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Farmer's son Joshua Thomas Gifford was born in Huntingdon on August 3, 1941, and, despite becoming champion National Hunt jockey, is best remembered for his role as trainer in getting the fragile Aldaniti to the post for the 1981 Grand National.
His racing career began as an apprentice on the Flat, riding for Cliff Beechener & Sam Armstrong. He rode 50 winners (big races won included Manchester November Handicap and the Chester Cup) before increasing weight forced him to turn to National Hunt racing in 1958. Such was his ability that, in the 1962-63
season, he rode 70 winners to become champion jockey, a title which he retained the following season with 94 wins.
Then his luck changed - he broke his thigh in a fall at Nottingham, then fractured it again in a car crash the next summer.
This forced him off the course for 15 months; bouncing back, he recaptured his crown in 1966-67 with 122 winners, one more than Fred Winter's record total of 14 years before. He then re-enforced his dominance of the racing scene by taking the title again the following year.
Josh was then riding as stable jockey to the mighty Ryan Price, who trained in Findon in West Sussex. Together they had won the 1962 Triumph Hurdle with Beaver ll, and, in the same year, the Welsh National with Forty Secrets. Other good wins included the 1967 Mackeson with Charlie Worcester and the 1967 Whitbread Gold Cup with Larbawn.
He was never, as a jockey, to win the National though it may be argued that his 1967 mount Honey End would certainly finished ahead of eventual winner Foinavon given normal circumstances.
Josh's first National ride came in 1962. Riding Siracusa, he came down at the 11th.In his championship-winning season the following year, he rode the headstrong Out & About. Having led for most of the way, the tearaway crashed out at the fourth last, badly impeding the John Lawrence-ridden Carrickbeg who, but for that, would have won the National.
In 1966, Josh finished 9th on Volcano and, the next year, second on the aforementioned Honey End. His other three rides in the great race came on Regal John, who refused in 1968, Bassnet (fifth in 1969) and Assad, 7th a year later.
Josh married show jumper Althea Roger-Smith in 1970 and promptly retired from the saddle.
That year, still only 28 years old, he took over as trainer of Ryan Price's horses at Findon and, in a sumptuous career, sent out the winners of 1978 Hennessy Gold Cup (Approaching) and Golden Minstrel, who gave him his first Cheltenham Festival winner in 1988.
Of course, Aldaniti, winning the National would always be recognised as his greatest training feat.
When, aged 60, and in his 32nd season of training at Findon, Josh was able to look back at 1,587 winners with great satisfaction. He had enjoyed a successful career.
Josh handed over the reins of Findon to his 31 year old son, Nick.
Following the victory of Rosyth in the 1964 Schweppes Gold Trophy, both Josh and Ryan Price temporarily lost their licences.
The brick & flintstone Downs Stables were built on Stable Lane, Findon, in 1854. The first trainer there was John Day, quickly followed by William Goater. Another early 'trainer' was John Porter (the John Porter Stakes, run at Newbury each year, is named after him). In 1899 the stables were bought by Irishman Bob Gore who won the 1912 Grand National withJerry M (ridden by Lester Piggott's grandfather, Ernie). He also won the 1913 Grand National with Covercoat. After Gore died in 1941, Harry Davison trained there until Gore's widow sold Downs Stables to Captain Ryan Price in 1951. Josh Gifford then bought them in 1970, with his son Nick taking over the training there in 2003.
Josh died from a massive heart attack on February 9th, 2013.
His brother, Macer, died from Motor Neurone Disease in 1984.
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