Giles Pitman
Amateur rider Giles Pitman rode 13 winners under National Hunt rules, including the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival twice in three years, before his career was ended prematurely by a bad fall.
Amateur rider Giles Pitman rode 13 winners under National Hunt rules, including the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival twice in three years, before his career was ended prematurely by a bad fall.
Giles William Pitman was born on September 5, 1938. He began riding in races in the late 1950s and rode his first winner on Red Prince, owned by his fiancé and future wife Jane de Pree, in the Downs Selling Handicap Chase at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting on March 30, 1960.
Giles William Pitman was born on September 5, 1938. He began riding in races in the late 1950s and rode his first winner on Red Prince, owned by his fiancé and future wife Jane de Pree, in the Downs Selling Handicap Chase at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting on March 30, 1960.
He rode three winners the following season, two of them on Red Prince, but doubled that tally to six for the 1961/62 campaign, when he lived in Lambourn for a year and worked for former champion NH jockey Bryan Marshall. Having won two more chases on Red Prince, he rode Carrickbeg to land the 1962 Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting. The following month he won three races on staying hurdler Kington Dome.
He rode three winners the following season, two of them on Red Prince, but doubled that tally to six for the 1961/62 campaign, when he lived in Lambourn for a year and worked for former champion NH jockey Bryan Marshall. Having won two more chases on Red Prince, he rode Carrickbeg to land the 1962 Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting. The following month he won three races on staying hurdler Kington Dome.
Giles looked set for a successful career in the saddle but that career was blighted by some heavy falls. It was almost two years before he rode another winner, but it was worth waiting for because he won a second Kim Muir, this time on Jim’s Tavern. That was to be his final success.
Giles looked set for a successful career in the saddle but that career was blighted by some heavy falls. It was almost two years before he rode another winner, but it was worth waiting for because he won a second Kim Muir, this time on Jim’s Tavern. That was to be his final success.
On October 24, 1964 Giles suffered severe concussion when his mount Mintakque came to grief in the Richard Marler Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase at Newbury. It was the fourth time that he had been severely concussed, and he was advised by his doctor that he might suffer permanent damage should he sustain another heavy fall. Giles thus decided to give up riding over jumps.
On October 24, 1964 Giles suffered severe concussion when his mount Mintakque came to grief in the Richard Marler Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase at Newbury. It was the fourth time that he had been severely concussed, and he was advised by his doctor that he might suffer permanent damage should he sustain another heavy fall. Giles thus decided to give up riding over jumps.
Since taking up race-riding he had had over 250 mounts under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points. He had ridden 13 winners under rules, including two Kim Muir Challenge Cups. It is matter of speculation how far he might have progressed but for those bad falls. Having said that, he was by then working in London and his opportunities for riding in races was becoming ever more restricted.
Since taking up race-riding he had had over 250 mounts under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points. He had ridden 13 winners under rules, including two Kim Muir Challenge Cups. It is matter of speculation how far he might have progressed but for those bad falls. Having said that, he was by then working in London and his opportunities for riding in races was becoming ever more restricted.
On announcing his retirement, Giles told the Sporting Life in November 1964: “I would gladly accept a ride in a bumpers’ race on the Flat if anyone would be so foolish as to give me the chance next summer, but with a wife and family I can’t really risk another crack-up like this one.”
On announcing his retirement, Giles told the Sporting Life in November 1964: “I would gladly accept a ride in a bumpers’ race on the Flat if anyone would be so foolish as to give me the chance next summer, but with a wife and family I can’t really risk another crack-up like this one.”
Giles Pitman’s winners were:
Giles Pitman’s winners were:
1. Red Prince, Sandown Park, March 30, 1960
1. Red Prince, Sandown Park, March 30, 1960
2. Vitbe, Towcester, April 16, 1960
2. Vitbe, Towcester, April 16, 1960
3. Eastbury, Wincanton, April 18, 1960
3. Eastbury, Wincanton, April 18, 1960
4. Red Prince, Plumpton, January 11, 1961
4. Red Prince, Plumpton, January 11, 1961
5. Billy Barker, Hurst Park, March 10, 1961
5. Billy Barker, Hurst Park, March 10, 1961
6. Red Prince, Plumpton, March 13, 1961
6. Red Prince, Plumpton, March 13, 1961
7. Red Prince, Plumpton, October 9, 1961
7. Red Prince, Plumpton, October 9, 1961
8. Red Prince, Lingfield Park, January 26, 1962
8. Red Prince, Lingfield Park, January 26, 1962
9. Carrickbeg, Cheltenham, March 14, 1962
9. Carrickbeg, Cheltenham, March 14, 1962
10. Kington Dome, Wincanton, April 5, 1962
10. Kington Dome, Wincanton, April 5, 1962
11. Kington Dome, Taunton, April 12, 1962
11. Kington Dome, Taunton, April 12, 1962
12. Kington Dome, Wincanton, April 23, 1962
12. Kington Dome, Wincanton, April 23, 1962
13. Jim’s Tavern, Cheltenham, March 6, 1964
13. Jim’s Tavern, Cheltenham, March 6, 1964