Akehurst, Reg

photo courtesy John Griffiths

The son of a soldier, Reginald Peter John Akehurst, born at Folkestone on July 4,1929, was apprenticed to Douglas Marks and rode his first winner on Grand Refrain at Plumpton February 25,1953.

He was, in total, to ride 99 winners.

His best two rides were El Griegoll and Beau Chevalet; he won around 30 races on the pair.

He turned to training and landed some notable gambles.

His son, John, also became a trainer, but sadly died in March 2012 aged just 50.