary King caught up with Johnston to discuss the people and advice that shaped his career, from the business partner who helped accelerate his progress to the advice that ultimately led him to strike out on his own. For young people entering the industry today, Johnston believes it is important to look well beyond the present and consider where racing might be decades from now.TDN: Outside of your family, who has been the most important mentor or influence on your career, and why?Mark Johnston: Our business partner from 1988-2000, Brian Palmer. Brian owned our first winner, Hinari Video, and was full of enthusiasm for getting into the horseracing industry.He told me that he couldn't make me a better horse trainer than I was going to be, but he would move me on 10 years, and I think he did. He taught me how to run, develop and grow the business.TDN: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?MJ: Ironically, considering my answer to question one, it was, “You need to force a buyout.”It came from an owner, Ian Harland, who could see that the company was growing much faster than our personal wealth and that any exit from our partnership with the Palmers would become more and more difficult.Ian negotiated the buyout and we had a couple of years when our relationship with Brian and Val went a bit “cool,” but we were soon best of friends again and there were no hard feelings. We have holidayed with them many times and try to see each other at least once a month.TDN: What advice would you give to a young person starting out in the racing or bloodstock industry today?MJ: I think it very much depends on the individual and the area of the racing or bloodstock industry that they intend to enter but, as we are talking about young people, I think they should look very carefully at where the racing industry might be in 20-30 years from now.The post Mark Johnston: ‘Think About Where Racing Will Be In 20-30 Years’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.