Embedded Files
The son of a steelworker, Geoff Baxter was born at Wordsley, Kingswinford , Staffordshire, on September 18, 1946. He spent 6 months as an apprentice glass cutter before joing Arthur Budgett's stable on July 18, 1962.
There he served five-year apprenticeship then, two years later, with Ifor Lewis. Eventually he settled at Bruce Hobbs' stable in the mid-seventies.
He rode his first winner on Jules, an 11-year-old, at Wolverhampton on October 15, 1963.
Whilst never a spectacular rider, he still kicked home on average some fifty winners per season. His best season came in 1975 when he rode 65 winners.
The best horse he ever rode was probably Le Moss on which, in 1978, he won the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.
Other big races which came his way included two Magnet Gold Cups aboard
Prominent, two Vaux Gold Tankards on Petty Officer and, riding Calibina, the 1977 Wokingham Stakes and the Stewards' Cup.
He was forced to retire after breaking his pelvis on the gallops in April, 1993.
Baxter's hobbies included breeding caged birds and gardening.
When he quit riding in 1990, he became a landscape gardener, running a business based in Newmarket.
Baxter was a hard man; once, after an altercation at Newmarket, he caught Lester Piggott with a right hook, knocking the champion jockey out.
Geoff suffered a life-threatening fall when tumbling from Nero's Rule at Warwick in 1965. He was put on the danger list with head and internal injuries.
Although he was race-riding before the end of the season, the accident had left him feeling completely numb: he decided that a change of scenery would help and he left Arthur Budgett to work for Ifor Lewis.
The change did the trick; his flame rekindled, he returned to Budgett to complete the last two years of his apprenticeship.
Baxter versus Piggott was not the first time jockeys have fought after a race.
Stevie Donohoe faced a disciplinary inquiry after allegedly punching apprentice Andrew Heffernan in the face at Redcar.
Sophie Doyle and Kirsty Milczarek fought in the changing room after a dispute at Southwell.
Dougie Costello and Denis O'Regan squared up at Cartmel and jockey Kevin Shea acted as peacemaker when Willie Supple and Christophe Soumillion nearly came to blows at Meydan.
Shane Kelly and Neil Callan were both fined £25 after scuffling at Lingfield.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse