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photo courtesy John Griffiths
Alan Horrocks, born in Lancashire on June 24, 1947, lived at Brython, Wensley, Leyburn and, from 1963 to 1965, served his apprenticeship with F. Carr before joining Ernie Davey.Â
Having completed his time with Davey, Alan, in 1969, signed up for a further term with Deryck Bastiman who was doing well in his first season as a National Hunt licence holder.
Alan's first winner was Breakthrough at Hamilton in 1963.
That year, Alan rode just nine winners from 276 rides.
When Alan won on Red Desire at Catterick on June 23, 1970 - the day before his 23rd birthday - he automatically lost his 5lb. allowance. Red Desire was his fifth winner of the season and his 48th in all.
In 1973, he began riding Dick Peacock's lightweights.
Alan's biggest win in England came on Brython in the 1971 Liverpool Spring Cup.
Alan went on to find his place in the Guineas Book of Records when, in 1977, not only did he win all five classics in Kenya, but he did it on the same horse, a remarkable filly called Manuscript.
His father and grandfather were both jockeys.
Alan enjoyed fishing and was very interested in history, his specialist subject being Richard the Third.
He was married on November 6, 1971, to Diane Clare Negent; she gave him a daughter, Nicola.
Alan also had a son, Nathan, who became a national hunt jockey and whose first ever ride at the Cheltenham Festival was on Patras in the Coral Cup.
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