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photo courtesy Chris Pitt
David Goulding was born at Brigham, in Cumberland, on July 16, 1948.
His career can be said to have kicked off on Monday November 15, 1971 when he scored a notable double at Ayr.
Then 22 years old, David won on Stardao in the first division of the Gatehead Novices' Hurdle before scoring on Avon Bay in the Symington Hurdle.
That last winner brought his score to six wins from his last seven rides and his overall total to 25 - and the end of his riding allowance.
Shortly after this, David enjoyed five straight wins on Arthur Stephenson's mudlark Supermaster.
His luck turned when, on Monday, February 12. 1973, he was suspended for 21 days at a Jockey Club inquiry in London as a result of an incident at Nottingham on January 29.
The stewards found him guilty of improper riding (on Supermaster) in the Filldyke Handicap Steeplechase and cautioned him concerning his future behaviour.
David, the 24 and stable jockey to Arthur Stephenson had, up to that point, ridden 62 career winners.
In 1973, David became stable jockey to Tony Gillam and promptly landed a 305-1 double at Teeside Park for his new stable - Balty Boys and the 50/1 outsider, Scriptwriter.
The following year, David rode as a freelance, in which capacity he rode Straight Vulgan to win the Mauchline Handicap Steeplechase for trainer Gordon Richards. David deputised for stable jockey Ron Barry and Jonjo O'Neill, both injured.
By 1975, David had replaced Barry as number one jockey to Richards: they had got off to a shaky start when David was fined £50 for injudicious riding at Catterick (he had finished fast and late, on Baylord, finishing third).
It was the second time that year that he had been in trouble with the stewards: at Doncaster, in February, he was stood down for 28 days after finishing fifth of twelve runners on Tremendous.
In November, 1981, he was also fined £150 for not riding out Tenquin for the best possible placing at Hexham.
But there were good days too...when the trainer won his 100th race at Ayr with Man of Steel, May, 1978, it was David Goulding who guided the horse back into the winner's enclosure.
This was just a month after David had experienced a real kick in the teeth...he had hurt his back in a fall and was unable to partner Lucius in the Grand National.
He watched the race from a friend's house in Leyburn as the horse prevailed in one of the closest finishes ever. He stayed away because he did not want everybody's condolences if Lucius won.
Undoubtedly, the best hurdler David rode was Ekbalco who ran his field ragged in the 1981 Imperial Cup.
Described as 'that master tactician' after winning a 1981 Vaux Breweries' Qualifier, David then confounded his admirers when overdoing waiting tactics on Ekbalco in the Berkshire Hurdle. He was heavily slated for not putting the horse into the race until far too late. This came after a breath-taking win on the same horse in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
Though denied at the time, a serious rift developed between David and Ulverston trainer Roger Fisher for whom David operated..
In the 1982 Champion Hurdle, David still rode for the stable and was on Ekbalco when that horse came third to For Auction.
Once again, because of his exaggerated waiting tactics, David was caught flat-footed on Cool Decision in the 1982 Sea Pigeon Handicap Hurdle. The stewards accepted his explanation, but there was no doubt that, once again, he had ridden a singularly ill-judged race.
Since his retirement from the saddle, David has run a farm in Cumbria. His brother John, who sprung a 66/1 surprise on Astral Charmer in the 1981 Scottish Grand National, trains a small string of jumpers nearby.
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