Dyson, John

Christened John Dyson but better known as Joe or, more popularly, ‘Ginger’, Dyson was a northern-based Flat jockey whose career spanned over 35 years.Unusually tall for a jockey, he was born in 1907. His father was connected with a shipping company and Ginger might well have followed him into the firm’s Liverpool offices if he had put on weight proportionate to the way he grew upwards. However, he was able to ride at 7st throughout his career without having to be overly careful about his diet.

He thus had nature on his side when, in 1923, he signed on as an apprentice with H. D. Bazley at Malton. Although he did not ride a winner during his apprenticeship, he was highly successful in another sporting sphere, proving himself a veritable tiger in the boxing ring, in successive years lifting the five stone, five stone seven, and the six stone seven categories in the stable lads’ championships.

When coming out of his time, Ginger rode for several seasons in Sweden where he had his fair share of winners. He finally opened his British account when dead-heating on a horse named Glendaruel in the six furlong Hackfall Handicap at Ripon on May 5, 1933.