Category: Jockey News
23-09-2015
Congratulations John Dawson, surely the owner of the longest legs of any licensed jockey, who had a day to remember at Beverley racecourse yesterday when partnering JAN DE HEEM trained by Tina Jackson in the Betfair Supports Amateur Riders Handicap.
Although nearly hitting his head when leaving the stalls (!) John was always going comfortably, initially holding up his mount before making significant smooth headway from 3 furlongs out, ultimately fighting off this season’s leading Flat gentleman Kaine Wood on MISS RANGER and pushing his mount out as they neared the line, winning by 3/4 of a length.
The story of the race was unusual. Not only was the public interest alerted to the second ride under Rules of Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton which created a huge media buzz at the course but also amongst the 16 runner field were the current leading amateur jockeys of this season, Kaine Wood and Serena Brotherton, both obviously keen to add to their tally (whilst Joanna Mason had to endure watching the race as she sits out her current ban).
Well done John on a great start to your Flat career!
12-09-2015
With a lull in the ladies calendar here in Blighty, our reigning champion lady rider Serena Brotherton did not sit still last weekend but undertook a trip to the Continent. As a result, she nearly made it a winning double with a victory in a lady amateur race at Bordeaux-Le-Bouscat en route to San Sebastian in Spain. There she rode her own CITY GROUND (above) trained by Mick Easterby (and led up by fellow amateur Aly Deniel) to finish 2nd in an amateur rider’s mile race.
“It came about only because I read an article in the Racing Post that racing had resumed at San Sebastian” said Serena. “I e-mailed to enquire if I could ride. I could have run my horse in a conditions race against professionals but there was an amateur riders’ race and there are none at home at the moment. The Bordeaux trip was a totally unexpected bonus and it was very kind of Enrique Leon to let me ride his horse. I took City Ground to Jersey last year and managed to win, but I’m struggling to win with him at home. He travels well so we thought we would come on a trip and it nearly came off.”
Serena is now on a career total of 95 wins with her ambition of reaching 100 a little closer. Well done Serena!
07-09-2015
Any amateur jockey who sustains a concussion as a result of a fall whilst riding under Rules can now claim a Concussion Bounty in line with the system used by professional jockeys.
If you are unlucky enough to sustain such an injury and have had a red entry into your medical book, you will need to replace your crash helmet. Upon receipt of the damaged helmet, the sum of £80 will be rewarded to you in order for you to replace your helmet.
To benefit from this entitlement please post your damaged helmet to the AJA at Crews Hill House, Alfrick, Worcester WR6 5HF together with the attached form in order for your claim to be processed.
Please click on this link to download the form required to be posted along with the damaged helmet:
Bounty
03-09-2015
In view of the success over the last 3 years of the Betfair Novice Amateur Flat Series (for amateur jockeys who have ridden no more than 3 Flat winners at the start of the current Flat season) the BHA have introduced 2 new Flat races for amateurs who have ridden no more than 10 Flat winners. (Wins counted are those gained under Rules; both Arab and point-to-point races are discounted.) These races have been programmed within the old gentlemen’s Fegentri slots of the past so that they do not impinge on the existing racing calendar and are programmed at:
ROYAL WINDSOR on 5th October: FIVE FURLONGS for 3 year olds and upwards rated 51-65. To be ridden by Amateur Riders who, prior to 2nd October 2015, have not ridden more than 10 winners and who are members of AJAGB by the time fixed for declaration of riders under Rule (f)92.2 of the Rules of Racing
and
NOTTINGHAM on 28th October: ONE MILE 2 FURLONGS for 3 year olds and upwards rated 46-60. To be ridden by Amateur Riders who, prior to 25th October 2015, have not ridden more than 10 winners under the Rules of Racing or the Rules of a recognised Racing Authority and who are members of AJAGB by the time fixed for the declaration of riders under Rule (F)92.2 of the Rules of Racing.
A BHA Jockey Coach will be in attendance on each day for a pre-race coursewalk and a post-race debrief for all jockeys.
31-08-2015
A rain soaked Ripon racecourse did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd in attendance to witness the eagerly awaited debut as a licensed amateur of double Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton for the finale of the Betfair Novice Amateur Riders Series finale this afternoon and they were not to be disappointed with a thrilling race in store.
A slow pace was set which resulted in pacesetting Joe Wright and CHOCOLATE DIAMOND soon joined by Victoria Pendleton and ROYAL ETIQUETTE, with the pair’s lead on the remainder of the field increasing as they turned into the home straight. Victoria Pendleton took it up 3 furlongs out much to the thrill of the large crowd there to support her, but as they cheered her home and the winning post neared, the field started to close in. Tom Greenwood and JORDAURA were always making steady headway from 3 out and a photo finish was called with 3 horses locked in battle as they passed the post. Ultimately it was Jordaura who stayed on the strongest to give Tom Greenwood his first ever Flat winner by a neck, with Victoria Pendleton placed second and Ross Turner on BOLD HENMIE a neck back in third.
Many congratulations to Tom Greenwood on a memorable victory, to Victoria Pendleton on such a promising debut and congratulations to all our winners and riders within this 8 race series. Sincere thanks must go to Betfair for their loyal support over the last 3 years. The value of these novice riders’ races cannot be overestimated. Many thanks also to Jockey Coach Tim Reed who so expertly oversaw the jockeys throughout the series.
Picture credits: AJA
31-08-2015
On a rain soaked day at Epsom, there was a touch of irony with the aptly named ENGLISH SUMMER trained by Richard Fahey giving Ireland’s Champion Amateur Paddy Mullins an armchair ride for his second victory within three years in the Epsom Gentlemen’s Amateur Derby.
Patrick was happy to sit absolutely motionless aboard his horse for most of the race, only to ease past them and win by 6 lengths with the utmost of ease. After the race h said: “I thought they went a bit hard. I was a little worried as I am used to going a bumper pace, but my fellow was a very easy ride. Being by Montjeu, he loved the ground and I think my grandmother could have won on him.
It was a nice coincidence to win on a Montjeu, the day that Hurricane Fly was retired. It is a race I have marked out at the start of the year and I always try to get a ride in it. To ride on the Derby course is magic. My father never won this race, so I give him a bit of stick about that. I am one up on him there and I don’t often get that!”
Well done to Paddy and to Richard Fahey who also of course won the ladies Derby here with this horse back in July when Aly Deniel enjoyed victory by a neck!
15-08-2015
Many congratulations to reigning champion lady rider Serena Brotherton in being victor after a prolonged battle to the line this afternoon to win her 5th Newbury Ladies Derby, now sponsored by Betfred. Riding ALBERT BRIDGE for Ralph Beckett, she bided her time in following early leaders MOONED (Kathy Begley) and WHILE YOU WAIT (Page Fuller) in the rain softened ground.
The long run in from when the riders turned into the straight took its toll on most of the field but ALBERT BRIDGE managed to stay on the best to wear down the opposition and lead a furlong out, winning by 1 1/2 lengths from PIN UP (Aly Deniel) with COMPTON BIRD (Hayley Moore) the same distance back in 3rd.
Following the win, Serena said “I was pleased the rain came yesterday. Albert Bridge stays further and was a willing partner.” Well done Serena, who now joins Joanna Mason in pole position for the ladies championship, Joanna having gone one ahead on 5 wins only yesterday!
14-08-2015
Congratulations to Joanna Mason on a thrilling victory at Catterick this evening when scoring a hat-trick aboard her mother’s TAPIS LIBRE trained by her grandfather Mick Easterby. This was their third victory in a fortnight, the partnership have been successful previously at Musselburgh on 31st July and 7th August. But this was by far the most dramatic of finishes fighting it out with champion jockey Simon Walker aboard HUBERTAS, with TAPIS LIBRE having to dig deep to hang on by the smallest of margins with a photo called and the winning margin a short head!
Well done to Joanna who now goes into the lead with 5 wins in the ladies championship, one winner ahead of reigning multiple ladies champion Serena Brotherton.
14-08-2015
Many congratulations to Katy Lyons, best know for her point-to-point successes (having ridden 29 point-to-point winners), on enjoying success at Nottingham this afternoon to follow up on her recent first Flat win of her career when scoring with HIGHLIFE DANCER in the AJA Ladies Handicap over a mile and a quarter for Mick Channon.
Always handy, Highlife Dancer led from 3 furlongs home and was driven out to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Michelle Edden and FLAG OF GLORY with Hattie Heal and LAYLA’S KING a further 2 1/4 lengths back in third.. With her horse winning for an incredible 15th time, Katy said “Highlife Dancer gets a mile and a half so we were confident he would stay so I’ve gone forward. He’s so consistent.”
Trainer Mick Channon said “Going to Nottingham was a logical step. Katy gave him a super ride and it was never really in doubt and I’ve already sounded her out for a similar contest at Chepstow on Thursday. He’ll have a 6 lbs penalty to contend with but that’s probably the next step as he’s showing no signs of stopping.”
26-07-2015
David Dunsdon played a waiting game timed to perfection when winning Salisbury’s historic Carnarvon Handicap (now sponsored by Sarum Refrigeration Services) with his own PARTY ROYAL to score in a thrilling finish by a head.
Held up last of the runners until making a move 3 furlongs out, David took his horse wide to challenge inside the final furlong and lead close to the line. Many congratulations to David and to his cousin trainer Nick Gifford.
