Colin Parker
1945 - 2000
1945 - 2000
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Born in Cumbria on May 10, 1945, Colin Parker rode over jumps for ten years, amassing a total of 38 wins, but he was to achieve much more success as a trainer, his victories including a Cheltenham Festival winner.
Born in Cumbria on May 10, 1945, Colin Parker rode over jumps for ten years, amassing a total of 38 wins, but he was to achieve much more success as a trainer, his victories including a Cheltenham Festival winner.
Colin was apprenticed to Horace Cousins and then joined Freddie Milburn’s stable at Riding Mill, Northumberland. He rode his first winner on just his fifth ride in public, aboard Great Year in a maiden hurdle at Perth on April 29, 1964. His second winner was his first over fences, on Clane Beau at Kelso the following week.
Colin was apprenticed to Horace Cousins and then joined Freddie Milburn’s stable at Riding Mill, Northumberland. He rode his first winner on just his fifth ride in public, aboard Great Year in a maiden hurdle at Perth on April 29, 1964. His second winner was his first over fences, on Clane Beau at Kelso the following week.
Great Year gave him a winning ride in the Stewart Wight Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on April 3, 1965. Worth £544 to the winning owner, that would prove to be the most richly-endowed race Colin won during his career in the saddle. Of the six winners he rode that term, three came courtesy of Freddie Milburn’s novice hurdler Impeachment.
Great Year gave him a winning ride in the Stewart Wight Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on April 3, 1965. Worth £544 to the winning owner, that would prove to be the most richly-endowed race Colin won during his career in the saddle. Of the six winners he rode that term, three came courtesy of Freddie Milburn’s novice hurdler Impeachment.
Colin was the epitome of a north country journeyman jockey, riding mostly moderate horses in moderate races. His best season came in 1968/69 when riding eight winners. Almost one-third of his 38 career wins were for Bobby Hall, who trained at Heddon-on-the-Wall, near Newcastle on Tyne. They included hurdlers Royal Pomp, left, Maid of the Hills and Slaves Dream, all of whom he won on twice, and novice chasers Son o’ Bowsprit, Final Leave and Rose of Erin.
Colin was the epitome of a north country journeyman jockey, riding mostly moderate horses in moderate races. His best season came in 1968/69 when riding eight winners. Almost one-third of his 38 career wins were for Bobby Hall, who trained at Heddon-on-the-Wall, near Newcastle on Tyne. They included hurdlers Royal Pomp, left, Maid of the Hills and Slaves Dream, all of whom he won on twice, and novice chasers Son o’ Bowsprit, Final Leave and Rose of Erin.
Colin won three times on Jumbo Wilkinson’s chaser Follower, while other trainers to put him up on winners included George Dun, Ian Jordan and Gordon W Richards, for whom he won a Wetherby handicap hurdle on Proud Stone, left. His final winner was on Rouge Noir, below, at Kelso on January 26, 1972 for Howick trainer Harry Bell. He hung up his boots thefollowing season.
Colin won three times on Jumbo Wilkinson’s chaser Follower, while other trainers to put him up on winners included George Dun, Ian Jordan and Gordon W Richards, for whom he won a Wetherby handicap hurdle on Proud Stone, left. His final winner was on Rouge Noir, below, at Kelso on January 26, 1972 for Howick trainer Harry Bell. He hung up his boots thefollowing season.
After quitting the saddle, he became head lad to Gordon Richards at Penrith, a position he occupied for almost a decade until moving across the Border and setting up as a trainer at Douglas Hall Farm, near Lockerbie. He saddled his first winner when Three Shiners landed the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cup, an amateur riders’ novices’ hurdle, on October 12, 1984.
After quitting the saddle, he became head lad to Gordon Richards at Penrith, a position he occupied for almost a decade until moving across the Border and setting up as a trainer at Douglas Hall Farm, near Lockerbie. He saddled his first winner when Three Shiners landed the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cup, an amateur riders’ novices’ hurdle, on October 12, 1984.
Most of his best performers were owned by London financier Raymond Anderson Green, a great supporter of racing north of the Border and owner of Scotland’s largest string of racehorses.
Most of his best performers were owned by London financier Raymond Anderson Green, a great supporter of racing north of the Border and owner of Scotland’s largest string of racehorses.
Colin achieved his biggest success when Anderson Green’s Sparky Gayle left, won the Cathcart Chase at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival. Among the many other good horses he trained were Kushbaloo, who won five novice chases and came close to landing the John Hughes Memorial Chase over the Grand National fences.
Colin achieved his biggest success when Anderson Green’s Sparky Gayle left, won the Cathcart Chase at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival. Among the many other good horses he trained were Kushbaloo, who won five novice chases and came close to landing the John Hughes Memorial Chase over the Grand National fences.
A man of few words, he preferred to let his horses do the talking for him, his skill as a trainer bringing him far greater success than he’d achieved as a jockey.
A man of few words, he preferred to let his horses do the talking for him, his skill as a trainer bringing him far greater success than he’d achieved as a jockey.
Colin Parker passed away on Friday, September 29, 2000 at his Kettleholm farmhouse in Dumfriesshire, aged just 55, having battled for over a year against bone marrow cancer. He left a wife, Janet, and two sons, Andrew and David, both of whom had ridden successfully under National Hunt rules. Andrew, his eldest son, took over the training operation.
Colin Parker passed away on Friday, September 29, 2000 at his Kettleholm farmhouse in Dumfriesshire, aged just 55, having battled for over a year against bone marrow cancer. He left a wife, Janet, and two sons, Andrew and David, both of whom had ridden successfully under National Hunt rules. Andrew, his eldest son, took over the training operation.
Andrew Parker trained Merigo to win the 2010 and 2012 Scottish Grand Nationals for Raymond Anderson Green. David Parker is now assistant to his partner Pauline Robson, who trains at Capheaton, near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Andrew Parker trained Merigo to win the 2010 and 2012 Scottish Grand Nationals for Raymond Anderson Green. David Parker is now assistant to his partner Pauline Robson, who trains at Capheaton, near Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase, a Listed race, is run annually at Carlisle in November.
The Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase, a Listed race, is run annually at Carlisle in November.
Colin Parker’s British winners were, in chronological order:
Colin Parker’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Great Year, Perth, April 29.1964
1. Great Year, Perth, April 29.1964
2. Clane Beau, Kelso, May 7, 1964
2. Clane Beau, Kelso, May 7, 1964
3. Stately Scot, Hexham, October 5, 1964 (walkover)
3. Stately Scot, Hexham, October 5, 1964 (walkover)
4. Great Year, Kelso, April 3, 1965
4. Great Year, Kelso, April 3, 1965
5. Impeachment, Perth, April 29, 1965
5. Impeachment, Perth, April 29, 1965
6. Impeachment, Hexham, May 12, 1965
6. Impeachment, Hexham, May 12, 1965
7. Impeachment, Newcastle, May 15, 1965
7. Impeachment, Newcastle, May 15, 1965
8. Tarzan, Hexham, June 7, 1965
8. Tarzan, Hexham, June 7, 1965
9. Tarzan, above, Sedgefield, September 11, 1965
9. Tarzan, above, Sedgefield, September 11, 1965
10. Stittenham, Perth, September 22, 1965
10. Stittenham, Perth, September 22, 1965
11. Woodfella, Ayr, November 6, 1965
11. Woodfella, Ayr, November 6, 1965
12. Royal Pomp, Newcastle, September 12, 1966 (dead-heat)
12. Royal Pomp, Newcastle, September 12, 1966 (dead-heat)
13. Royal Pomp, Ayr, October 17, 1966
13. Royal Pomp, Ayr, October 17, 1966
14. Pappingo, Kelso, December 13, 1966
14. Pappingo, Kelso, December 13, 1966
15. Harry D, January 2, 1967
15. Harry D, January 2, 1967
16. Pappingo, Carlisle, March 27, 1967
16. Pappingo, Carlisle, March 27, 1967
17. Maid of the Hills, Kelso, April 6, 1968
17. Maid of the Hills, Kelso, April 6, 1968
18. Follower, Southwell, April 11, 1968
18. Follower, Southwell, April 11, 1968
19. Follower, Hexham, April 22, 1968
19. Follower, Hexham, April 22, 1968
20. Maid of the Hills, Newcastle, May 4, 1968
20. Maid of the Hills, Newcastle, May 4, 1968
21. Tarik, Hexham, June 1, 1968
21. Tarik, Hexham, June 1, 1968
22. Reckless Rock, Doncaster, October 25, 1968
22. Reckless Rock, Doncaster, October 25, 1968
23. Camasco, Kelso, October 26, 1968
23. Camasco, Kelso, October 26, 1968
24. Slaves Dream, Ayr, November 2, 1968
24. Slaves Dream, Ayr, November 2, 1968
25. Slaves Dream, above, Catterick Bridge, November 16, 1968
25. Slaves Dream, above, Catterick Bridge, November 16, 1968
26. Follower, Haydock Park, November 27, 1968
26. Follower, Haydock Park, November 27, 1968
27. Son o’ Bowsprit, Ayr, January 2, 1969
27. Son o’ Bowsprit, Ayr, January 2, 1969
28. Trentuno, above, Doncaster, March 4, 1969
28. Trentuno, above, Doncaster, March 4, 1969
29. Moray Bell, Hexham, April 19, 1969
29. Moray Bell, Hexham, April 19, 1969
30. Young Tabs, Catterick Bridge, January 17, 1970
30. Young Tabs, Catterick Bridge, January 17, 1970
31. Final Leave, Ayr, February 7, 1970
31. Final Leave, Ayr, February 7, 1970
32. Nuits St Georges. Kelso, March 12, 1970
32. Nuits St Georges. Kelso, March 12, 1970
33. Proud Stone, Wetherby, May 6, 1970
33. Proud Stone, Wetherby, May 6, 1970
34. Rose of Erin, Sedgefield, May 8, 1970
34. Rose of Erin, Sedgefield, May 8, 1970
35. Treasurer, Newcastle, February 20, 1971
35. Treasurer, Newcastle, February 20, 1971
36. Maid Valiant, Sedgefield, April 30, 1971
36. Maid Valiant, Sedgefield, April 30, 1971
37. Blue Boy, Newcastle, December 28, 1971
37. Blue Boy, Newcastle, December 28, 1971
38. Rouge Noir, Kelso, January 26, 1972
38. Rouge Noir, Kelso, January 26, 1972
