Renwick, Wilson

Kenneth Wilson Renwick was born on 17 September, 1980, in Cavers, Hawick, and lived at Hallowdean Cottage.

Other young jockeys who came from Hawick at that time included Paul Robson, Bruce Gibson, Ian Jardine, and Garry Berridge. Many assumed that Paul Robson, who turned professional on Friday, April 26, 2002, would prove best of the quintet, but, like Wilson, he took some dreadful falls early on in his career the last of which, when aged just 22, ended his days in the saddle.

When, on Wednesday, 26 January, 2000, the formerly undistinguished mare, Gem Of Holly, (left) landed her first race when scooting up by 14 lengths in a selling handicap at Sedgefield, the 19-year-old rider on her back – Mr K. Renwick – was also breaking his duck.

But why Mr. K. Renwick?

'I've always been Wilson,' explained the young jockey later, 'but no one told Weatherbys (racing's administrators) so it's K. Renwick in the papers.'

While still at school, Wilson had given a horse a racecourse gallop at Kelso; from that moment he knew that it was what he wanted to do.

His grandfather trained point-to-pointers but his father had no connection with racing, working in one of the many local knitwear factories.

Wilson started out with Donald Whillians, then onto Jimmy Fitzgerald before going to Lockerbie to work for Colin Parker.

He'd first appeared on a racecard on Monday, 20 April, 1998, riding Border Glory at Hexham (left).

On February 3, 2000, he rode his second winner, Manhattan Rainbow, then, before the month was out, rode another three: Hugo De Grez, Balisteros & Northern Union.

The winners began to flow – in his first proper season, 1999/00, Wilson rode a very acceptable 16 winners.

So it continued; then, on Tuesday, 31 October, he rode Mrs Sherman into 12th place in National Hunt flat race. It was to be his last ride for five months. Shortly after, he was injured when a horse reared over him, breaking Wilson's ankle.

He wasn't seen on a racecourse again until March 1, 2001, coming 10th at Market Rasen behind Kilgal.

All jockeys expect – and get – injuries, but Wilson certainly sustained more than most. His latest one came at Wetherby on Boxing Day, 2013, when he broke his collar-bone. Wilson was not unhappy to see the back of the 2009/10 season either when he broke his collar-bone twice, dislocated his thumb and sustained a broken nose. Winner-wise it had also been poor, being first past the post on just 13 occasions.

The following season, riding for the likes of Rose Dobbin, Peter Monteith and Howard Johnson, his score rose to a respectful 22. 

It was for Howard Johnson that Wilson had one of his biggest thrills when finishing second in the Topham Trophy.

545 John Smith's Topham Chase (2m 5f)

1. Dunbrody Millar (Jamie Moore) 25-1

2. Theatre Knight (Wilson Renwick) 66-1

3. Latimer's Place (Leighton Aspell) 25-1

4. Ground Ball (AP McCoy) 12-1

29 ran

The following was taken from Wilson's blog on the internet on 18 February 2010.

What a tremendous day I had today at Kelso, winning the More Battle hurdle on the Howard Johnson trained Quwetoo. I have to say the reception I got when I took him into the parade ring from the borders public was just fantastic - in fact it was a wall of sound that I have never had before. I am proud as a borders boy to win such a prestigious race on home soil and I have to thank the race goers for giving me such a welcome. Now back to the horse, he is a machine and without doubt one of those horses that you want to ride when you start out as a jockey. I am enjoying the success as it is days like this that you want !

From todays At the Races website

Delighted winning rider Wilson Renwick told At The Races: "Howard told me to make it a proper test. We thought Zaynar might get stuck in the ground a bit and I think he has.

"Quwetwo's a lovely, big horse. He's not run for a while and he started to get tired in the final furlong, but he's tough and kept sticking his neck out. I think he'll be a bit better on a sounder surface. He looks like a chaser and feels like one.

"I could hear Barry (Geraghty) slapping away down the back, so he obviously wasn't travelling and I knew my lad would keep going. I got a small breather into him at the third-last, that was always the plan and kick on again at the bend."

Winning owner Graham Wylie added: "We planned to go steady and then pick the pace up and see what happens. He has been ready to go since December and has been entered 10 times but the meetings have been abandoned. We took him out of the Arkle last week and we will wait until next season to send him novice chasing."

On 20 February, 2002, his luck deserted him at Sedgefield when, after a stewards' inquiry, his mount Harlov was demoted from first place to last. Harlov badly interfered with Harry Hooly, who lost jockey Laura Hislop 25 yards from the line. At the time, she appeared to be using her whip on Harlov instead of her own mount, but it was Wilson who was suspended for ten days.

In 2008, Wilson rode Back Beat in the Grand National.

At the time of writing (September 2014). Wilson had ridden 334 winners, his highest seasonal total being 46 in 2013/14 campaign. That last figure in no way reflects the jockey's considerable talent; given better luck with injuries, he could well have figured more prominently in the jockeys' table.

Wilson's interests include skiing and he can often be seen on the slopes of Scotland. 

He also enjoys a game of golf.

He can be followed on Twitter where his URL is http://twitter.com/WilsonRenwick