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1935-2001
photo courtesy John Griffiths
James Lawrence Harris was born in Nottinghamshire on June 10, 1935, and, aged 14, started working for a local trainer Walter Buxton where his father, once apprenticed in his native Ireland, was also employed before doing his National Service in the 10th Hussars stationed at Tidworth.
Jim started out as an amateur and fell on his very first ride, Simonero at Cheltenham on December 29, 1954. He woke up in hospital next to Dick Francis.
Having completed his own National Service he joined John Rose at Kilvington as head lad and stable jockey, and rode his first winner on Pasqualez at Nottingham on March 15, 1956.
He was 36 and had ridden 37 winners when he climbed aboard Kalamata at Huntingdon on October 23, 1971. The horse fell, breaking Jim's back. Jim spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
The disgraceful owner of Kalamata ran off with the fund set up for Jim: the stricken jockey never received a penny. The owner got six months.
Unbowed, Jim went on to become a successful trainer, and handled Burrough Hill Lad in its early days.
Aged 66, Jim passed away on June 30, 2001.
Jim's son, John. was also a jockey
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