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Cliff Parkes
Cliff Parkes
1931 - 2010
1931 - 2010
Northern lightweight jockey Leslie Clifford Parkes, always known as Cliff, was born on 12 November 1931, at Brierley Hill in Staffordshire, the son of a government works inspector.
Northern lightweight jockey Leslie Clifford Parkes, always known as Cliff, was born on 12 November 1931, at Brierley Hill in Staffordshire, the son of a government works inspector.
As a schoolboy his ambition was to become a jockey. His father encouraged him all the way, even though there was no racing involvement or ‘horsey’ blood in the family.
As a schoolboy his ambition was to become a jockey. His father encouraged him all the way, even though there was no racing involvement or ‘horsey’ blood in the family.
He left school at 14 and served part of his apprenticeship (1946-1952) with Walter Earl at Stanley House, Newmarket, before completing it with Bob Ward at his Hazel Slade, Hednesford stable between 1952 and 1954. Ward, whose young son, Peter, was killed in a racing accident, had originally trained at Cheveley Park Stables, Newmarket.
He left school at 14 and served part of his apprenticeship (1946-1952) with Walter Earl at Stanley House, Newmarket, before completing it with Bob Ward at his Hazel Slade, Hednesford stable between 1952 and 1954. Ward, whose young son, Peter, was killed in a racing accident, had originally trained at Cheveley Park Stables, Newmarket.
Success did not come quickly. Cliff’s first ride in public was at Haydock Park in 1949 but it was not until 11 June 1952 that he enjoyed his first win, on Jingle Johnnie in the Town Two-Year-Old Selling Plate at Brighton. That was the first of forty winners that he would ride for Bob Ward.
Success did not come quickly. Cliff’s first ride in public was at Haydock Park in 1949 but it was not until 11 June 1952 that he enjoyed his first win, on Jingle Johnnie in the Town Two-Year-Old Selling Plate at Brighton. That was the first of forty winners that he would ride for Bob Ward.
Cliff scored his first big race success when winning the 1953 Carlisle Bell on Likabula. However, he had a bad fall at Bogside on 24 April 1954 while still an apprentice: he was unseated from a horse named Purstonian and broke his jaw and his nose.
Cliff scored his first big race success when winning the 1953 Carlisle Bell on Likabula. However, he had a bad fall at Bogside on 24 April 1954 while still an apprentice: he was unseated from a horse named Purstonian and broke his jaw and his nose.
His apprenticeship completed, he went to India and rode 21 winners there. His travels also took him to Ireland where he won the 1955 Irish Lincolnshire Handicap on Cockles And Mussels for trainer Cecil Brabazon.
His apprenticeship completed, he went to India and rode 21 winners there. His travels also took him to Ireland where he won the 1955 Irish Lincolnshire Handicap on Cockles And Mussels for trainer Cecil Brabazon.
On 6 September 1958, he married Joan Ward, who had played the role of a nanny in the film ‘Lady L’. They had two children.
On 6 September 1958, he married Joan Ward, who had played the role of a nanny in the film ‘Lady L’. They had two children.
Cliff was retained by Eric Cousins and Bill Elsey. He booted home 41 winners in 1960, his highest seasonal total. This number included victory in the Ayr Gold Cup on the Cousins-trained Dawn Watch.
Cliff was retained by Eric Cousins and Bill Elsey. He booted home 41 winners in 1960, his highest seasonal total. This number included victory in the Ayr Gold Cup on the Cousins-trained Dawn Watch.
Other good wins included the Lanark Silver Bell, Tote Investors’ Cup, Jack Woolf Cup, Portland Handicap, a second Ayr Gold Cup and the Andy Capp Handicap. He also dead-heated for the 1961 Cambridgeshire on Violetta III.
Other good wins included the Lanark Silver Bell, Tote Investors’ Cup, Jack Woolf Cup, Portland Handicap, a second Ayr Gold Cup and the Andy Capp Handicap. He also dead-heated for the 1961 Cambridgeshire on Violetta III.
Cliff spent several more winters riding in India. His big race winners there included the Indian Oaks on Fair Haven, plus the Nepal Gold Cup, Metropolitan Cup, Beresford Cup, Jammu Stud Gold Cup, Darbhanga Cup, Burdwan Cup and the Army Cup.
Cliff spent several more winters riding in India. His big race winners there included the Indian Oaks on Fair Haven, plus the Nepal Gold Cup, Metropolitan Cup, Beresford Cup, Jammu Stud Gold Cup, Darbhanga Cup, Burdwan Cup and the Army Cup.
By the seventies, however, rides and winners had begun drying up, although there was one last big race success on Fiery Coin in the 1973 Andy Capp Handicap.
By the seventies, however, rides and winners had begun drying up, although there was one last big race success on Fiery Coin in the 1973 Andy Capp Handicap.
He managed to record double-figure scores up until 1974, but his number of wins fell to just five in 1975. Long Love on 25 September 1976, was one of only six wins that season.
He managed to record double-figure scores up until 1974, but his number of wins fell to just five in 1975. Long Love on 25 September 1976, was one of only six wins that season.
He again had six wins in 1977, then four the following year, the last of which was on Golden Apple, trained by Peter Asquith, in the Athens Wood Handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on 13 September 1978. That would prove to be the final one of his 30-year career.
He again had six wins in 1977, then four the following year, the last of which was on Golden Apple, trained by Peter Asquith, in the Athens Wood Handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on 13 September 1978. That would prove to be the final one of his 30-year career.
He had not so far ridden a winner in 1979 when, on 24 July, his season came to an abrupt end at Beverley. Six-and-a-half furlongs from home in a ten-furlong handicap, Cliff parted company with his mount Huntercombe Lad. He suffered ten rib fractures and a minor fracture at the base of his spine. Strangely, however, that fall proved to be a blessing in disguise.
He had not so far ridden a winner in 1979 when, on 24 July, his season came to an abrupt end at Beverley. Six-and-a-half furlongs from home in a ten-furlong handicap, Cliff parted company with his mount Huntercombe Lad. He suffered ten rib fractures and a minor fracture at the base of his spine. Strangely, however, that fall proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Throughout his long career in the saddle, Cliff’s hearing had gradually deteriorated. He had tried to conceal his handicap by learning to lip-read riding instructions. As knowledge of his deafness increased, he found it ever harder to get rides.
Throughout his long career in the saddle, Cliff’s hearing had gradually deteriorated. He had tried to conceal his handicap by learning to lip-read riding instructions. As knowledge of his deafness increased, he found it ever harder to get rides.
It was during his recovery from the Beverley fall that he confided to doctors who advised him to try a new operation. He did so and it proved highly successful. He had conquered his deafness. The Jockey Club doctors passed Cliff fit to ride again and he was given a licence for the 1980 season.
It was during his recovery from the Beverley fall that he confided to doctors who advised him to try a new operation. He did so and it proved highly successful. He had conquered his deafness. The Jockey Club doctors passed Cliff fit to ride again and he was given a licence for the 1980 season.
He said: “I can hear perfectly well now. It is like being born again. I tried too hard to cover up the fact that I was hard of hearing. It worried me to the point of real stress.”
He said: “I can hear perfectly well now. It is like being born again. I tried too hard to cover up the fact that I was hard of hearing. It worried me to the point of real stress.”
Sadly, there were no more winners for Cliff in 1980 and he announced his retirement at the end of that year at the age of 49. He said he hoped to get a job as a work rider in the Malton area.
Sadly, there were no more winners for Cliff in 1980 and he announced his retirement at the end of that year at the age of 49. He said he hoped to get a job as a work rider in the Malton area.
Cliff Parkes died in November 2010, aged 79.
Cliff Parkes died in November 2010, aged 79.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1953: Carlisle Bell – Likabula
1953: Carlisle Bell – Likabula
1955: Irish Lincolnshire Handicap – Cockles And Mussels
1955: Irish Lincolnshire Handicap – Cockles And Mussels
1960: Tote Investors’ Cup (Catterick) – Laird o’ Montrose
1960: Tote Investors’ Cup (Catterick) – Laird o’ Montrose
1960: Jack Woolf Cup (Wolverhampton) – Dawn Watch
1960: Jack Woolf Cup (Wolverhampton) – Dawn Watch
1960: Lanark Silver Bell – Welsh Border
1960: Lanark Silver Bell – Welsh Border
1960: Ayr Gold Cup – Dawn Watch
1960: Ayr Gold Cup – Dawn Watch
1961: Portland Handicap – Winna
1961: Portland Handicap – Winna
1961: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Violetta (dead-heat)
1961: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Violetta (dead-heat)
1965: Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Handicap – Ballymarais
1965: Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Handicap – Ballymarais
1969: Gosforth Park Cup – Salan
1969: Gosforth Park Cup – Salan
1969: Ayr Gold Cup – Brief Star
1969: Ayr Gold Cup – Brief Star
1973: Andy Capp Handicap – Fiery Coin
1973: Andy Capp Handicap – Fiery Coin
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