Kent, Derek

photo courtesy John Griffiths

Derek William John Kent was born in Wandsworth, London, on March 17, 1928, and rode his first winner, Happy Slave, at Lingfield on February 29, 1952.

Starting out as an amateur, Derek turned professional in 1956. He rode for about ten years, notching up some 90 winners.

He then concentrated on show-jumping and rode for the British team alongside Harvey Smith & David Broome.

He then turned to training and sent out around 180 winners including Grand Canyon, which twice won the Colonial Cup in America (1976 & 1978).

Derek's father owned a string of fish & chip shops.

Derek Kent died at Warminster, Wiltshire, on December 3, 2001.

He was 73.

Article by Chas Hammond