Potts, Tony

Tony Potts

Article by Chris Pitt

Anthony William Potts was born on October 24, 1937, the son of George Potts, who at that time was head man and jumps jockey for trainer Billy Smallwood, based at Racecourse House, Swinton, near Mexborough, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

George had served his apprenticeship with Gerald Armstrong and first held an apprentice jockey’s licence in 1925. His first ride in public was a winner, Sir George Wrenish’s Crystal Set at Redcar on May 24, 1926. He went on to ride successfully in France before returning to England to ride as a jumps jockey, initially for Middleham trainer John Harper and then for Smallwood. He fathered two sons, Anthony William and Allen Geoffrey, both of whom would themselves go on to ride winners under NH Rules.

George was heavily involved in Smallwood’s training operation and played a major part in the successes of both his Lincolnshire Handicap winners, Squadron Castle in 1939, and 100-1 shot Jockey Treble in 1947. His last season as a jumps jockey was in 1951/52. He took out a trainer’s licence in March 1952, succeeding Smallwood at Racecourse House, Swinton, on what was once Rotherham racecourse.

Tony was in the saddle as soon as he could walk, gaining experience with racehorses, travelling at racing pace. He served his apprenticeship with his father and took out a jump jockey’s licence for the1956/57 season. He rode his first winner on Swanland Prince in a Leicester selling hurdle for Doncaster trainer Harry Maw on February 9, 1959. Three months later, on May 23, Tony married Joyce, who bore him a daughter, Gillian, and a son, Timothy, who would eventually follow his father and grandfather by riding under NH Rules.

Tony’s brother Allen only rode for two seasons, 1959/60 and 60/61, achieving his sole winner on his father’s grey gelding Young Winnie in the Dickinson Maiden Handicap Chase at Market Rasen on December 27, 1960.

It was more than four years between Tony’s first winner, Swanland Prince, and his second, Farimole in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on May 25, 1963. He rode two winners in 1963/64, including his first over fences on 15-year-old Clanyon, a useful chaser in his time whose victories included the Jerry M Chase at Lingfield, Manchester’s Victory Chase and Aintree’s Topham Trophy.