Wilson, Jock

Big races Jock won included the Cambridgeshire, Portland, Royal Hunt Cup and Northumberland Plate.

Jock Wilson on 1964 Cambridgeshire winner Hasty Cloud.

Riding for trainer Brian Swift, he enjoyed multiple victories with both Decoy Boy and Tribal Chief (below, with Jock in the saddle).

Brian Swift once rang the clerk of the course at Chepstow saying: 'I will not be at the course today, so will you please have the cup presented to my travelling head lad.'

Brian had entered Bold Strings, with Jock on board, for that day's Chepstow Cup.

Jock rode a particularly confident race on the three-year-old, moving up rapidly with 300 yards to go and winning by three lengths.

In April, 1974, jock had his first ride for ill-fated trainer Doug Smith, winning the Aylesford Plate on Cedar Grove at Warwick.

Jock and Jimmy Lindley both escaped serious injury when their respective mounts, moss Royal and Wynavon Bay, fell at the half-point of the Maiden Stakes. Moss Royal, racing on the outside of the field, crossed her legs and lost her footing. She brought down Wynavon Bay. Lindley was severely shaken: Jock twisted a knee.

Then came a crashing fall on the gallops and his career was over. Specialists advised him that another fall would leave him dead or crippled.

Unable to ride out or take any sort of job in racing, Jock opened a grocer's shop near Tadworth. Then he ran The Red Cross, a pub in Reigate (below). It was a different ball game from racing, but he grew to like it.

He was there for 15 years before finally retiring in 1994.

Jock then spent his time with his five grandchildren and playing a round of golf.

And, just for old time's sake, he'd spend an odd day or two at the races.