Mick Pumfrey
Reproduced by kind permission of Bernard Parkin.
Mick Pumfrey, son of a local dairyman and an ex-pupil of Naunton Park School. Leckhampton, Cheltenham Spa was the stable jockey of Phil Doherty who trained 21 horses at his yard in Gambles Lane, Woodmancote.
Mick Pumfrey, son of a local dairyman and an ex-pupil of Naunton Park School. Leckhampton, Cheltenham Spa was the stable jockey of Phil Doherty who trained 21 horses at his yard in Gambles Lane, Woodmancote.
He rode his first winner on Freevale in the Thurlbeare Chase at Taunton on March 8, 1952. Two weeks later he rode the Doherty-trained Which Way to victory in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow.
He rode his first winner on Freevale in the Thurlbeare Chase at Taunton on March 8, 1952. Two weeks later he rode the Doherty-trained Which Way to victory in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow.
Having ridden just those two winners in 1951/52, his tally rose to eight in 52/53 and 14 in 1953/54.
Having ridden just those two winners in 1951/52, his tally rose to eight in 52/53 and 14 in 1953/54.
The best of Phil Doherty’s horses was undoubtedly Impney, who had the distinction, when ridden by Mick, of beating one of the greatest hurdlers of all time – Sir Ken – at Uttoxeter. That afternoon, Sir Ken had started at 7-1 on!
The best of Phil Doherty’s horses was undoubtedly Impney, who had the distinction, when ridden by Mick, of beating one of the greatest hurdlers of all time – Sir Ken – at Uttoxeter. That afternoon, Sir Ken had started at 7-1 on!
Mick Also rode Impney to finish second, beaten a length, to Sir Ken in the 1954 Champion Hurdle.
Mick Also rode Impney to finish second, beaten a length, to Sir Ken in the 1954 Champion Hurdle.
He continued to boot home the winners, recording 8 in 1954/55, 7 in 55/56, 12 in 56/57 and 11 in 57/58. His tally dropped to just four in 58/59, the last of that quartet being on Prince Apollo, the 9-4 favourite, for Prestbury trainer John Roberts, in the Alderbury Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959.
He continued to boot home the winners, recording 8 in 1954/55, 7 in 55/56, 12 in 56/57 and 11 in 57/58. His tally dropped to just four in 58/59, the last of that quartet being on Prince Apollo, the 9-4 favourite, for Prestbury trainer John Roberts, in the Alderbury Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959.
Besides being Phil Doherty’s stable jockey, Mick also rode for local permit holder George Hackling, a motor dealer by trade. George liked to enter his horses at far away meetings and enjoyed nothing better than driving hundreds of miles in his huge, shocking pink-coloured American Cadillac.
Besides being Phil Doherty’s stable jockey, Mick also rode for local permit holder George Hackling, a motor dealer by trade. George liked to enter his horses at far away meetings and enjoyed nothing better than driving hundreds of miles in his huge, shocking pink-coloured American Cadillac.
On the first day of the 1959/60 season (Saturday, August 1, 1959). Mick rode Anniversary in the last race of the day, the three-mile one-furlong Modbury Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot for George Hackling. Mick was thrown when the horse came down. He was not injured by the fall but received a kick from a following horse. Mick’s protective helmet stayed in place but was split in two and his skull was fractured.
On the first day of the 1959/60 season (Saturday, August 1, 1959). Mick rode Anniversary in the last race of the day, the three-mile one-furlong Modbury Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot for George Hackling. Mick was thrown when the horse came down. He was not injured by the fall but received a kick from a following horse. Mick’s protective helmet stayed in place but was split in two and his skull was fractured.
He was taken to Torbay Hospital. A highly complicated operation was undertaken the following day by the surgeons, guided step by step by specialists at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, who were in telephone communication. However, Mick never regained consciousness and died during surgery, on Sunday, August 2, 1959. He was 29 years old.
He was taken to Torbay Hospital. A highly complicated operation was undertaken the following day by the surgeons, guided step by step by specialists at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, who were in telephone communication. However, Mick never regained consciousness and died during surgery, on Sunday, August 2, 1959. He was 29 years old.
Mick had been a jockey for eight years and had ridden a total of 66 winners. He lived close to the Rising Sun on Cleeve Hill, not far from Emblem Cottage, the home of George Stevens, who rode the winners of five Grand Nationals and who himself had been killed in a (non-racing) fall from a horse.
Mick had been a jockey for eight years and had ridden a total of 66 winners. He lived close to the Rising Sun on Cleeve Hill, not far from Emblem Cottage, the home of George Stevens, who rode the winners of five Grand Nationals and who himself had been killed in a (non-racing) fall from a horse.
Mick was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery within sight of George’s grave.
Mick was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery within sight of George’s grave.
Red Prince (Dave Dick) leads Freevale (Mick Pumfrey) at Cheltenham in 1958.
Red Prince (Dave Dick) leads Freevale (Mick Pumfrey) at Cheltenham in 1958.
Reproduced by kind permission of Bernard Parkin.
Reproduced by kind permission of Bernard Parkin.