John Parkin
John Parkin
John Parkin
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
John William Parkin won 16 races under National Hunt rules between 1946 and 1950 and rode in the 1949 Grand National.
John William Parkin won 16 races under National Hunt rules between 1946 and 1950 and rode in the 1949 Grand National.
He made a promising start to his career by finishing second on his first ride when Amor Atys, making his debut over jumps, was only beaten by Victory Note in the Leckhampton Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Cheltenham on February 1, 1946, albeit the winning margin was ten lengths.
He made a promising start to his career by finishing second on his first ride when Amor Atys, making his debut over jumps, was only beaten by Victory Note in the Leckhampton Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Cheltenham on February 1, 1946, albeit the winning margin was ten lengths.
Like many other jockeys, his first win came on an Easter Monday, in his case at Towcester on April 22, 1946, when Civvy Street, trained by Major Geoffrey Champneys, landed the Paulerspury Selling Handicap Hurdle, beating Sutton Hoo by three lengths.
Like many other jockeys, his first win came on an Easter Monday, in his case at Towcester on April 22, 1946, when Civvy Street, trained by Major Geoffrey Champneys, landed the Paulerspury Selling Handicap Hurdle, beating Sutton Hoo by three lengths.
The pair then turned to running over fences and, following an unplaced first effort at Newton Abbot on May 8, scored again in the Woore Chase at that Shropshire venue eight days later. In a close finish, Civvy Street beat Smiling Sambo, the mount of amateur rider ‘Tubby’ Parker, by a neck, with future champion jockey Tim Molony a similar distance away in third place on National Member.
The pair then turned to running over fences and, following an unplaced first effort at Newton Abbot on May 8, scored again in the Woore Chase at that Shropshire venue eight days later. In a close finish, Civvy Street beat Smiling Sambo, the mount of amateur rider ‘Tubby’ Parker, by a neck, with future champion jockey Tim Molony a similar distance away in third place on National Member.
John achieved his third win of the season at Towcester on June 8, when Mentores, also trained by Major Champneys, won the Novices’ Hurdle by four lengths.
John achieved his third win of the season at Towcester on June 8, when Mentores, also trained by Major Champneys, won the Novices’ Hurdle by four lengths.
He registered just two wins for the 1946/47 campaign, those coming in a double at Wye in April, one of which was a dead heat. However, over the next few years John had plenty of rides and the occasional success, his most fruitful season being 1948/49 with six wins. He actually passed the post first seven times that season, but at Wincanton on April 16, having apparently ridden Baydon to victory in the Avebury Novices’ Chase, it was discovered that the race had been run over the wrong distance, thus having to be declared void.
He registered just two wins for the 1946/47 campaign, those coming in a double at Wye in April, one of which was a dead heat. However, over the next few years John had plenty of rides and the occasional success, his most fruitful season being 1948/49 with six wins. He actually passed the post first seven times that season, but at Wincanton on April 16, having apparently ridden Baydon to victory in the Avebury Novices’ Chase, it was discovered that the race had been run over the wrong distance, thus having to be declared void.
A few weeks earlier, John had ridden Celtic Cross in the Grand National, but the 11-year-old came to grief when prominent at the Canal Turn on the first circuit.
A few weeks earlier, John had ridden Celtic Cross in the Grand National, but the 11-year-old came to grief when prominent at the Canal Turn on the first circuit.
He won five races on the chaser Flying Cinders, and his final success was on Strongbow, who prevailed by a short head in the Wallaford Moderate Handicap Chase at Buckfastleigh on Whit Monday, May 29, 1950. Losing his allowance after riding his 15th winner may not have helped his cause, and he rode no more thereafter, although his last ride was not until September 20, 1952, when Flick was the last of four finishers in the Three=-Year-Old Hurdle at Stratford.
He won five races on the chaser Flying Cinders, and his final success was on Strongbow, who prevailed by a short head in the Wallaford Moderate Handicap Chase at Buckfastleigh on Whit Monday, May 29, 1950. Losing his allowance after riding his 15th winner may not have helped his cause, and he rode no more thereafter, although his last ride was not until September 20, 1952, when Flick was the last of four finishers in the Three=-Year-Old Hurdle at Stratford.
John Parkin’s winners were, in chronological order.
John Parkin’s winners were, in chronological order.
1. Civvy Street, Towcester, April 22, 1946
1. Civvy Street, Towcester, April 22, 1946
2. Civvy Street, Woore, May 16, 1946
2. Civvy Street, Woore, May 16, 1946
3, Mentores, Towcester, June 8, 1946
3, Mentores, Towcester, June 8, 1946
4. Robin Redvest, Wye, April 14, 1947
4. Robin Redvest, Wye, April 14, 1947
5. Sir Chaucer, Wye, April 14, 1947
5. Sir Chaucer, Wye, April 14, 1947
6. Sir Chaucer, Newport, October 11, 1947
6. Sir Chaucer, Newport, October 11, 1947
7. Civvy Street, Haydock Park, November 29, 1947
7. Civvy Street, Haydock Park, November 29, 1947
8. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, July 31, 1948
8. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, July 31, 1948
9. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, September 10, 1948
9. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, September 10, 1948
10. Mac Quintus, Fontwell Park, November 4, 1948
10. Mac Quintus, Fontwell Park, November 4, 1948
11. Flying Cinders, Plumpton, December 15, 1948
11. Flying Cinders, Plumpton, December 15, 1948
12. Baydon, Wye, May 9, 1949
12. Baydon, Wye, May 9, 1949
13. Golden Labrador, Newton Abbot, May 28, 1949
13. Golden Labrador, Newton Abbot, May 28, 1949
14. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, August 20, 1949
14. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, August 20, 1949
15. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, September 10, 1949
15. Flying Cinders, Newton Abbot, September 10, 1949
16. Strongbow, Buckfastleigh, May 29, 1950
16. Strongbow, Buckfastleigh, May 29, 1950
John Parkin's Wye double