David Parker
Jump jockey David Parker was born on October 3, 1971, the son of former jockey turned trainer Colin Parker.
Jump jockey David Parker was born on October 3, 1971, the son of former jockey turned trainer Colin Parker.
David began his racing career as an amateur rider, registering his first success under National Hunt rules on Raymond Anderson Green’s novice hurdler Caithness Prince, trained by Colin Parker, at Carlisle on February 9, 1993. He rode three more winners that season, including an amateur riders’ international challenge chase at Perth in April – actually, it was Great Britain versus Ireland, although only two riders travelled from Ireland to take part – on the Sue Bramall-trained Clonroche Driller. He won another amateur riders’ chase in May, this one at Newcastle, on Portavogie, also owned by Raymond Anderson Green and trained by his father.
David began his racing career as an amateur rider, registering his first success under National Hunt rules on Raymond Anderson Green’s novice hurdler Caithness Prince, trained by Colin Parker, at Carlisle on February 9, 1993. He rode three more winners that season, including an amateur riders’ international challenge chase at Perth in April – actually, it was Great Britain versus Ireland, although only two riders travelled from Ireland to take part – on the Sue Bramall-trained Clonroche Driller. He won another amateur riders’ chase in May, this one at Newcastle, on Portavogie, also owned by Raymond Anderson Green and trained by his father.
Portavogie was one of David’s dozen winners the following season, three of which were achieved on Sue Bramall’s chaser Good For A Laugh.
Portavogie was one of David’s dozen winners the following season, three of which were achieved on Sue Bramall’s chaser Good For A Laugh.
The 1994/95 campaign, his last as an amateur, was his most successful numerically with 16 wins. They included four handicap hurdle victories in a row aboard Trump, who was another of Raymond Anderson Green’s horses trained by Colin Parker. He won the Chivas Regal Novices’ Amateur Handicap Chase on Grand National day aboard Hurdy for Sue Bramall, and also landed the final of a sponsored handicap hurdle series on his father’s Master Of Troy on Scottish Grand National day at Ayr. He ended that season as champion amateur rider.
The 1994/95 campaign, his last as an amateur, was his most successful numerically with 16 wins. They included four handicap hurdle victories in a row aboard Trump, who was another of Raymond Anderson Green’s horses trained by Colin Parker. He won the Chivas Regal Novices’ Amateur Handicap Chase on Grand National day aboard Hurdy for Sue Bramall, and also landed the final of a sponsored handicap hurdle series on his father’s Master Of Troy on Scottish Grand National day at Ayr. He ended that season as champion amateur rider.
David turned professional at the beginning of the 1995/96 season and rode for the next four years in the ‘middle-zone’, having 200-odd rides and riding 10-15 winners a year. Many of those were for his father, such as Latin Lover, Wayuphill, Master Woodstick, Shinerola and Lie Detector, but he did well for other trainers too, such on Coqui Lane for Michael Dun and Miss Greenyards for Alastair Whillans. He also had the honour of riding horses owned by the Queen Mother.
David turned professional at the beginning of the 1995/96 season and rode for the next four years in the ‘middle-zone’, having 200-odd rides and riding 10-15 winners a year. Many of those were for his father, such as Latin Lover, Wayuphill, Master Woodstick, Shinerola and Lie Detector, but he did well for other trainers too, such on Coqui Lane for Michael Dun and Miss Greenyards for Alastair Whillans. He also had the honour of riding horses owned by the Queen Mother.
Following the death of Colin Parker in 2000, Andrew Parker – David’s brother – took over as trainer at the family’s Lockerbie stable. David hung up his race-riding saddle that same year, having ridden around 100 winners.
Following the death of Colin Parker in 2000, Andrew Parker – David’s brother – took over as trainer at the family’s Lockerbie stable. David hung up his race-riding saddle that same year, having ridden around 100 winners.
Within months of retiring he joined the Press Association as a full-time race-reader, providing ‘in-running’ comments for each horse running at one of his meetings. He combined that role with jointly training a team of point-to-pointers with his partner, licence holder and top amateur rider Pauline Robson, based at their 200-acre Kidlaw Farm at Capheaton near Newcastle.
Within months of retiring he joined the Press Association as a full-time race-reader, providing ‘in-running’ comments for each horse running at one of his meetings. He combined that role with jointly training a team of point-to-pointers with his partner, licence holder and top amateur rider Pauline Robson, based at their 200-acre Kidlaw Farm at Capheaton near Newcastle.
Pauline obtained a full trainer’s licence in October 2003, while David continued with the point-to-pointers. He trained his first winner in his own name when Hallrule, ridden by Pauline, wearing Raymond Anderson Green’s colours, won at the West Percy Hunt point-to-point on January 25, 2004.
Pauline obtained a full trainer’s licence in October 2003, while David continued with the point-to-pointers. He trained his first winner in his own name when Hallrule, ridden by Pauline, wearing Raymond Anderson Green’s colours, won at the West Percy Hunt point-to-point on January 25, 2004.
They continue to train successfully, having achieved their biggest success to date with King Barry in the 2006 Perth Gold Cup.
They continue to train successfully, having achieved their biggest success to date with King Barry in the 2006 Perth Gold Cup.