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Photo courtesy Chris Pitt
Bunny John Hicks is best known for riding Persian War in the great horse’s first three wins over hurdles.Born on 12th September 1945, into a farming family, Bunny started out as an apprentice with Lewes trainer Tom Masson, spending weekends and school holidays in the yard when still only thirteen.
His first ride came at Lingfield on Lion of England, on 13th May 1961, the pair finishing third.
Bunny soon established himself as a promising young jockey, riding his first winner at Birmingham on 24th April 1962 on Determination and soon afterwards going on to finish fourth on the same horse in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting.
At this time the press somehow confused Bunny with the apprentice-jockey brother of the entertainer Tommy Steele (whose real surname was Hicks); Bunny was understandably annoyed!
Perhaps the highlight of Bunny’s flat career was partnering Brighton course specialist Offspring to five wins. He also won a race on the flat on dual Schweppes winner Rosyth, which had moved to Masson from Ryan Price’s stable. But Bunny grew too heavy to be a specialist flat jockey and rode over hurdles as well from 1965.
Guy Fawkes Night 1966 was preceded by a spectacular display at Sandown when Bunny and Persian War easily took the Toll House Hurdle. Two facile wins at Newbury before the end of the year made it obvious that hurdling had a new star. But sadly for Bunny the future triple Champion Hurdler was promptly sold for £9,000 (a record for a hurdler at the time) and left Masson’s yard.
Bunny continued to ride into the mid 1970s, mostly for Sussex trainer John Bolton. He now has a farm in East Sussex and carries fond memories of his riding days, recently playing a big part in the events to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the old Lewes racecourse.
Photo courtesy of John Griffiths
His best season came in 1964 with 16 winners.
He lived at Clover Cottage, Camberlot Road, Upper Dicker, Hailsham, Sussex.
On March 30, 1969, Bunny married Marion Goodey: she gave him a son, Nicholas & a daughter, Maria.
His three brothers, Steven, Richard & Edward, all rode winners as jockeys. All four once rode in the same race.
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