Connorton, Nicky

Nicholas Brian Connorton, son of former jockey Brian Connorton, was born at Beverley, Humberside on March 21, 1962.A good-humoured and always smiling lad, he served his apprenticeship with Bill Watts at nearby Richmond. He rode his first winner, Quaker Star at Hamilton on May 21,1979, and spent the winter of 1983 in Singapore.

He had his biggest win on Carpet General  in the 1980 William Hill Gold Cup.

Nicky eventually moved to India and stayed six years, winning all the top prizes but, for the sake of his two young children, moved back to Britain to ride out for Newmarket trainer Jamie Osborne.

It was on Jamie's suggestion that Nicky, then 41, decided to resume his career in the saddle.