Category: Jockey News
10-03-2018
Our military races are an integral part of our calendar and never seem to disappoint, with extraordinary stories often emerging. Surely nobody can forget in recent years the emotional victories of Brodie Hampson and then of Guy Disney with back-to-back victories in last and this year’s Royal Artillery Gold Cup.
The lead-up to Cheltenham obviously dominated all racing news in the week leading up to it but there are always plenty of stories out there and none more remarkable than the comeback ride out of retirement of Sally Randell which preceded Billy Aprahamian’s magnificent victory later in the afternoon of the Grand Military Gold Cup.
Specifically targeting her regular ride at home, 14 year-year-old RATIFY trained by partner Fergal O’Brien, Sally dusted off her boots and to her joy all went exactly to plan – to win the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Memorial Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at the Military meeting at Sandown on 9th March!
Leading early on, Sally only had to shake her horse up from 2 out for him to respond to her urgings and take up the lead on the flat and go on to win gamely by over a length.
“That was fantastic” she said. “He’s the only reason I came back to ride. Five years ago was the last time I rode in this race and I won it. My grandad died that morning and I said I just wanted to ride in it one more time and there was nothing I wanted to ride until Ratify came along. I knew if I dropped my reins he could win it for me. There’s not many I’d have been confident enough to ride but I knew if I just sat there he could win it for me. It was worth coming out of retirement, I was screaming at him after the last and it’s just so special. I won my last chase – I thought there’s no way that can happen twice. That’s it, I promise, you won’t see me riding again.”
Many congratulations to Sally and to all winning connections. Sally immediately re-hung up her boots after her victory and now belongs to a very rare club , ending her riding career with winning rides both over hurdles and fences! What an achievement!
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08-03-2018
By kind arrangement with Cheltenham Racecourse the following has been arranged for any Amateur Jockey riding at Cheltenham Festival:
Former jockey and BHA Coach Carl Llewellyn will be offering a Course Walk at the Cheltenham Festival prior to racing each day. The initiative mirrors that of the previously established course walks at Aintree. The majority of amateurs riding at Cheltenham are invariably experienced and many are previous course winners but those jockeys with inexperience of Cheltenham are encouraged to try and attend the walk.
Please meet Carl in the Weighing Room from 11:30 am.
Good luck to all amateur jockeys riding at Cheltenham!
08-03-2018
Many congratulations to Lincolnshire’s successful point-to-point jockey Tom Strawson who enjoyed his first winner under Rules at Catterick with DUHALLOW TORNADO for Chris Pimlott.
07-03-2018
Plans for this summer’s lady jockeys’ pro/am Silk Series have been announced with added fixtures taking the total to 13 races to include races from non-Arena racecourses Goodwood, Hamilton, Musselburgh and York.
Ex-amateur apprentice Megan Nicholls won the 2017 Tufnell Trophy and this year the point-based series offers a total of £150,000 in prize-money, with the £20,000 finale programmed to take place at the St Leger meeting.
Our favourite race from last year has to be Newcastle’s with amateurs monopolising the first three places: triple champion lady rider Carol Bartley won aboard Archipelago for Iain Jardine with Ella McCain 2nd (Sikandar) and Carly Scott 3rd (Royal Reserve).
Good luck ladies! We look forward to a great summer ahead.
| RACECOURSE |
|
DATE |
|
AFT/EVE |
|
Distance |
|
Prize Money |
|
| Musselburgh |
|
02-Jun-18 |
|
Day |
|
1m 6f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| Chepstow |
|
13-Jul-18 |
|
Eve |
|
6f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| Great Yarmouth |
|
18-Jul-18 |
|
Eve |
|
6f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| Lingfield Park |
|
21-Jul-18 |
|
Eve |
|
5f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| York |
|
27-Jul-18 |
|
Eve |
|
1m 1f |
|
£15,000 |
|
| Newcastle |
|
28-Jul-18 |
|
Day |
|
1m 2f |
|
£11,000 |
|
| Royal Windsor |
|
30-Jul-18 |
|
Eve |
|
6f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| Hamilton Park |
|
04-Aug-18 |
|
Eve |
|
6f |
|
£12,000 |
|
| Brighton |
|
09-Aug-18 |
|
Day |
|
7f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| Bath |
|
18-Aug-18 |
|
Eve |
|
1m 3f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| Goodwood |
|
26-Aug-18 |
|
Day |
|
tbc |
|
£12,000 |
|
| Wolverhampton |
|
01-Sep-18 |
|
Day |
|
1m 1f |
|
£10,000 |
|
| Doncaster |
|
13-Sep-18 |
|
Day |
|
6f |
|
£20,000 |
05-03-2018
Whilst most of us have been coping with The Beast from the East and Storm Emma for the past few days and deprived of racing here, its good to see some of our amateur jockeys enjoying race riding in warmer climes!
Our winning most lady champion Serena Brotherton enjoyed representing the UK by becoming our first amateur jockey to ride in South America when riding in Hipodromo de Monterrico, Lima, Peru on 24th February. Her first ride was unplaced but her second ride THUNDERING SAINT finished 3rd from a wide draw stepping up from 5f to a mile. It was an exciting finish!
Serena is the first UK amateur jockey to ride in South America and only the second English jockey to ride in Peru ever, with Lester Piggott being the first and he also finished third! Well done Serena!
Huge thanks to our friends Jochi Meza and Sara Torre for their fantastic hospitality and kindness in making this extraordinary experience possible.
05-03-2018
Antonia Peck defied the elements and managed to make it to the airport to ride for the UK in Houston Texas on Saturday 3 March in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship. The severe weather disrupted travel plans for many of the Euroopean ladies and another bad weather front in the US itself stopped their lady rider from taking part with flights grounded on the East Coast.
Many congratulations to Antonia who enjoyed a fantastic trip and finished 3rd with Sweden’s Tina Henriksson victorious on UPTOWN SANDY GIRL denying Cindy Klinkenberg in a close finish.
Thanks as always to Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, for these great opportunities for our lady riders which are hugely appreciated by us all.
21-02-2018
Ludlow Race Course has got to be the favourite UK racecourse of Mark Galligan who followed up his January 1st career winner there with the 2nd win of his career today on Goohar in The Prince of Wales Challenge Trophy Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
This valuable 3 mile chase produced a thrilling photo finish from 6 runners with Mark and Goohar bravely staying on to deny Lorcan Williams and Captain Buck’s by a neck.
Ludlow welcomed BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust who kindly assisted with the winning presentations.
Many congratulations to winning connections on a memorable day with this being the first leg of a double for local trainer Henry Daly 🏆🏆🎉👏
Picture credits: AJA
17-02-2018
Captain Guy Disney enjoyed another fairytale at Sandown yesterday when partnering last year’s victorious Rathlin Rose in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup to repeat an emotional victory.
Producing his horse with perfect timing, Guy patiently waited until the last before urging the 10-year-old up the hill to win comfortably.
Following his win, Guy said “I think when you’re on a horse like this who jumps, travels and has been round the course and distance, it’s lovely. Look at his run in the Welsh National – he’s very good. It’s very nice to ride a horse like that. I saw Roddi Greene in the week – I’ve had a few bad falls this year – and I was just trying to calm things down a little bit. There’s more time than you think and you don’t have to rush.
“You can’t bottle the feeling of winning this race – I didn’t want to rest on my laurels from last year – and I’m chuffed for David [Pipe] and Fergus Wilson.
Regarding the connections between horse and servicemen, Disney added: “I think if you look back, there used to be such a connection between the horses and military. It’s not a real job for us – the majority of riders have been in Iraq, Afghanistan or Bosnia – and it’s great that the big trainers run horses in this race. It’s a real priviledge to take part.”
Huge congratulations to Guy on making history by recording the first back-to-back win of this wonderful race.
16-02-2018
A dramatic finish to the opener at Chelmsford last night saw a photo finish between Antonia Peck aboard Laura Mongan’s TED’S BROTHER a nose in front of Harriet Lees on Kevin Ryan’s TAGUR with Simon Walker squeezed for room in third. The result was the subject of a steward’s enquiry with the stewards subsequently and contraversially reversing the first two placings which was questioned by Matt Chapman covering the meeting on At the Races. It remains to be seen if an appeal will be lodged.
Tagur had been up with the pace all of the way but just lost out at the line. It was the stewards’ opinion that Ted’s Brother had hampered Paddy A who in turn bumped Tagur. However, on the head on it appeared Tagur had edged right helping to squeeze out Simon Walker on the favourite Paddy A.
Congratulations to Harriet Lees on her second win in 5 days.
15-02-2018
Congratulations to leading amateur Zac Baker on a patient ride aboard Godfrey Maundrell’s mare Tambura in very testing conditions at Towcester on Valentine’s Day to record their 6th career win together in the mares’ hurdle.
Looking outpaced having been in touch in the early stages of the race, the mare renewed her efforts as they turned for home up the Towcester hill and galloped relentlessly to wear down her rivals and lead after jumping the last.
Many congratulations to winning connections.
