Memories from Southwell Racecourse: My Parents Leading Up Winners
A Glimpse into 1961
On Thursday, February 23, 1961, Southwell Racecourse welcomed a number of competitors, including Guinea Hunter, who made a notable appearance in the Edwalton Hurdle Division II race. My mum played her role in leading up this horse, expertly handled by jockey Stan Mellor. This maiden race for four-year-olds was over 2 miles and 80 yards, with a prize pot of £170 attracting attention from racing enthusiasts.
October 15, 1962: Another Day at the Races
Fast forward to Monday, October 15, 1962, and we see my dad taking on the responsibility of leading up another contender, Gold Pride. Jockey Ivor Markham took the reins for this race, which was the Upton Selling Handicap Chase, covering a 2-mile distance. This race, with a prize fund of £186, also took place at Southwell Racecourse, showcasing the vibrant atmosphere of local racing.
Training at Roy Whiston’s Yard
Both Guinea Hunter and Gold Pride were prepared at Herne Farm in Hodnet, located near Market Drayton in Shropshire, England. There, renowned trainer Roy Whiston dedicated himself to ensuring that these horses were ready to compete at the local tracks. Reflecting on these events not only brings nostalgia but also emphasizes the joy and dedication of those involved in horse racing.
Richard Bevan National Hunt Rides 1986/87 Racing Season
12 rides… Average Starting Price Odds 24.25 to 1
Owners Prize Money £1847
Completed 10 = 83.3%
2 rides in the first four 16.6% 1x 1st place 8.3% 1x 4th place 8.3%
fell 0 = 0% / ur 0 = 0% / bd 0 = 0% / co 0 = 0% / ro 0 = 0% / pu 2 = 16.7% / su 0 = 0%
1986/1987 National Hunt Season
23/8/1986
Border Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle
Hereford Racecourse
Saucy Mop
Finished 9th / 17 ran
4/9/1986
Grunwick Stakes National Hunt Flat Race (4, 5 & 6-y-o)
Worcester Racecourse
Members Revenge
Finished 7th / 26 ran
3/10/1986
Grunwick Stakes National Hunt Flat Race
(4, 5 & 6-y-o)
Hereford Racecourse
Right Formula
Finished 4th / 7 ran
9/10/1986
Grunwick Stakes National Hunt Flat Race (4, 5 & 6-y-o)
Cheltenham Racecourse
Right Formula
Finished 9th / 11 ran
Sandown Park Racecourse
Dealers Dream
Finished 14th / 21 ran
A ride on Dealers Dream
The owner was getting the mare fit at home then brought it to Nicholson’s one Sunday morning to give it a gallop with one of The Duke’s with the idea of leaving at the yard if it went well enough… this was late Jan early Feb 1987.
I was working that Sunday morning, we’d been mucking out then leading a few out around The Pound in Condicote after which some were going to be ridden.
Nicholson said to me “Richard, you ride the mare that’s just arrived in a gallop with Selborne Record ridden by Dan (Jones)”… the lady owner was with The Guv’nor when he said this.
They had taken it off the horsebox and put it in one of the stables, after all the owner was intending to leave it in the yard.
I got my tack and went to saddle up… after a minute or two The Duke (now alone) had followed me up the yard and he said “Richard make sure this mare doesn’t work very well, I don’t want the f?cker in the yard” and added “you will be working up the all weather, make sure you lose a few lengths in the dip before the bend” … this was the all weather gallop at Condicote, the one that ran uphill for about 4 furlongs following the outside of the fields/edge of the woods before running into a dip before a right handed bend to continue slightly downhill along the edge of the fields/woods to the finish
It was in the dip I had to lose some ground
I thought blimey but just answered “Ok”
Anyhow, Selborne Record couldn’t have gone quick enough because even though I lost some ground the mare made it up and finished upsides her galloping partner
The Duke and the owner were at the end of the gallop and us two lads took a turn back to the trainer and he said “How was that?”
I just said “She’s done nothing wrong”
They drove off in the Daihatsu and Dan and myself walked back to the yard
There was no getting out of it, the mare was stopping in the yard… Nicholson didn’t say anything to me about the gallop but what he did say was “When that mare runs, you ride!”… while he said those words he was pointing his finger into my chest
That’s how I got the leg up on Dealers Dream and as a result got to ride in the purple colours normally carried by the decent chaser Contradeal
4/4/1987
Chivas Regal Amateur Handicap Hurdle
Aintree Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 11th / 17 ran
21/4/1987
Sir Geoffrey Congreve Cup Hunters Chase
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Dynadee
PU / 7 ran
2/5/1987
Tom Beckett Amateur Riders Challenge Trophy Handicap Chase
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Crowecopper
Finished 1st / 9 ran
Crowecopper was my first winner under National Hunt Rules and he was also my friend Roy “RF” Davies final winner
I won three races out of ten on Crowecopper, at Uttoxeter, Windsor and Bangor-on-Dee
10 rides in total on Crowecopper all over fences
3x 1st
2x 2nd
1x 3rd
1x 4th
1x 5th
1x SU
1x UR
Video – Crowecopper winning at Uttoxeter
Hereford Racecourse
Jay’Ay’Dee
Finished 5th / 16 ran Result
8/10/1987
Grunwick Stakes National Hunt Flat Race
Cheltenham Racecourse
Jay’Ay’Dee
(4, 5 & 6YO)
BD/28 ran Result
14/10/1987
Wetherby National Hunt Flat
Wetherby Racecourse
Don’t Telmag
Finished 22nd / 25 ran Result
16/10/1987
Southwold Amateur Riders Novices Chase
Market Rasen Racecourse
Eric’s Wish
FELL / 12 ran Result
26/10/1987
Fisher & Sons Fakenham Ltd Hurdle Gentleman Amateur Riders
Fakenham Racecourse
Eric’s Wish
Finished 7th / 15 ran Result
27/10/1987
Horse And Hound Challenge Cup Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle
Plumpton Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 8th / 19 ran Result
6/11/1987
Mold Handicap Chase
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
Crowecopper
Finished 5th / 9 ran Result
7/11/1987
University Of Warwick Turf Club Novices Handicap Hurdle
Warwick Racecourse
Aphrodisiac
Finished 17 / 24 ran Result
9/11/1987
Racing Post Handicap Hurdle
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 4th / 19 ran Result
23/11/1987
Salt Hill Handicap Chase
Windsor Racecourse
Crowecopper
Finished 1st / 4 ran Result
Video – Crowecopper winning at Windsor
Salt Hill Handicap Chase
1 Crowecopper R Bevan
2 Dart Over P Richards
3 Memberson B Powell Snr
F Lanacre Bridge Peter Hobbs
24/11/1987
Aslockton Handicap Hurdle
Southwell Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 5th / 15 ran Result
28/11/1987
Ideal Homes Thames Handicap Chase
Towcester Racecourse
Crowecopper
Finished 4th / 7 ran Result
4/12/1987
Ladderback Selling Hurdle
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
Pialuci
Finished 12th / 17 ran Result
7/12/1987
Cherry Orchard Handicap Hurdle
Worcester Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 5th / 16 ran Result
19/12/1987
Yellow Collar Handicap Hurdle
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 6th / 11 ran Result
26/12/1987
Deepfields Novices Chase
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 4th / 9 ran Result
26/12/1987
Harry Brown Challenge Cup (Handicap Chase)
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Baluchi
Finished 3rd / 7 ran Result
16/1/1988
Boston Selling Handicap Hurdle
Market Rasen Racecourse
Thumps
Finished 9th / 22 ran Result
20/1/1988
Richards Castle Handicap Chase
Ludlow Racecourse
Crowecopper
Finished 2nd / 13 ran Result
Video – Crowecopper 2nd at Ludlow
Richards Castle Handicap Chase
1 Kelly’s Boy A Adams
2 Crowecopper R Bevan
3 Pea-Cock-Ade A O’Hagan
4 Holemoor Patrol Peter Hobbs
5 Deep And Even Peter Scudamore
6 Broad Beam J Bryan
7 Stoney Creek P Croucher
8 Megabit K Traylor
PU Kyle Prince R J Beggan
PU Word Of Wisdom R Bellamy
PU Fifth Column B Dowling
PU Juvenile Prince E Buckley
UR Bryma D Tegg
29/1/1988
Hamilton Campbell Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Ayr Racecourse
Baluchi
Finished 3rd / 3 ran Result
16/2/1988
Manning Hunters Chase Challenge Cup
Towcester Racecourse
Rimfire
Finished 3rd / 6 ran Result
17/2/1988
Astwood Handicap Hurdle
Worcester Racecourse
Thumps
Finished 13th / 18 ran Result
Edinburgh Racecourse
Jay’Ay’Dee
Finished 13th / 14 ran Result
2/3/1988
Mark Five Amateur Riders Handicap Chase
Worcester Racecourse
Crowecopper
Finished 3rd / 16 ran Result
2/3/1988 I rode Crowecopper 11/2 in the Mark Five Amateur Riders Handicap Chase at Worcester Racecourse and we Finished 3rd / 16 ran. Henderson’s horse Cumrew ridden by Jamie Railton (the favourite) made the running until it fell 3 from home leaving Crowecopper and myself in front which wasn’t an ideal situation for my horse (as he would think he’d already won)… however, at this point we had to make the best of our way home. Crowecopper jumped the next well but on the run to the last a couple of the others (both big odds) came past us and we finished 3rd, beating Kim Bailey’s runner a short head into 4th place.
2/3/1988
Hoechst Panacur EBF Mares Only Novices Hurdle Qualifier
Worcester Racecourse
Ruby’s Vision
Finished 20th / 25 ran Result
2/3/1988 I rode Ruby’s Vision 50/1 in the Hoechst Panacur EBF Mares Only Novices Hurdle Qualifier at Worcester Racecourse. Finished 20th / 25 ran.
Ruby’s Vision was quite well bred and was a half sister to St Alezan who finished 2nd in a Mackeson Gold Cup unfortunately Ruby’s Vision was not a racehorse but she did breed a couple of winners. Owners came from Whitchurch.
9/3/1988
Holywell Selling Hurdle (Div II)
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
Wood Farm Girl
Finished 2nd / 12 ran Result
I rode Wood Farm Girl
10/3/1988
Welford Handicap Chase
Stratford Racecourse
Baluchi
Finished 4th / 13 ran Result
25/3/1988
Aston Handicap Chase
Ludlow Racecourse
Baluchi
Finished 1st / 9 ran Result
Baluchi winning at Ludlow Racecourse
Aston Handicap Chase
1 Baluchi R Bevan
2 Outlaw I T Morgan
3 Pan Arctic C Kellett
4 Broad Beam J Bryan
5 Fare Love P Warner
6 Dundalk Bells N Hawke
7 Itsgottabealright Carl Llewellyn
0 Nudge Nudge I M Williams
0 Steel Venture W Hayes
28/3/1988
Arrow Novices Handicap Chase
Hereford Racecourse
Annie Ra
Finished 7th / 14 ran Result
4/4/1988
Easter Handicap Chase
Market Rasen Racecourse
Baluchi
Finished 1st / 6 ran Result
Baluchi winning at Market Rasen Racecourse
Easter Handicap Chase
1 Baluchi R Bevan
2 Wild Argosy N Fearn
3 Wise Cracker I Peter Niven
4 Fair Babu S Turner
5 Kevinsfort J Hayes
PU Keycorn M Brennan
9/4/1988
Herefordshire Light Horse Breeding Society Nov Hunter Chase
Hereford Racecourse
Rimfire
Finished 2nd / 12 ran Result
13/4/1988
Duncrievie Handicap Chase
Perth Racecourse
Baluchi
Finished 1st / 6 ran
I won three races out of seven riding Baluchi
… Ludlow, Market Rasen and this race at Perth
I remember the first time we won at Ludlow, as I was being legged up on Baluchi, the trainer says to me “If you don’t win, don’t come f?cking back!”
“That’s nice” I thought
We’d won 3 races on the bounce together then he ran in the Holman Cup at Cheltenham and I was jocked off… Baluchi pulled up
7 rides on Baluchi all over fences
3x 1st
1x 2nd
2x 3rd
1x 4th
Baluchi ridden by Richard Bevan winning the Duncrievie Handicap Chase at Perth Racecourse April 1988
1 Baluchi R Bevan
2 Tactico M Hammond
3 Queens Palace Dai Burchell
4 Wise Cracker Peter Niven
5 Music Be Magic C Grant
PU Tumble Jim S Cunningham
14/4/1988
Caputh Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle
Perth Racecourse
Soldier of Destiny
Finished 7th / 17 ran
Ludlow Racecourse
Walmer Sands Result
Finished 4th / 10 ran
3/10/1988
Newark International Antique Fair Handicap Chase
Southwell Racecourse
Rimfire Result
Finished 2nd / 5 ran
8/10/1988
Paymasters Selling Handicap Hurdle
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Walmer Sands Result
Finished 11th / 14 ran
8/10/1988
Staffordshire Yeomanry Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Rimfire Result
Finished 4th / 12 ran
15/10/1988
Cock Bank Novices Hurdle
Bangor on Dee Racecourse
Self Raising Result
PU / 18 ran
15/10/1988
Sotheby’s Chester Handicap Chase
Bangor on Dee Racecourse
Baluchi Result
Finished 2nd / 3 ran
15/10/1988
Willis Wrightson North Handicap Chase
Bangor on Dee Racecourse
Crowecopper Result
Finished 1st / 6 ran
15/10/1988
Fenns Bank Novices Hurdle
Bangor on Dee Racecourse
Arenisco Result
Finished 10th / 16 ran
15/10/1988
Marston Border Breweries Novices Chase
Bangor on Dee Racecourse
Walmer Sands Result
Finished 5th / 7 ran
20/10/1988
Burton Rubber Company Handicap Chase
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Rambling Wild Result
Finished 4th / 6 ran
20/10/1988
EBF Foston Intermediate Chase
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Rimfire Result
Finished 1st / 6 ran
Rimfire was getting on a bit when I rode him, when we won this Uttoxeter together he was 13 years old… Rimfire was a good jumper and stayed 3 miles+ well… my dad bought Rimfire off Lord Shrewsbury for £400… I wish I’d had more horses like Rimfire to ride!
10 Rides on Rimfire all over fences
1x 1st
3x 2nd
3x 3rd
2x 4th
1x 6th
Video – Rimfire winning at Uttoxeter Racecourse
EBF Foston Intermediate Chase
1 Rimfire R Bevan
2 Oakgrove B Dowling
3 Rath Wonder S J O’Neill
PU Half A Buck M Sharratt
PU Homepath H Davies
PU Some Do J Bryan
22/10/1988
Ratley Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse
Snooker Table Result
Finished 14th / 19 ran
27/10/1988
Newark Storage Novices Chase
Southwell Racecourse
Rimfire Result
Finished 6th / 13 ran
3/11/1988
Hawkes Bay Trophy Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase
Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse
Crowecopper Result
UR / 8 ran
3/11/1988
Warrnambool Trophy Handicap Chase
Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse
Rambling Wild Result
UR / 7 ran
18/11/1988
Stour Novices Chase
Nottingham Racecourse
Stormguard Result
Finished 2nd / 3 ran
18/11/1988
Radio Trent Handicap Chase
Nottingham Racecourse
Ardent Spy Result
Finished 3rd / 5 ran
26/11/1988
Market Rasen Novices Hurdle
Market Rasen Racecourse
Chico Valdez Result
Finished 12th / 20 ran
28/11/1988
Bulwell Handicap Chase
Nottingham Racecourse
Aldro Result
Finished 5th / 6 ran
28/11/1988
Woodborough Novices Chase
Nottingham Racecourse
Stormguard Result
Finished 5th / 6 ran
29/11/1988
Houghton Selling Hurdle
Huntingdon Racecourse
Your Office Result
PU / 18 ran
2/12/1988
Partridge Novices Handicap Chase
Southwell Racecourse
Annie Ra Result
Finished 4th / 15 ran
2/12/1988
Curlew Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Southwell Racecourse
Royal Cracker Result
Finished 14 / 20 ran
3/12/1988
Stan Mellor Handicap Chase
Nottingham Racecourse
Covent Garden Result
Finished 4th / 5 ran
5/12/1988
Long Haul Handicap Chase
Worcester Racecourse
Ardent Spy Result
Finished 4th / 9 ran
A mid-race incident with P Scu in this 3 miles 5 furlongs Long Haul Handicap Chase at Worcester
Scu was riding the favourite Ardesee and I was on Ardent Spy
The race was a staying chase, 3 times up the home straight, Scu was out in front but his mount Ardesee kept jumping right handed (each time Scu would track back over to the rails), I was a couple of lengths behind, on the rail (2nd/3rd) and I was thinking “If he keeps jumping right-handed I’m going to jump up Scudamore’s inside” it was just deciding when
Going down the back, approaching the water jump I thought “This is it” and Ardent Spy jumped it like a stag and true to form Ardesee went right handed… for a short time we were in front which must of pissed Scudamore off a bit because he scrubbed Ardesee along, got him back in front and over his left shoulder he shouted back at me “You F?cking Crazy C?nt Richard”
Neither of us won, he was 3rd, I was 4th… nothing was said in the weighing room
At the end of the day Champion Jockey’s don’t pay your wages!
8/12/1988
Norbury Chase
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Spartan Native Result
Finished 5th / 13 ran
10/12/1988
Sheila’s Cottage Handicap Chase
Doncaster Racecourse
Covent Garden Result
FELL / 4 ran
Warwick Racecourse
Golfers Sunrise Result
Finished 5th / 20 ran
14/12/1988
Holly And Ivy Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase
Worcester Racecourse
Modern Music Result
PU / 11 ran
14/12/1988
Tattersalls Mares Only Novices Chase Qualifier
Worcester Racecourse
Annie Ra Result
Finished 5th / 15 ran
15/12/1988
Christmas Tree Handicap Chase
Southwell Racecourse
Aldro Result
FELL/13
I broke my collar bone in this fall and was also concussed
5/1/1989
Highland Spring/ROA Handicap Chase
Nottingham Racecourse
Covent Garden Result
Finished 5th / 9 ran
7/1/1989
Horncastle Novices Chase
Market Rasen Racecourse
Annie Ra Result
Finished 1st / 10 ran
Annie Ra… I’m glad I won on her because I don’t think she was the easiest to ride… she could start slowly, would always carry her head very high and also pulled quite hard… but at least she jumped
Apart from her being a tricky ride a certain trainers son once said to me that his father thought Annie Ra would be best with me not riding her and that he was looking forward to another jockey riding her in races (a jockey who interestingly enough, also had the Christian name Richard)… It’s something which still sticks in my side but at least I had the satisfaction of this win!
16 rides on Annie Ra over hurdles and fences
1x 1st
1x 3rd
5x 4th
4x 5th
1x 6th
1x 7th
1x 8th
1x SU
1x UR
Annie Ra winning at Market Rasen Racecourse
Horncastle Novices Chase
1 Annie Ra R Bevan
2 Barn Brae Mr J Barton
3 Ringmore Derek Byrne
4 Oxford Place M Pepper
5 Super Sue P A Farrell
6 Boreham Down G ‘Old’ Martin
F Ballyshannon Run J Bryan
PU Vagabundo J McLaughlin
PU Sagart Aroon M Brennan
PU Picadilly Prince S Turner
9/1/1989
Bridgnorth Novices Hurdle (Div I)
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Golfers Sunrise Result
Finished 8th / 16 ran
9/1/1989
Cement City Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Ardent Spy Result
Finished 2nd / 7 ran
Ardent Spy finishing 2nd at Wolverhampton Racecourse
Cement City Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
1 Travel Over R J Beggan
2 Ardent Spy R Bevan
3 Crowecopper Peter Scudamore
4 Scale Model J Bryan
5 Way Under M Perrett
6 Foxbury Gee Armytage
7 Funchen View J D Doyle
12/1/1989
South Muskham Novices Hurdle
Southwell Racecourse
Prince Celtic Result
Finished 3rd / 14 ran
17/1/1989
Bransford Novices Hurdle (Div II)
Worcester Racecourse
The Berwick Result
PU / 24 ran
17/1/1989
Sale Green Novices Handicap Chase
Worcester Racecourse
Annie Ra Result
Finished 5th / 16 ran
Katabatic (1991 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner) won this race
18/1/1989
Church Stretton Conditional Jockeys Selling Hurdle
Ludlow Racecourse
Resha Result
Finished 17th / 19 ran
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Roy Prince Result
Finished 2nd / 4 ran
28/3/1989
Levy Board National Hunt Flat
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Amdaja Result
Finished 9th / 12 ran
A spare ride for Herefordshire trainer Paul James. The owner was Jerry Wright who later owned a horse called Now Your Talkin who David Nicholson trained to win a few races. The interesting runner in this race was Miinnehoma trained by Owen Brennan and owned by comedian Freddie Starr. Miinnehoma was having its first race but won quite easily at 25/1. Miinnehoma went on to win the `Sun Alliance’ Chase at the 1992 Cheltenham Festival and also the 1994 Martell Grand National Chase at Aintree.
Freddie Starr was at the races and I remember seeing him before the race having a joke with some racegoers
Starr had got a Hawaiian type shirt on that was unbuttoned well down from the collar (and his chest hair was showing) and over the top of that he’d got a leather jacket with a zip
The joke was he pretended he was so cold he’d got to do his jacket up and then to play the fool he made out he’d caught his chest hair in the zip which was making several people laugh
A typical Freddie Starr trick and something I saw before getting legged up to ride Amdaja in the race
29/3/1989
Newland Handicap Chase
Worcester Racecourse
Aldro 20/1 Result
Finished 5th / 5 ran
Aldro… by the time I get on him he was an old timer who’s engine had gone
I wouldn’t have minded riding him 7 years earlier but I would have needed time off school to do that!
