Don Plant
1941 - 2015
1941 - 2015
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Don Plant was one of the few jockeys to combine training with race riding on the Flat, albeit for a short while.
Don Plant was one of the few jockeys to combine training with race riding on the Flat, albeit for a short while.
Born on May 22, 1941, Donald Garth Plant served a seven-year apprenticeship with Joe Hartigan, initially at Middleham and then at Sandy Brow, near Tarporley, in Cheshire. He had his first two rides when aged 16, both on veteran 11-year-old handicapper Full Hand, the first at Doncaster on May 26, 1958, finishing seventh of eleven, the second at Pontefract on June 7, coming home eighth of eleven.
Born on May 22, 1941, Donald Garth Plant served a seven-year apprenticeship with Joe Hartigan, initially at Middleham and then at Sandy Brow, near Tarporley, in Cheshire. He had his first two rides when aged 16, both on veteran 11-year-old handicapper Full Hand, the first at Doncaster on May 26, 1958, finishing seventh of eleven, the second at Pontefract on June 7, coming home eighth of eleven.
He rode his first winner three years later when Butcher Boy – later transported to Australia as a stallion – scored in a six-furlong apprentices’ handicap at Newcastle on Saturday, May 13, 1961. He had two more winners that year, a pair two-year-old fillies, Die Fighting at Beverley in August and Distance Enchanted at Redcar in September. All three were trained by Joe Hartigan and were for the same owner, Roger Heaton.
He rode his first winner three years later when Butcher Boy – later transported to Australia as a stallion – scored in a six-furlong apprentices’ handicap at Newcastle on Saturday, May 13, 1961. He had two more winners that year, a pair two-year-old fillies, Die Fighting at Beverley in August and Distance Enchanted at Redcar in September. All three were trained by Joe Hartigan and were for the same owner, Roger Heaton.
In 1964 Don left Hartigan for Eric Cousins’ yard where he was second travelling head lad. The move resulted in a further change of status two years later when he married his wife, Hazel, who was then a stable girl in the same yard. The couple had two children, daughter Michelle and son Michael.
In 1964 Don left Hartigan for Eric Cousins’ yard where he was second travelling head lad. The move resulted in a further change of status two years later when he married his wife, Hazel, who was then a stable girl in the same yard. The couple had two children, daughter Michelle and son Michael.
Don took out a jockey’s licence in 1965 and had a few rides for Cousins but no winners. In 1970 he moved to Colin Crossley at nearby Heswall as a head lad. During his two-year stint there, Crossley had his two best seasons, with 16 winners the first year and 22 the next.
Don took out a jockey’s licence in 1965 and had a few rides for Cousins but no winners. In 1970 he moved to Colin Crossley at nearby Heswall as a head lad. During his two-year stint there, Crossley had his two best seasons, with 16 winners the first year and 22 the next.
Don rode five of those winners, beginning when guiding the speedy Moor Lane to his maiden victory at Edinburgh in April 1972. Don rated Moor Lane as the fastest horse he ever rode. His other winner that year came on Caleta Prince at Newcastle in June.
Don rode five of those winners, beginning when guiding the speedy Moor Lane to his maiden victory at Edinburgh in April 1972. Don rated Moor Lane as the fastest horse he ever rode. His other winner that year came on Caleta Prince at Newcastle in June.
Seven-year-old Morning Light got Don off the mark for 1972 by winning the Knowsley Stakes at Liverpool’s Grand National fixture, but his biggest thrill came when winning at his local track, Chester, on Sovereign Quest in July. He won again on Sovereign Quest at Ripon eight days later, what would prove to be the eighth and final winner of his career. In 1973 he became stable jockey to Lowther Barratt at Oswestry but he was by now set on becoming a trainer.
Seven-year-old Morning Light got Don off the mark for 1972 by winning the Knowsley Stakes at Liverpool’s Grand National fixture, but his biggest thrill came when winning at his local track, Chester, on Sovereign Quest in July. He won again on Sovereign Quest at Ripon eight days later, what would prove to be the eighth and final winner of his career. In 1973 he became stable jockey to Lowther Barratt at Oswestry but he was by now set on becoming a trainer.
In December 1973 he settled into a yard at Sealand in North Wales and started the 1974 Flat campaign with ten horses while retaining his jockey’s licence. He had no winners there but in December 1974 he moved to a new yard at Willaston, Cheshire. That brought a change in fortune for he saddled his first winner when the Willie Carson-ridden filly Royal Bally won a three-year-old handicap at Haydock on May 24, 1975. He also won with Caleta Prince at Pontefract in October that year, while Mary Jump won over hurdles in September, partnered by John Suthern.
In December 1973 he settled into a yard at Sealand in North Wales and started the 1974 Flat campaign with ten horses while retaining his jockey’s licence. He had no winners there but in December 1974 he moved to a new yard at Willaston, Cheshire. That brought a change in fortune for he saddled his first winner when the Willie Carson-ridden filly Royal Bally won a three-year-old handicap at Haydock on May 24, 1975. He also won with Caleta Prince at Pontefract in October that year, while Mary Jump won over hurdles in September, partnered by John Suthern.
Don restricted himself to just 13 rides in 1975 and a few the following year but the focus was firmly on the training side. The star of his string was veteran Kingfisher Blue, who was unlucky not to win the 1975 Midland Cesarewitch at Wolverhampton when beaten narrowly by Hardivim. The 12-year-old warrior made up for that in 1976 by winning twice, at Warwick on Easter Monday and at Doncaster in July. He was placed as a 13-year-old in 1977 but did not win again.
Don restricted himself to just 13 rides in 1975 and a few the following year but the focus was firmly on the training side. The star of his string was veteran Kingfisher Blue, who was unlucky not to win the 1975 Midland Cesarewitch at Wolverhampton when beaten narrowly by Hardivim. The 12-year-old warrior made up for that in 1976 by winning twice, at Warwick on Easter Monday and at Doncaster in July. He was placed as a 13-year-old in 1977 but did not win again.
Don had started training when the economic conditions were at their worst and he found it a struggle to make ends meet. He was able to charge £20 a week only because he and his wife did everything themselves, with the help of just one apprentice, his teenage brother Stephen. Even so, he remained optimistic for the future.
Don had started training when the economic conditions were at their worst and he found it a struggle to make ends meet. He was able to charge £20 a week only because he and his wife did everything themselves, with the help of just one apprentice, his teenage brother Stephen. Even so, he remained optimistic for the future.
In 1977 he moved again, this time to Willington Hall, Tarporley, but sadly there was no improvement in terms of number of winners. After two years there, Don gave up the unequal struggle and relinquished his trainer’s licence in 1979.
In 1977 he moved again, this time to Willington Hall, Tarporley, but sadly there was no improvement in terms of number of winners. After two years there, Don gave up the unequal struggle and relinquished his trainer’s licence in 1979.
Don Plant died in July 2015, aged 74.
Don Plant died in July 2015, aged 74.
Don winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
Don winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
1. Butcher Boy, Newcastle, May 13, 1961
1. Butcher Boy, Newcastle, May 13, 1961
2. Die Fighting, Beverley, August 9, 1961
2. Die Fighting, Beverley, August 9, 1961
3. Distance Enchanted, Redcar, September 16, 1961
3. Distance Enchanted, Redcar, September 16, 1961
4. Moor Lane, Edinburgh, April 19, 1972
4. Moor Lane, Edinburgh, April 19, 1972
5. Caleta Prince, Newcastle, June 26, 1971
5. Caleta Prince, Newcastle, June 26, 1971
6. Morning Light, Liverpool, April 7, 1972
6. Morning Light, Liverpool, April 7, 1972
7. Sovereign Quest, Chester, July 14, 1972
7. Sovereign Quest, Chester, July 14, 1972
8. Sovereign Quest, Ripon, July 22, 1972
8. Sovereign Quest, Ripon, July 22, 1972