Cecil Price
Horseracing has many famous families, both equine and human. Present day examples of the latter include the Hills, Balding, Dunlop, Carberry and Walsh dynasties. But the Prices of Herefordshire would have given most racing families a run for their money.
Horseracing has many famous families, both equine and human. Present day examples of the latter include the Hills, Balding, Dunlop, Carberry and Walsh dynasties. But the Prices of Herefordshire would have given most racing families a run for their money.
Born on March 12, 1953, National Hunt jockey Cecil Price rode a total of 30 winners from about 180 rides during a riding career that he combined with farming. Of those, 23 were achieved on the six daughters of the remarkable mare Red Dove.
Born on March 12, 1953, National Hunt jockey Cecil Price rode a total of 30 winners from about 180 rides during a riding career that he combined with farming. Of those, 23 were achieved on the six daughters of the remarkable mare Red Dove.
Foaled in 1956, Red Dove had been bought by Tom Price for £25 at Ludlow market. She showed nothing in three novice hurdles for Tom, so he sent her to local trainer Bill Brookes, for whom she was placed in all five starts during the 1961/62 season. Tom then took her back and trained her under permit at his Leominster base.
Foaled in 1956, Red Dove had been bought by Tom Price for £25 at Ludlow market. She showed nothing in three novice hurdles for Tom, so he sent her to local trainer Bill Brookes, for whom she was placed in all five starts during the 1961/62 season. Tom then took her back and trained her under permit at his Leominster base.
During the 1962/63 campaign she won four hurdles and was second seven times from 14 starts. She went on to win a dozen more races, including back-to-back runnings of Chepstow’s Welsh Grand Hurdle, plus the Tote Investors Cup at Uttoxeter. She ran her last race at the age of 12, bowing out with victory in Uttoxeter’s Elkes Challenge Cup. During her career she ran 93 times over hurdles, recording 16 wins and finishing in the frame on another 40 occasions.
During the 1962/63 campaign she won four hurdles and was second seven times from 14 starts. She went on to win a dozen more races, including back-to-back runnings of Chepstow’s Welsh Grand Hurdle, plus the Tote Investors Cup at Uttoxeter. She ran her last race at the age of 12, bowing out with victory in Uttoxeter’s Elkes Challenge Cup. During her career she ran 93 times over hurdles, recording 16 wins and finishing in the frame on another 40 occasions.
But that tells only half the story, for at stud Red Dove went on to produce six foals, all fillies, and all of them multiple winners. The first two, both by local stallion Grey Love, were named Grey Dove (won ten races), Another Dove (won six). Then came Saucy Dove (won six) by 1967 Champion Hurdle winner Saucy Kit, followed by Shadey Dove (won seven) who was by Deadly Nightshade. After them came Nimble Dove (won four) and, finally, Jubilee Dove (won two) – so named because she was born on June 7, 1977, the day of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee – both of those being by the stallion Starch Reduced.
But that tells only half the story, for at stud Red Dove went on to produce six foals, all fillies, and all of them multiple winners. The first two, both by local stallion Grey Love, were named Grey Dove (won ten races), Another Dove (won six). Then came Saucy Dove (won six) by 1967 Champion Hurdle winner Saucy Kit, followed by Shadey Dove (won seven) who was by Deadly Nightshade. After them came Nimble Dove (won four) and, finally, Jubilee Dove (won two) – so named because she was born on June 7, 1977, the day of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee – both of those being by the stallion Starch Reduced.
In 1972, owners Gordon (Tom’s son) and Vera Price put Grey Dove into training with Captain Bill Swainson at Bredon, but the following season Gordon took out a permit to train the mare himself. During the 1974/75 campaign she won four times in the hands of leading amateur rider George Jones.
In 1972, owners Gordon (Tom’s son) and Vera Price put Grey Dove into training with Captain Bill Swainson at Bredon, but the following season Gordon took out a permit to train the mare himself. During the 1974/75 campaign she won four times in the hands of leading amateur rider George Jones.
The season after that, Grey Dove won three more, partnered each time by the trainer’s
The season after that, Grey Dove won three more, partnered each time by the trainer’s
young amateur rider son Cecil Price. The first of those three – Cecil’s first ever winner – was at Uttoxeter (above) on October 11, 1975, her other victories both coming at Warwick on November 17 and February 26, 1976. She went on to win a total of ten races, with another 26 placed efforts from 84 starts, launching Gordon Price’s successful training career in the process.
young amateur rider son Cecil Price. The first of those three – Cecil’s first ever winner – was at Uttoxeter (above) on October 11, 1975, her other victories both coming at Warwick on November 17 and February 26, 1976. She went on to win a total of ten races, with another 26 placed efforts from 84 starts, launching Gordon Price’s successful training career in the process.
Cecil rode four winners the next season, two on Grey Dove, two on Another Dove. He turned professional at the next start of the 1977/78 campaign and doubled that score to eight, including three on Another Dove and three on Saucy Dove. Six more wins came Cecil’s way in 1978/79, including two apiece on trailblazing Saucy Dove and Shadey Dove, both of them trained by Gordon and owned by his brother, John Thomas Price (always known as Tom junior).
Cecil rode four winners the next season, two on Grey Dove, two on Another Dove. He turned professional at the next start of the 1977/78 campaign and doubled that score to eight, including three on Another Dove and three on Saucy Dove. Six more wins came Cecil’s way in 1978/79, including two apiece on trailblazing Saucy Dove and Shadey Dove, both of them trained by Gordon and owned by his brother, John Thomas Price (always known as Tom junior).
Gordon Price had taken out a dual purpose trainer’s licence in 1978 and he saddled Shadey Dove to win on the Flat as well as over hurdles, including successive renewals of the Sporting Chronicle Handicap Hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee, the first of those, on October 13, 1980, being Cecil’s sole winner of that particular season.
Gordon Price had taken out a dual purpose trainer’s licence in 1978 and he saddled Shadey Dove to win on the Flat as well as over hurdles, including successive renewals of the Sporting Chronicle Handicap Hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee, the first of those, on October 13, 1980, being Cecil’s sole winner of that particular season.
Gordon’s nephew Richard Price (son of Tom junior) then took over the training of Shadey Dove and produced her to win more races, including a third consecutive Sporting Chronicle Handicap Hurdle in which she defied a welter 12st 7lb burden.
Gordon’s nephew Richard Price (son of Tom junior) then took over the training of Shadey Dove and produced her to win more races, including a third consecutive Sporting Chronicle Handicap Hurdle in which she defied a welter 12st 7lb burden.
Cecil won on Shadey Dove and Nimble Dove during the 1982/83 season, and on Jubilee Dove in 1983/84. Sadly, Jubilee Dove was killed in a fall at Wolverhampton in May 1985, but the other five mares were all retired to stud and went on to become successful broodmares in their own right.
Cecil won on Shadey Dove and Nimble Dove during the 1982/83 season, and on Jubilee Dove in 1983/84. Sadly, Jubilee Dove was killed in a fall at Wolverhampton in May 1985, but the other five mares were all retired to stud and went on to become successful broodmares in their own right.
Grey Dove was first sent to Rustingo but produced twins. Remarkably, both fillies survived and were named Ryan’s Dove and Clifford’s Dove after Gordon Price’s grandchildren. Clifford’s Dove never ran but Ryan’s Dove managed to win a Leicester claiming hurdle and was claimed by none other than Martin Pipe. A Dove had flown the nest but she never won another race. Grey Dove produced four more winners, the best of whom was Dextra Dove, who won a total of 19 races – four over hurdles for Philip Hobbs, and 15 chases for Robert Alner and Simon Earl.
Grey Dove was first sent to Rustingo but produced twins. Remarkably, both fillies survived and were named Ryan’s Dove and Clifford’s Dove after Gordon Price’s grandchildren. Clifford’s Dove never ran but Ryan’s Dove managed to win a Leicester claiming hurdle and was claimed by none other than Martin Pipe. A Dove had flown the nest but she never won another race. Grey Dove produced four more winners, the best of whom was Dextra Dove, who won a total of 19 races – four over hurdles for Philip Hobbs, and 15 chases for Robert Alner and Simon Earl.
Another Dove’s offspring included multiple winning point-to-pointer Low Homes, plus Another Cruise (by Cruise Missile) who won a Ludlow novice chase and a Hereford novice hurdle. Saucy Dove had only two foals, the best of the pair being Handy Dove (by Palm Track) who won three novice hurdles, trained by Richard Price.
Another Dove’s offspring included multiple winning point-to-pointer Low Homes, plus Another Cruise (by Cruise Missile) who won a Ludlow novice chase and a Hereford novice hurdle. Saucy Dove had only two foals, the best of the pair being Handy Dove (by Palm Track) who won three novice hurdles, trained by Richard Price.
Shadey Dove was the most successful at stud, having produced the most famous of all the Dove clan in Flakey Dove (by Oats) - right - whose dozen victories included the Cleeve Hurdle, Haydock’s Champion Trial Hurdle, Aintree’s Cordon Bleu Handicap Hurdle and, of course, the 1994 Champion Hurdle. Flakey Dove, whose racing career amassed almost £250,000 in prize-money, lived to a good age, finally passing away on February 11, 2016, aged 30.
Shadey Dove was the most successful at stud, having produced the most famous of all the Dove clan in Flakey Dove (by Oats) - right - whose dozen victories included the Cleeve Hurdle, Haydock’s Champion Trial Hurdle, Aintree’s Cordon Bleu Handicap Hurdle and, of course, the 1994 Champion Hurdle. Flakey Dove, whose racing career amassed almost £250,000 in prize-money, lived to a good age, finally passing away on February 11, 2016, aged 30.
Nimble Dove produced three winners including Sally’s Dove, who won three times over hurdles, her March 1990 victory at Bangor-on-Dee being the last winning ride for jockey Reg Crank. Sally’s Dove went on to become the dam of Dove From Above (by Henbit), winner of a Ludlow novice hurdle for Richard Price, and Tip The Dove (by Riboretto) who won a Warwick bumper for owner Cecil Price and trainer Richard Price.
Nimble Dove produced three winners including Sally’s Dove, who won three times over hurdles, her March 1990 victory at Bangor-on-Dee being the last winning ride for jockey Reg Crank. Sally’s Dove went on to become the dam of Dove From Above (by Henbit), winner of a Ludlow novice hurdle for Richard Price, and Tip The Dove (by Riboretto) who won a Warwick bumper for owner Cecil Price and trainer Richard Price.
Cecil had retained his racing involvement after quitting the saddle. Besides owning a winner in Tip The Dove, also trained Nimble Dove’s daughter Sparkling Dove to win a selling hurdle at Chepstow on March 1, 2000, having taken out a permit.
Cecil had retained his racing involvement after quitting the saddle. Besides owning a winner in Tip The Dove, also trained Nimble Dove’s daughter Sparkling Dove to win a selling hurdle at Chepstow on March 1, 2000, having taken out a permit.
Cecil and his wife Isabel lived at Brockmanton Hall, near Leominster. He still farmed but to a lesser extent. They had dairy cows until the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic, after which they decided not to buy any more livestock. It became an arable farm with parts of it being leased out to neighbouring farmers.
Cecil and his wife Isabel lived at Brockmanton Hall, near Leominster. He still farmed but to a lesser extent. They had dairy cows until the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic, after which they decided not to buy any more livestock. It became an arable farm with parts of it being leased out to neighbouring farmers.
Cecil ran a small livery business while continuing to hold a trainer’s permit. He saddled Risk Challenge to landed a gamble when winning a Ludlow bumper at 33-1 on his racecourse debut in March 2006.
Cecil ran a small livery business while continuing to hold a trainer’s permit. He saddled Risk Challenge to landed a gamble when winning a Ludlow bumper at 33-1 on his racecourse debut in March 2006.
Cecil reckoned Shadey Dove was the best of those he rode, although he added that Grey Dove wouldn’t have been far behind.
Cecil reckoned Shadey Dove was the best of those he rode, although he added that Grey Dove wouldn’t have been far behind.
Sadly, the Dove line has gone into decline in recent years. Cecil’s cousin, trainer Andrew Price, was the last one still breeding from the Shadey Dove line through the offspring of her daughter Coney Dove. Nonetheless, it can safely be said that, in terms of family dynasties, a flock of Doves has been the Price of success.
Sadly, the Dove line has gone into decline in recent years. Cecil’s cousin, trainer Andrew Price, was the last one still breeding from the Shadey Dove line through the offspring of her daughter Coney Dove. Nonetheless, it can safely be said that, in terms of family dynasties, a flock of Doves has been the Price of success.