Parkes, L. C.

The son of a works inspector, Leslie Clifford Parkes, known as Cliff, was born on November 12, 1931,  at Brierley Hill in Staffordshire and lived for a while at 23, Wentworth Street, Malton, Yorks.He served part of his apprenticeship (1946 - 1952) with Walter Charles Earl of Stanley house, Newmarket, before completing it with Robert Charles Ward at his Hednesford Hazel Stable between 1952 & 1954. 

Bob Ward, whose young son, Peter, was killed in an accident, originally sent horses out from Cheveley Park Stables, Newmarket.

Cliff had a bad fall at Bogside while still an apprentice: be broke his jaw and his nose.

Cliff, the son of a Government works inspector, enjoyed his first win, on Jingle Johnnie, at Brighton on 11 June, 1952. This was the first of forty wins that he would ride for Bob Ward.

Then retained by E. Cousins and W. Elsey, he booted home 41 winners in 1961, his highest seasonal total. This number included victory in the Ayr Gold Cup.

Other good wins included the Irish Lincolnshire, Lanark Silver Bell,Woolf Cup (India), Nepal Gold Cup, Metropolitan Cup, Beresford Cup, Jammu Stud Gold Cup, DarbHanga Cup, Burdwan Cup and the Army Cup.

He also dead-heated for the Cambridgeshire on Violetta lll.

Cliff spent several winters riding in India.