Ben Pollock
Leading hunter chase and point-to-point rider Ben Pollock was born on March 22, 1974. His riding career began on the back of a pony before he was three, and progressed via leading rein and pony club classes to show-jumping.
Leading hunter chase and point-to-point rider Ben Pollock was born on March 22, 1974. His riding career began on the back of a pony before he was three, and progressed via leading rein and pony club classes to show-jumping.
By the time he was 15 he was exercising racehorses at weekends and in the school holidays at Alscot Park, near Stratford-on-Avon, the stables of jumps trainer John McConnochie. A year later he began riding out for Dick Saunders at Holdenby, near Northampton, in the hope of getting rides as a point-to-point jockey.
By the time he was 15 he was exercising racehorses at weekends and in the school holidays at Alscot Park, near Stratford-on-Avon, the stables of jumps trainer John McConnochie. A year later he began riding out for Dick Saunders at Holdenby, near Northampton, in the hope of getting rides as a point-to-point jockey.
At school he did well in his GCSEs and won a scholarship to Rugby School where he achieved three A-levels and a place at Cirencester Agricultural College. Not far away was the headquarters of leading trainer David Nicholson where Ben rode out every morning before the day's lectures. But when the college indicated he had to make a choice between his studies and horses he saw it as an offer he couldn't refuse. He quit college and started work for another top trainer, Captain Tim Forster.
At school he did well in his GCSEs and won a scholarship to Rugby School where he achieved three A-levels and a place at Cirencester Agricultural College. Not far away was the headquarters of leading trainer David Nicholson where Ben rode out every morning before the day's lectures. But when the college indicated he had to make a choice between his studies and horses he saw it as an offer he couldn't refuse. He quit college and started work for another top trainer, Captain Tim Forster.
At that time, his burning ambition was to train racehorses and his only aim in riding was to give him experience when dealing with jockeys in the future. Then he rode a winner and his riding career took off.
At that time, his burning ambition was to train racehorses and his only aim in riding was to give him experience when dealing with jockeys in the future. Then he rode a winner and his riding career took off.
For ten years he rode for Dick Saunders and his daughter, leading point-to-point and hunter chase trainer Caroline Saunders. It was while working for Caroline that he met his future wife Ninga Polito who was head girl in a point-to-point yard in Horninghold.
For ten years he rode for Dick Saunders and his daughter, leading point-to-point and hunter chase trainer Caroline Saunders. It was while working for Caroline that he met his future wife Ninga Polito who was head girl in a point-to-point yard in Horninghold.
He was always going to be too big and heavy to be a professional jockey, so he began an apprenticeship as a farrier while continuing to ride for the Saunders establishment. He became their number one rider and rode in points and hunter-chases all over the country.
He was always going to be too big and heavy to be a professional jockey, so he began an apprenticeship as a farrier while continuing to ride for the Saunders establishment. He became their number one rider and rode in points and hunter-chases all over the country.
Ben went on to ride 75 point-to-point winners and 51 under rules. He was champion hunter-chase jockey for three successive years and won the 1999 Cheltenham Foxhunters on Castle Mane, trained by Caroline Bailey (nee Saunders).
Ben went on to ride 75 point-to-point winners and 51 under rules. He was champion hunter-chase jockey for three successive years and won the 1999 Cheltenham Foxhunters on Castle Mane, trained by Caroline Bailey (nee Saunders).
He won six hunter chases on Teaplanter (right), four of them at Towcester. He also partnered the subsequent King George VI Chase winner Teeton Mill in the horse’s early days, winning two point-to-points and four hunter chases on him before the horse was switched to handicap company. Among the other good horses he rode to victory were Gunner Welburn, Brown Windsor and Secret Bay.
He won six hunter chases on Teaplanter (right), four of them at Towcester. He also partnered the subsequent King George VI Chase winner Teeton Mill in the horse’s early days, winning two point-to-points and four hunter chases on him before the horse was switched to handicap company. Among the other good horses he rode to victory were Gunner Welburn, Brown Windsor and Secret Bay.
He and Ninga started training pointers with three horses in stables at the back of her parents’ garden. A year later – in 2001 – they moved to Medbourne Grange, overlooking the Welland Valley, and in their first year had five point-to-point winners. A bad shoulder injury forced Ben to retire from the saddle and in April 2003 he realised the boyhood ambition to become a public trainer.
He and Ninga started training pointers with three horses in stables at the back of her parents’ garden. A year later – in 2001 – they moved to Medbourne Grange, overlooking the Welland Valley, and in their first year had five point-to-point winners. A bad shoulder injury forced Ben to retire from the saddle and in April 2003 he realised the boyhood ambition to become a public trainer.
He saddled his first winner under National Hunt rules when Beau Torero, a grey hurdler ridden by Rodi Greene, won at Taunton on November 27, 2003.
He saddled his first winner under National Hunt rules when Beau Torero, a grey hurdler ridden by Rodi Greene, won at Taunton on November 27, 2003.
In January 2006, in just his third season with a trainer’s licence, he won the £60,000 Sky Bet Chase – better known as the Great Yorkshire Chase – with 16-1 shot A Glass In Thyne, ridden by Andrew Thornton. It was run that year at Southwell as Doncaster was closed for refurbishments.
In January 2006, in just his third season with a trainer’s licence, he won the £60,000 Sky Bet Chase – better known as the Great Yorkshire Chase – with 16-1 shot A Glass In Thyne, ridden by Andrew Thornton. It was run that year at Southwell as Doncaster was closed for refurbishments.