How I started in Horse Racing

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.

The first four horses I looked after at The Dukes
1984/85 National Hunt Season
The Shiner, Golden Raider, Lawnswood Miss and Jungle Jim