Category: Jockeys

Who was Terry Biddlecombe?

In recent times, the late Terry Biddlecombe, who died, at the age 72, in January, 2014, after a long illness, is probably remembered as the husband of former trainer Henrietta Knight. Together, the ‘Odd Couple’, as they became known, masterminded the career of Best Mate, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

However, in his heyday, Biddlecombe was a hugely successful National Hunt jockey. By the time he retired from race riding, on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day in March, 1974, he had ridden 908 winners and had won the jockeys’ title three times, in 1965, 1966 and 1969, although on the latter occasion he shared the title with Bob Davies. Nicknamed the ‘Blonde Bomber’, Biddlecombe was a fearless, larger-than-life character, but his riding talent was reflected by the fact he was stable jockey to Fred Rimmell and Fulke Walwyn during his career.

Indeed, it was Rimmell who supplied Biddlecombe with his one and only Cheltenham gold Cup winner as a jockey, Woodland Venture, in 1967. Rimmell also trained Gay Trip, on whom Biddlecombe won the Mackeson Gold Cup – now the Paddy Power Gold Cup – at Cheltenham twice, in 1969 and 1971, and finished second, beaten just two lengths, behind Well To Do in the Grand National in 1972.

Which jockey has won the 2,000 Guineas most often?

The career of jockey James Robinson, popularly known as ‘Jem’, effectively came to an end when, in 1852, at the age of 59, he was thrown from a fractious two-year-old colt, by the name of Feramorz, at Newmarket and sustained a broken thigh bone in the fall. The bone was not set properly, leaving his left leg several inches shorter than his right and forcing him into retirement.

Nevertheless, Robinson enjoyed a stellar riding career, winning a total of 24 British Classics, including the Derby six times, between 1817 and 1836, and the 2,000 Guineas nine times, between 1825 and 1848. His Derby record lasted until the latter part of the twentieth century, when surpassed by the legendary Lester Piggott – who would eventually ride nine Derby winners in all – aboard Empery in 1976.

Even more remarkably, though, nearly a century-and-a-half after his death, in 1873, Robinson remains the leading jockey in the history of the 2,000 Guineas. For the record, his nine winners of the Newmarket Classic were, in chronological order, Enamel (1825), Cadland (1828), Riddlesworth (1831), Clearwell (1833), Glencoe (1834), Ibrahim (1835), Bay Middleton (1836), Conyngham (1847) and Flatcatcher (1848). Of jockeys still riding, Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori, 50, has three 2,000 Guineas winners to his name, while Ryan Moore, 37, has two, so Robinson’s record looks safe for a while yet.

Who was George Duller?

In later life, George Duller made a name for himself as a motor racing driver, but it was as a National Hunt jockey – and, specifically, as a specialist hurdles jockey – in the early part of the twentieth century that he first found fame. He was, in fact, Champion Jockey in 1918, but with restrictions on horse racing, he managed just 17 winners in the entire calendar year in a severely limited National Hunt programme.

Born in Canning Town, London in 1891, fostered an idiosyncratic, ‘short’ style of riding, which was at odds with other jockeys of the day. Nevertheless, coupled with exceptional judgement of pace, his style allowed him, more often than not, to execute front-running tactics to good effect. Interestingly, while he rarely rode over larger obstacles, Duller was also the first jockey to wear a crash helmet.

As a jockey, Duller is probably best remembered for his association with Trespasser, on whom he won the Imperial Cup at Sandown Park three years running in 1920, 1921 and 1922 and the inaugural running of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1920. Between 1963 and 1974, Duller was commemorated by a race at the Cheltenham Festival, the George Duller Handicap Hurdle, although it was susbequently replaced by the Coral Golden Hurdle Final, or the Pertemps Network Final, as the race is known today.

Did Greville Starkey ever win the Derby?

Sadly, the late Greville Starkey, who died in April, 2010, at the age of 70, will always be best remembered for ‘losing’ the 1986 Derby. His mount, Dancing Brave, was sent off 2/1 favourite for the Epsom Classic but, having been held up at the rear of the field, was a long way out of his ground as the field turned for home. Dancing Brave made relentless progress up the straight but, at the winning post, was still half a length behind the winner, Shahrastani, ridden by Walter Swinburn. Starkey was, unjustly, pilloried for setting Dancing Brave an impossible task in a steadily-run race and one losing ride would overshadow his career.

To answer the question, yes, Greville Starkey did win the Derby and it shouldn’t be forgotten that, in so doing, he produced one of the boldest, strongest rides ever seen on Epsom Downs. In the 1978 Derby, Starkey rode Shirley Heights, trained by John Dunlop and, approaching the furlong marker, appeared to have little chance of winning as Hawaiian Storm, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, made the best of his way home. However, galvanised by Starkey, Shirley heights made rapid late progress against the inside rail, getting up to beat the long-time leader by a head in the final stride.

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