Peter Perkins
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Lester Piggott called him the Laughing Machine, such was the infectious cackle of one of the weighing room’s best-liked inhabitants, who was at his peak during the 1970s.
Lester Piggott called him the Laughing Machine, such was the infectious cackle of one of the weighing room’s best-liked inhabitants, who was at his peak during the 1970s.
Born in 1936, Peter Perkins was apprenticed to Geoffrey Brooke at Newmarket and rode his first winner on Sir Vincent in a two-year-old maiden at Pontefract on October 2, 1953. He rode just one more, in 1955, before coming out of his time.
Born in 1936, Peter Perkins was apprenticed to Geoffrey Brooke at Newmarket and rode his first winner on Sir Vincent in a two-year-old maiden at Pontefract on October 2, 1953. He rode just one more, in 1955, before coming out of his time.
Following a five-year drought, he rode two winners in 1960, none at all the next year, and just one – Jiggery-Pokery at Bath on May 3, 1962 – the year after that. Jiggery-Pokery would be his last British winner for a decade. He quit Britain in 1967 for Holland, where he was twice champion jockey in the late sixties.
Following a five-year drought, he rode two winners in 1960, none at all the next year, and just one – Jiggery-Pokery at Bath on May 3, 1962 – the year after that. Jiggery-Pokery would be his last British winner for a decade. He quit Britain in 1967 for Holland, where he was twice champion jockey in the late sixties.
He returned to his homeland in 1972, renewed his jockey’s licence and went on to enjoy a relatively successful period. Having ridden three winners in ’72 and six in ’73, he achieved his best British score of eight in 1974 when riding for Richard Hannon.
He returned to his homeland in 1972, renewed his jockey’s licence and went on to enjoy a relatively successful period. Having ridden three winners in ’72 and six in ’73, he achieved his best British score of eight in 1974 when riding for Richard Hannon.
He rode a further seven winners in 1978, mostly for Bill Marshall, including two nurseries within a week in September on a filly named Sterlonia at Thirsk and Chester, and a six-furlong Newmarket handicap on a decent grey sprinter called Peranka on August 25, just three days after finishing third behind Swing Alone and Song Of Songs in the Harewood Handicap at York’s Ebor Meeting.
He rode a further seven winners in 1978, mostly for Bill Marshall, including two nurseries within a week in September on a filly named Sterlonia at Thirsk and Chester, and a six-furlong Newmarket handicap on a decent grey sprinter called Peranka on August 25, just three days after finishing third behind Swing Alone and Song Of Songs in the Harewood Handicap at York’s Ebor Meeting.
Peter continued to ply his trade until hanging up his boots and saddle in 1984, bringing to an end a career that had lasted 30-plus years yet yielded less than 200 winners.
Peter continued to ply his trade until hanging up his boots and saddle in 1984, bringing to an end a career that had lasted 30-plus years yet yielded less than 200 winners.
Reflecting on that career he said: “When I went into an apprenticeship with Geoffrey Brooke I thought I was going to be a great. The fact that it hasn’t happened doesn’t bother me, though, and I’m glad to say I’ve never been envious of anything or anyone.
Reflecting on that career he said: “When I went into an apprenticeship with Geoffrey Brooke I thought I was going to be a great. The fact that it hasn’t happened doesn’t bother me, though, and I’m glad to say I’ve never been envious of anything or anyone.
“What’s the use of going round being miserable and wishing you were Lester or Joe Mercer. I’m Peter Perkins, and if that’s not good enough for some people, then too bad. I’m a very good horseman, but I’ve had to ride a lot of bad horses – and look at the backsides of the good ones.
“What’s the use of going round being miserable and wishing you were Lester or Joe Mercer. I’m Peter Perkins, and if that’s not good enough for some people, then too bad. I’m a very good horseman, but I’ve had to ride a lot of bad horses – and look at the backsides of the good ones.
“Racing’s the finest life in the world,” he concluded. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“Racing’s the finest life in the world,” he concluded. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”