John Potter
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
South-west National Hunt jockey John Lawrence Potter was a successful amateur rider, mainly on horses trained under permit by his father, Lawrence John Potter, based at Bishop Sutton, near Bristol. John subsequently turned professional.
South-west National Hunt jockey John Lawrence Potter was a successful amateur rider, mainly on horses trained under permit by his father, Lawrence John Potter, based at Bishop Sutton, near Bristol. John subsequently turned professional.
Progress was slow at first, his first three seasons yielding just four winners, the first of which was on Windsor Melody in a juvenile selling hurdle at Taunton on March 12, 1960. He rode one winner the following season, while the next campaign was almost over before he opened his account, scoring twice within 48 hours on his father’s novice hurdler Tennis Match at Devon & Exeter over the Whitsun weekend.
Progress was slow at first, his first three seasons yielding just four winners, the first of which was on Windsor Melody in a juvenile selling hurdle at Taunton on March 12, 1960. He rode one winner the following season, while the next campaign was almost over before he opened his account, scoring twice within 48 hours on his father’s novice hurdler Tennis Match at Devon & Exeter over the Whitsun weekend.
From then on, however, the winners began to flow more frequently. Six in 1962/63 – including four on Tennis Match and an early season Devon & Exeter double – and nine in 63/64.
From then on, however, the winners began to flow more frequently. Six in 1962/63 – including four on Tennis Match and an early season Devon & Exeter double – and nine in 63/64.
He turned professional at the start of the 1964/65 campaign and rode eight winners that season. However, he drew a blank the following season and had only one the next, that being Poleuse, trained by Toby Cobden at Martock, Somerset, in a Taunton handicap hurdle on Bonfire Night 1966. Alas, there were no more fireworks for John, who handed in his licence at the end of that
He turned professional at the start of the 1964/65 campaign and rode eight winners that season. However, he drew a blank the following season and had only one the next, that being Poleuse, trained by Toby Cobden at Martock, Somerset, in a Taunton handicap hurdle on Bonfire Night 1966. Alas, there were no more fireworks for John, who handed in his licence at the end of that
season.
season.
The best horse he rode during his career was a grey two-mile handicap chaser named K.E., trained by Herbert Payne at Wells, Somerset. John won four times on him, including twice at Windsor and was placed on several occasions.
The best horse he rode during his career was a grey two-mile handicap chaser named K.E., trained by Herbert Payne at Wells, Somerset. John won four times on him, including twice at Windsor and was placed on several occasions.
John Potter’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Potter’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Windsor Melody, Taunton, March 12, 1960
1. Windsor Melody, Taunton, March 12, 1960
2. Tenerville, Chepstow, October 29, 1960
2. Tenerville, Chepstow, October 29, 1960
3. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, June 9, 1962
3. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, June 9, 1962
4. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, June 11, 1962
4. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, June 11, 1962
5. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, August 22, 1962
5. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, August 22, 1962
6. Biddy’s Land, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1962
6. Biddy’s Land, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1962
7. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1962
7. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1962
8. Biddy’s Land, Wincanton, October 4, 1962
8. Biddy’s Land, Wincanton, October 4, 1962
9. Tennis Match, Taunton, May 4, 1963
9. Tennis Match, Taunton, May 4, 1963
10. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, June 3, 1963
10. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, June 3, 1963
11. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, August 21, 1963
11. Tennis Match, Devon & Exeter, August 21, 1963
12. Gavelacre, Taunton, October 19, 1963
12. Gavelacre, Taunton, October 19, 1963
13. Nothing Brilliant, Taunton, November 9, 1963
13. Nothing Brilliant, Taunton, November 9, 1963
14. Gay Pelican, Worcester, November 14, 1963
14. Gay Pelican, Worcester, November 14, 1963
15. Longway, Taunton, November 23, 1963
15. Longway, Taunton, November 23, 1963
16. Fan Tan, Taunton, November 23, 1963
16. Fan Tan, Taunton, November 23, 1963
17. Olein’s Dance, Wincanton, December 12, 1963
17. Olein’s Dance, Wincanton, December 12, 1963
18. K.E., Windsor, February 1, 1964
18. K.E., Windsor, February 1, 1964
19. K.E., Newton Abbot, March 28, 1964
19. K.E., Newton Abbot, March 28, 1964
20. Cross Street, Devon & Exeter, August 5, 1964
20. Cross Street, Devon & Exeter, August 5, 1964
21. Pipe-Major, Devon & Exeter, September 3, 1964 (walked over)
21. Pipe-Major, Devon & Exeter, September 3, 1964 (walked over)
22. Longway, Newton Abbot, September 18, 1964
22. Longway, Newton Abbot, September 18, 1964
23. Proud Boy, Taunton, October 10, 1964
23. Proud Boy, Taunton, October 10, 1964
24. Pink Fancy, Wincanton, November 19, 1964
24. Pink Fancy, Wincanton, November 19, 1964
25. K.E., Windsor, November 20, 1964
25. K.E., Windsor, November 20, 1964
26. K.E., Taunton, November 28, 1964
26. K.E., Taunton, November 28, 1964
27. Nothing, Hereford, April 19, 1965
27. Nothing, Hereford, April 19, 1965
28. Poleuse, Taunton, November 5, 1966
28. Poleuse, Taunton, November 5, 1966