1912-1988
National Hunt jockey Roger Burford lived at Swindon Road, Wroughton, Near Swindon, Wilts., and, in 1941, rode Poet Prince (7/2) to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This was a lucky chance ride owing to the last minute injury to his owner, David Sherbrooke (1909-1977).
He spent the War years in the Royal Armoured Corps and, aged 34 and back in the saddle in 1947, his riding weight was 10 stone five.
That year, he fell on the 14-year-old Bogskar in the Grand National.
Arthur Budgett trained Blakeney to win the 1969 Derby: on August 2, 1947, he sent out his very first winner as a trainer - Fair Mile, owned by his brother.
The winning jockey was Roger Burford.
Roger, originally apprenticed to Martin Hartigan, was the son of jumps jockey 'Tiny' Burford.
Born on August 2, 1912, Roger died at Swindon on June 30, 1988. He was 75.