John Priestman
John Priestman
John Priestman
c1873-1914
c1873-1914
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
John Priestman, known as ‘Yorky’, was one of the leading Northern jockeys of the first decade of the 20th century, riding 132 winners on the Flat. He also had six wins over jumps.
John Priestman, known as ‘Yorky’, was one of the leading Northern jockeys of the first decade of the 20th century, riding 132 winners on the Flat. He also had six wins over jumps.
Born in about 1873, he appears to have started his career elsewhere, for he was nearly 30 when he had his first ride in Britain. This was at Bogside on April 10, 1902 when he steered Sinople into third place in the Eglinton Welter Plate.
Born in about 1873, he appears to have started his career elsewhere, for he was nearly 30 when he had his first ride in Britain. This was at Bogside on April 10, 1902 when he steered Sinople into third place in the Eglinton Welter Plate.
His first win in England was over jumps, at Shincliffe on May 7, 1902, when Cocotte beat Freebooter II by four lengths in the Durham Chase. His first win on the Flat came later that month when Amberite, trained at Malton by William Binnie, landed the Motherwell Handicap at Hamilton Park on May 23.
His first win in England was over jumps, at Shincliffe on May 7, 1902, when Cocotte beat Freebooter II by four lengths in the Durham Chase. His first win on the Flat came later that month when Amberite, trained at Malton by William Binnie, landed the Motherwell Handicap at Hamilton Park on May 23.
John’s next win was on Amberite in the Clyde Selling Hurdle on November 14. He rode two winners under National Hunt rules in 1903, then recorded his last two wins in that sphere on One And All, at Manchester in January and Grindon Hunt in April 1904.
John’s next win was on Amberite in the Clyde Selling Hurdle on November 14. He rode two winners under National Hunt rules in 1903, then recorded his last two wins in that sphere on One And All, at Manchester in January and Grindon Hunt in April 1904.
Thereafter he kept up a steady stream of winners on the Flat, achieving a best score of 46 in 1906. He won no big races although he did finish second on Speculator in that year’s Ayr Gold Cup, albeit there were only four runners. It was also in 1906 that he had his only Classic mount when finishing unplaced on Harriet in the St Leger.
Thereafter he kept up a steady stream of winners on the Flat, achieving a best score of 46 in 1906. He won no big races although he did finish second on Speculator in that year’s Ayr Gold Cup, albeit there were only four runners. It was also in 1906 that he had his only Classic mount when finishing unplaced on Harriet in the St Leger.
John rode four trebles during his career. The last of them, at Paisley on August 9, 1906, saw him win the first race of the afternoon, the Renfrewshire Handicap, and the last race, the Barshaw Plate, on the same horse, the four-year-old filly Nena, trained by William Elsey. The middle leg was achieved on an unnamed five-year-old mare by Raconteur out of Amora in the Stewards’ Selling Plate. John finished second on the Amora mare in the first race on the second day of the meeting and again finished second in the next two.
John rode four trebles during his career. The last of them, at Paisley on August 9, 1906, saw him win the first race of the afternoon, the Renfrewshire Handicap, and the last race, the Barshaw Plate, on the same horse, the four-year-old filly Nena, trained by William Elsey. The middle leg was achieved on an unnamed five-year-old mare by Raconteur out of Amora in the Stewards’ Selling Plate. John finished second on the Amora mare in the first race on the second day of the meeting and again finished second in the next two.
His last win was on Jacobite in the Carlisle Plate at that course on July 1, 1908. He had his final ride on Mr Delamere, who finished unplaced in the Trial Selling Plate at Pontefract on September 23 of that year.
His last win was on Jacobite in the Carlisle Plate at that course on July 1, 1908. He had his final ride on Mr Delamere, who finished unplaced in the Trial Selling Plate at Pontefract on September 23 of that year.
John Priestman died in 1914.
John Priestman died in 1914.
John died on Tuesday, 4th May 1914
John died on Tuesday, 4th May 1914
