Clayton, Stan

The son of a farmer, Stanley Thomas Clayton, born at Belton, near Doncaster, on March 3, 1926, was apprenticed to Billy Smallwood in his native South Yorkshire and rode his first winner, Yorkist, at Pontefract on Monday, April 26, 1943.

His greatest success came on the Geoffrey Brooke-trained Neasham Belle in the 1951 Oaks. 

In 1965, Stan replaced Harry Carr as royal jockey, and rode the Queen's Cannisbay to victory in the Eclipse.

Another special victory came when winning the Portland Handicap on Welsh Abbott for Sir Winston Churchill, whose Golden Wedding Anniversary it was that day.

To these wins Clayton added two Goodwood Cups, three City & Suburbans, Ribblesdale Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and the Yorkshire Cup.

He retired in 1969 and had some success as a trainer in Scandinavia. He returned to England and became assistant trainer to Jack Clayton (no relation).

Because of ill-health, he finally retired in 1979.

Stan, an ex-miner and budgerigar fancier, returned to his home town of Doncaster, where he died of kidney disease in August, 1985.

Other big wins:

1958:  Portland Handicap - Welsh Abbot

1958:  Yorkshire Oaks - None Nicer

1958:  Ribblesdale Stakes - None Nicer

1958:  City & Suburban - Setting Star

1963:  City & Suburban - Tahiri

1964:  Vaux Gold Tankard - I Titan

1964:  Goodwood Cup - Raise You Ten

1965:  Goodwood Cup - Apprentice

1965:  Yorkshire Cup - Apprentice

1965:  Eclipse Stakes - Canisbay