Richard Bevan from Market Drayton in Shropshire began his journey in horse racing as a stable lad. He worked under the mentorship of renowned racehorse trainer David Nicholson, who operated at Cotswold House Racing Stables in Condicote, Gloucestershire. Through this foundation, Richard was introduced to the fascinating world of horse racing.
Richard’s Role as a Stable Lad
As a stable lad, Richard Bevan had the responsibility of caring for several notable horses. Among them were Charter Party, Viking Flagship, and Silver Wisp. Experience gained looking after these horses not only shaped Richard’s racing career but also ignited his passion for racing, ultimately leading him to become a jockey.
Achievements as a Jockey
Richard Bevan’s jockey career comprises a blend of amateur and conditional rides in National Hunt Racing. His accomplishments started as an amateur rider, where from 84 rides, he secured five wins and ranked 19th in the 1987/88 Amateur Riders Championship. His racing activities continued as a professional conditional jockey, and from 271 rides, he achieved 11 wins, 35 second places, 45 thirds. He finished 94th in the National Hunt Jockeys Championship for the 1989/90 season.
Bevan’s foray into point-to-point racing showcased his versatility, garnering five wins, including a notable victory at Aintree.
Additionally, Richard Bevan marked his entry into National Hunt victories with an impressive win at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Midlands Grand National day in 1987 aboard Crowecopper, a horse with historical significance as also being the last winner ridden by Roy ‘RF’ Davies.
Introduction to Richard Bevan’s Jockey Career
During Richard’s time in horse racing, he made a name for himself as both an Amateur Rider Jockey and also a Conditional Jockey, riding a number of winners. This section provides a quick overview of Richard Bevan’s statistics during his varied riding career, highlighting his achievements and contributions to the sport.
National Hunt Achievements
During his professional career, Richard Bevan participated in both hurdle racing and steeplechasing. As a professional conditional jockey, Bevan completed a total of 271 rides, during which he secured 11 winners, finished second 35 times, and placed third 45 times. Additionally, he recorded 33 fourth-place finishes, showcasing his consistent performance on the racecourse. In the 1989/90 National Hunt jockeys championship, Bevan finished in 94th position, a testament to his dedication to the sport.
Amateur Rides and Point-to-Point Success
Before turning professional, Richard Bevan also made a significant impact in amateur racing. He rode in 84 races, achieving a commendable 5 winners, along with 6 second-place and 6 third-place finishes, which earned him a 19th place in the 1987/88 Amateur Riders Championship. Additionally, his point-to-point racing saw him ride 53 times, resulting in 5 victories, including a win at Aintree Racecourse. His 6 second-place finishes and 8 third-place finishes further illustrated his skill and determination on the field.
Richard Bevan Quick Stats
As a jockey Richard Bevan rode several National Hunt winners (hurdle racing and steeplechasing). These winners came as both an amateur rider and also a Conditional Jockey.
Professional Conditional Jockey
From 271 rides
11 winners
35 seconds
45 thirds
33 fourths
I finished 94th in the 1989/90 National Hunt Jockeys Championship
National Hunt Racing Amateur Jockey
From 84 rides
5 winners
6 seconds
6 thirds
9 fourths
I finished 19th in the 1987/88 Amateur Riders Championship
Point-to-Point Racing
From 53 rides
5 winners, including one at Aintree.
6 seconds
8 thirds
4 fourths
I won the 1987 North West Area Novice Leading Rider
Explore the fascinating account of Richard Bevan’s experiences during the 1984/85 National Hunt Racing Season, leading up horses for racehorse trainer David Nicholson from Cotswold House Racing Stables, Condicote near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.
20/10/1984
Fenns Bank Novices Hurdle (Div II)
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
The Shiner
Fenns Bank Novices Hurdle (Div II)
Finished 4th / 11 ran
9/11/1984
Philip Cornes Novice Hurdle Qualifier
Cheltenham Racecourse
The Shiner
Philip Cornes Novice Hurdle Qualifier
Finished 8th / 23 ran
23/11/1984
Round Oak Handicap Hurdle
Newbury Racecourse
Lawnswood Miss
Round Oak Handicap Hurdle
Finished 13th / 15 ran
7/12/1984
Coral Golden Hurdle Handicap (Qualifier)
Cheltenham Racecourse
Lawnswood Miss
Coral Golden Hurdle Handicap (Qualifier)
Finished 9th / 16 ran
12/12/1984
Malden Timber Novices Hurdle Qualifier
Huntingdon Racecourse
Golden Raider
Malden Timber Novices Hurdle Qualifier
Finished 9th / 22 ran
19/12/1984
Turkey Novices Hurdle (Div 1)
Worcester Racecourse
Golden Raider
Turkey Novices Hurdle (Div 1)
Finished 9th / 20 ran
5/2/1985
Malden Timber Novices Hurdle (Qualifier)
Warwick Racecourse
Golden Raider
Malden Timber Novices Hurdle (Qualifier)
Finished 10th / 16 ran
25/2/1985
Malden Timber Novices Hurdle (Qualifier)
Doncaster Racecourse
Golden Raider
Malden Timber Novices Hurdle (Qualifier)
Finished 8th / 15 ran
1/3/1985
Radcot Handicap Hurdle
Newbury Racecourse
Lawnswood Miss
Radcot Handicap Hurdle
Pulled Up / 19 ran
1/3/1985 I led up Lawnswood Miss in the Radcot Handicap Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse. Pulled Up / 19 ran.
1984/85 National Hunt Season was my first year in racing. I had been going to David Nicholson’s yard in my school holidays since I was 14 and The Duke’s yard was the only place I was going to when I left education.
I started work at Nicholson’s Cotswold House stables on September 10th 1984 and Lawnswood Miss was one of the first horses I looked after, the other two being The Shiner and Golden Raider.
It was a bad year for Nicholson trained horses as there was a nasty virus going round the yard and all season he only trained 17 winners from 50+ horses.
Lawnswood Miss didn’t run a good race all year and going back to the race mentioned above it was no exception as she pulled up… later found to have mucus in her airways… she still ran twice more in March before being retired to stud for breeding… she went to Lord Northampton’s horse Broadsword (who The Duke had trained)… I went in the horsebox with her the day she went to stud
As for my other two horses
The Shiner, I led him up a couple of times, 4th at Bangor and down the field at Cheltenham before he got moved on to David Murray Smith’s yard… where he won.
In The Shiner’s place I got to look after Jungle Jim but he had bad legs and only ran once that season before he was sold.
Golden Raider I led up several times in novice hurdles, showed some promise but another horse with the virus… in March 1985 the owners moved Golden Raider away from Nicholson’s to Martin Pipe’s… later the same season Golden Raider won for Pipe at Ludlow…the horse was Pipe’s 40th winner of the season… the first time he’d trained 40 winners
In Golden Raider’s place I got Pippahmint Lass, (a chestnut filly by Sunyboy, at the time 3 years old) to look after… I never led her up at the races but I did take her to Doncaster Sales (stopped overnight in Doncaster) where she won her class at the pre sales show before being unsold at 8000 guineas in the auction ring.
I remember as I was going in the sale ring with Pippahmint Lass The Duke said to me “Don’t worry she’s not being sold”
… I thought to myself “she’s just bitten me and I hoped the bugger was going elsewhere!”
Anyhow, we took one horse to Doncaster Sales and brought two back, one was Pippahmint Lass and the other was an unnamed 4 year old also by Sunyboy (who The Duke and his associates paid a lot of money for in the auction), who was a half brother of two time Scottish National winner Androma… and the 4 year old was later named Bigsun, who became a Cheltenham Festival winner.
… and after all of that and much more besides it was getting towards the end of the 1984/85 National Hunt season and by this time The Duke was glad to get his virus ridden horses out into the fields for some “Doctor Green!”
13/3/1985
Coral Golden Hurdle Final (Handicap)
Cheltenham Racecourse
Lawnswood Miss
Coral Golden Hurdle Final (Handicap)
Finished 21st / 30 ran
23/3/1985
Erbistock Handicap Hurdle
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
Jungle Jim
Erbistock Handicap Hurdle
Finished 11 / 18 ran
Jungle Jim on the right in photo running in the orange/white/black colours of Salford Van Hire
28/3/1985
Whitbread Pale Ale Handicap Hurdle
Liverpool Aintree Racecourse
Lawnswood Miss
Whitbread Pale Ale Handicap Hurdle
Finished 19th / 21 ran
6/5/1985
Iron Bridge Handicap Chase
Ludlow Racecourse
Lulav
Iron Bridge Handicap Chase
Finished 2nd / 5 ran
How I started in Horse Racing
In March 1983, aged fourteen and still at school, my parents took me to Ian Balding’s Open Day
The main attraction for me was to see John Francome and Peter Scudamore school Ian Balding’s hunter-chasers (Francome on Ross Poldark … Scu’ on Paintbox) over the trainer’s steeplechase fences.
After the Schooling Session
The two National Hunt Jockeys got off the hunter chasers and came over to talk to the spectators
I informed John Francome of my desire to become a jockey and asked him whose yard I should go and stay at to gain some work experience.
Francome suggested David Nicholson or Josh Gifford and advised me to write to them and see what happens
Ian Balding Open Morning Saturday March 26th 1983
Horses working and schooling …
Shy Rambler, Special Leave, Whisky Talk, Drumalis, Crusader Castle, Diamond Shoal, Mailman, Old Dominion, Broken Habit, Flamenco, Cardigan, Ampersand, Unbridled Pleasure, Dear Emperor, Ballylummin, Careen, Elegant Air, Spey Bridge, King of Clubs, Finians Rainbow, Corinth, Spicy Story, Christendom, Albany Girl, Calypsa, Reflection, Glimmering, Vidalia, Troyanna
John Francome signature is on the back of the gallop sheet
My Letter to The Duke
I sent David Nicholson a letter and it wasn’t very long before I received a postcard in reply asking me to attend an interview at 9am the very next Saturday morning. My parents drove me down to his Cotswold House Racing Stables (in Condicote, Gloucestershire). Somewhat disappointingly, the first thing Nicholson said to me was, ‘ You’ve got big hands … you will struggle with your weight – You won’t make a jockey!’ However, The Duke added. ‘you can come down for a fortnight in the summer and have some work experience. You will live in the lads hostel – when I say a fortnight you will stay a fortnight … No going home early!’
In early August (1983), I returned to the yard and at the end of the two weeks, Nicholson said to me, ‘You can have a job with me. Go home this weekend and come back on Monday morning to start work!’
I then had to explain that I couldn’t.
‘I’ve still got another year at school.’
‘Yes . . . ‘ said the trainer. ‘Start next year – Keep in touch.’
I went back to Nicholson’s yard twice more for work experience … Christmas 1983 and Easter 1984
Meanwhile, determined not to let the grass grow under my feet, I spent some time throughout 1983 learning stable routine’s while going on work experience with Paul Felgate, Jack Berry and the Earl of Shrewsbury (point to pointers).
I started working full-time for The Duke (as Nicholson was familiarly known) on September 10, 1984. The very first horse I rode out for him on that first morning was Broadheath, who two years later won the Hennessy Gold Cup for David Barons.
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.
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
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
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!
Bangor on Dee Racecourse
Resha Result
Finished 3rd / 6 ran
Not much of a race and Resha was not much of a racehorse.
As I remember he was a decent sized horse… he was also tubed…
Tubing involves the insertion of a metal tube in the trachea below the larynx to allow air to bypass a breathing obstruction and can be recognised by a hole at the front of a horse’s lower neck (Free Library).
This was the second time I rode Resha and he ran quite well to finish 3rd… the closest he ever finished to the front 7½ lengths behind the winner
He was a good ride and jumped ok
He only ran once more (at Warwick and finished well beaten 6th/14) when I couldn’t ride because I was riding at Hereford
13/4/1989
Sotheby’s Handicap Chase For The H R Attwood Memorial Trophy
