Category: Jockey News
26-07-2016
Ireland’s racing community are mourning the loss of their legendary and much loved amateur jockey JT McNamara who suffered a career ending fall at Cheltenham Festival in 2013 which immobilised him from the neck down. He was aged 41.
JT was widely regarded as one of the best amateur jockeys that racing has ever known as well as one of the most popular. His achievements in the saddle included 602 point-to-points as well as Cheltenham Festival’s National Hunt Chase in 2002 (Rith Dubh) and 2012 (Teaforthree), the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2005 (SpotTheDifference) and 2007’s Foxhunters (Drumbeag).
Our deepest condolences are extended to his wife Caroline and their three children Dylan, Harry and Olivia together with the rest of his family. May he Rest In Peace.
26-07-2016
Fifteen minutes after the excitement of the Ladies Longines at Ascot, it was the turn of our gentlemen riders to enjoy a slice of the action at Salisbury with the running of the historic Carnarvon Cup run over 1 mile.
A field of 7 went to post but the subsequent withdrawal of Pat Millman’s ride RAJADAMRI from unruliness in the stalls saw the field depleted to 6 starters.
Multi-talented multiple champion Simon Walker was on the only 3 year old in the race, George Scott’s IMPERIAL STATE. Although untidy leaving the stalls, the partnership made smooth headway after being held up to lead over a furlong from home and stay on to draw clear and win by 4 1/2 lengths from Ross Birkett aboard George Baker’s GEORGE BAKER with James Perrett 3rd on Richard Hughes’s WORDISMYBOND.
Many congratulations to Simon who has now drawn well clear in the gentlemen’s championship with 3 winners in the last week and leads on 5 wins so far this season!
26-07-2016
One of the highlights of the ladies Flat calendar, the Longines Handicap at Ascot, saw 19 go to post (although only 18 loaded with Lisa O’Neill having to endure the frustration of Burn The Boats refusing to enter the stalls).
TV pundits had been quick to dismiss HAWKEYETHENOO whilst discussing runners pre-race, the 10 year old not having won a race since the 2012 Steward’s Cup, but they were soon to be proven wrong. The field did not split but raced mainly centre of the course to the far side. Former triple ladies champion Carol Bartley was happy to hold up her horse towards the rear and track the leaders, making steady progress from 2 furlongs out. Joanna Mason was going well on NORMANDY BARRIERE to lead a furlong out, but was denied victory in the final 100 yards with HAWKEYETHENOO running on for Carol and score gamely for boss Jim Goldie by 1 1/4 lengths. 1 1/2 lengths back in 3rd was in-form Emily Easterby on her father’s SAKHEE’S RETURN with Becky Smith a further 1 1/4 lengths 4th.
Many congratulations Carol Bartley Jim Goldie and all winning connections on such a special win, made all the more memorable with Carol’s daughter Kayleigh Williams leading up the winning horse!
Our grateful thanks go to Longines for their generous sponsorship and supply of such a beautiful watch for the winning lady rider and also to Ascot Racecourse for their support.
25-07-2016
Ladies Day at Uttoxeter on Friday – the perfect setting for a lady jockey to take on the professionals! That is exactly what Becky Smith did, and went on to enjoy a comfortable win opening her account for the jump season when partnering DEBT TO SOCIETY for Richard Ford.
Leading the field of 14 from the off, the partnership were headed soon after jumping the 9th but Debt to Society responded to Becky’s urgings and, left in the lead two fences from home with the dramatic departure of GWILL SPAR and Archie Bellamy, Becky drove her horse (not the most straightforward of rides) to the line to win by 3 1/2 lengths.
Many congratulations Becky on an excellent ride and a good interview afterwards too with Bob Cooper!
Becky and fellow amateur Catherine Walton’s photo (shown below) features in one of this year’s Scottish Racing publications. Both ladies ride on the Flat and over jumps and both have ridden winners this season under both codes.
23-07-2016
The final race of the evening at Worcester was the 7bets4free.com amateur riders Handicap Hurdle with 11 going to post and it was another West Country based amateur rider who was to prove his worth with a tenaciously ridden race.
Happy to bide his time on WHO AM I for Debra Hamer, James King tracked leading pair James Nixon on SPORTING MILAN and Page Fuller on I’LLHAVEALOOK as the trio drew away from the rest of the field. The partnership then went clear to lead on the flat and stayed on well to win by just under 2 lengths, with James Nixon 2nd and Page Fuller 3rd.
One of 9 individual gentleman jockeys to have ridden a winner each this season, this 2nd win of the season for James now puts him in pole position for the men’s jump championship at this very early stage. Well done and many congratulations to James and winning connections.
Picture credits: AJA
23-07-2016
Very many congratulations to Hannah Welch who enjoyed her first success riding under Rules when winning the penultimate race at Worcester last night for Jackie Du Plessis riding against professionals in the 7bets4free.com Handicap Hurdle.
Under a great ride from Hannah, 16/1 POLO THE MUMM gradually made headway from the rear around half way through the race, to take up second 3 from home. They went on to join DESERTER and Gavin Sheehan before the last where the partnership battled it out to draw clear as they neared the line and score by 2 lengths. 15 ran.
18 year old Hannah is already a successful point-to-point rider in her own South West area but this was an evening for her to remember. Well done Hannah!
21-07-2016
Many congratulations to Emily Easterby who enjoyed success at Leicester Racecourse in the 2nd of the 8 race BETFAIR NOVICE AMATEUR RIDERS SERIES last night run over 7 furlongs.
Partnering her father’s WHITE FLAG Emily managed to hold off the strongest of challenges from the stylish Joe Wright and NO REFUND in a thrilling finish, winning by a head, with Jack Andrews 3/4 of a length back in 3rd on CAESER THE GAESER.
Emily is enjoying a wonderful season, now having won back-to-back Betfair races (Catterick Bridge last week) following her first career success at York a short while ago when winning the Queen Mother’s Cup.
Many thanks to Betfair and to Leicester Racecourse for their great support and to Tim Reed for his valuable work as Jockey Coach.
The series now moves on to Redcar for the 3rd race next week on 27th July and there are 25 entries.
16-07-2016
Antwerp in Belgium is renowned as Europe’s diamond centre but Irish lady jockeys can be forgiven for mistaking Cartmel as the best place to search for diamonds with their professional jockey Rachael Blackmore victorious today in the Banks Lyon Ladies Hurdle following amateur jockey Lisa O’Neill‘s victory last year! Catherine Walton jumped off handy and made all, leading the field of 11 on recent Cartmel winner WISTY trained locally by Martin Todhunter.
Ireland’s only representative, BABY JAKE trained by Shark Hanlon and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, was held up but always had the leader in her sights. The partnership made steady headway from 3 out to lead after the last and score by 1 1/2 lengths, denying Catherine the diamonds. She had to settle for a gallant 2nd, with newly licensed conditional Charlotte Jones from nearby Barrow 11 lengths back in 3rd with her first ever ride on SMART RULER.
Winning rider Rachael turned conditional last March and having ridden out her 7 lb claim last month she was delighted with her diamond pendant. “It’s amazing, I can’t believe it’s mine!” she said. “It’s unbelievably generous of the sponsors Banks Lyon to put up such a prize. Things have been going well and this is a big bonus.” Rachael has been based with County Carlow trainer Shark Hanlon since she started her career in racing and he said “I’m delighted for her, there’s no better worker in any yard. For commitment she’s unreal and I’d give her 100 out of 100.”
Anthea Morshead, Cartmel’s Clerk of the Course, said “We have had a brilliant day’s racing. Great racing, great crowd, wonderful family atmosphere. The race which created the most excitement and most chat in the run up to this meeting was the Banks Lyons ladies race with a £5,000 diamond necklace. It’s the richest lady riders hurdle race in the country and we had jockeys from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. It was very, very competitive. There was a £10,000 winning prize anyway, plus the £5,000 diamond necklace. All the girls have been desperately looking for rides to run in this race and it’s great that it has been so well supported.”
Huge thanks to Cartmel Racecourse and to Banks Lyon Jewellers Ltd for their tremendous generosity in sponsoring this unique race. Many congratulations to winning connections!
14-07-2016
The Racing Post gave us all a good introduction to the Dorothy Laird pro/am ladies race held at Beverley on Tuesday with a fascinating piece on its history written by David Ashforth: A REMARKABLE RACE FOR A REMARKABLE WOMAN (see attachment below).
14 ladies went to post (evenly split between 7 professionals and 7 amateurs) in this 10 furlong handicap. Always handy, Ruth Carr’s SAN CASSIANO in the hands of Serena Brotherton took up the lead from halfway and, hard ridden from a furlong out, managed to hold on by a head from ex-amateur Shelley Birkett and ATTAIN in a thrilling finish. Another ex-amateur Gemma Tutty was 2 lengths back in 3rd, a head in front of Charlotte Greenway 4th.
Many congratulations to Serena on her 3rd winner of the season (her 149th career winner) and huge thanks to Beverley Racecourse for their continued support with this historic ladies race.
Photo credit: Mrs D Brotherton
14-07-2016
A day keenly anticipated was enjoyed at Catterick Bridge yesterday with the opening race of the BETFAIR NOVICE AMATEUR JOCKEYS SERIES 2016. This series is for amateur jockeys who have ridden no more than 3 winners under Rules by the start of the current Flat season and excludes wins enjoyed either point-to-pointing or Arabian racing.
As with all races in this series, jockeys met Jockey Coach Tim Reed 90 minutes before the race to enjoy a course walk and discuss tactics and the peculiarities of the course. 13 runners went to post and it was good to see that in spite of the lack of experience of some jockeys, all delivered polished performances – a testimony not only to the hard work put in by the jockeys themselves but also thanks to the guidance from their trainers and racing school coaches.
Fresh from her high profile first career win at York in the Queen Mother’s Cup, Emily Easterby, riding her father’s DUKE OF YORKSHIRE, showed an excellent judge of pace and made all, pushing her mount out from 2 furlongs and staying on well to win by a length from Tom Greenwood on CHAUVELIN with Katy Lyons a neck back in 3rd.
Many congratulations to Emily who is enjoying such a great season! The series moves on to Leicester next Wednesday 20th July for the 2nd of 8 races in this series. Many thanks to Catterick Bridge for their support in hosting the race and also to our sponsors Betfair.
Picture credits: AJA
