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photo courtesy Chris Pitt
John Sharman was born on December 3, 1942, and lived at 32, Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, Surrey.
He served an 8-year apprenticeship with Ron Smyth, who sent out horses from Clear Height, his stables in Downs Road, Epsom. Other jockeys at the yard at that time included Geoff Lewis and, over jumps, Geordie Ramshaw and Edgar Springate.
John's fellow apprentices were G Houchen & E Davies.
Far & away John's favourite horse was Ron, on whom he won six times. Ron (and John) also won two Goodwood Chichester Stakes and came second in the Stewards' Cup.
John's first winner had come at Folkestone, riding Pauline Julia (August 22, 1960).
It was at this course on July 20, 1964, that he landed his only treble (left).
He won on The Swan Checker (10/1), Carlyle (6/1) and Bognor Camp (13-8 fav). This brought his career total
up to 16.
The following year John rode 22 winners, his highest seasonal score, including Kempton Park's Great Jubilee Handicap on Antiquarian.
He enjoyed a successful stint in Pakistan during the winter of 1967/68, having been invited by the Lahore Jockey Club to try to improve the riding standard of the local Pakistani jockeys. He rode chiefly for trainer Abid Hussein and also rode in Karachi before returning to England for the 1968 Flat season.
He rode his last winner on Ron Smyth's two-year-old filly May Bug at Leicester on October 20, 1969.
Away from the racecourse John enjoyed fishing, ten-pin bowling, sailing and swimming.
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