Peter Pickford
1930 - 2021
1930 - 2021
Aldbourne is a racing village that stands between Swindon and Hungerford. It was from here that Major Bay Powell sent out winners in the late forties – and to where National Hunt jockey Peter Pickford retired.
Aldbourne is a racing village that stands between Swindon and Hungerford. It was from here that Major Bay Powell sent out winners in the late forties – and to where National Hunt jockey Peter Pickford retired.
Having ridden 190 winners (185 over jumps, five on the Flat), Peter ran a Swindon pub for eight years before trying his hand at bookmaking. He finally retired to Aldbourne with his wife, June, and three sons, one of whom, Gary, became a first-class farrier.
Having ridden 190 winners (185 over jumps, five on the Flat), Peter ran a Swindon pub for eight years before trying his hand at bookmaking. He finally retired to Aldbourne with his wife, June, and three sons, one of whom, Gary, became a first-class farrier.
Born in Evesham, Worcestershire on April 3, 1930, Peter's interest in horses stemmed from his father, who was a huntsman. Peter was just five when he sat on his first pony. Leaving school at 13, he joined Harvey Leader at Newmarket and, on June 10, 1946, rode his first winner, Zero, in the Himley Apprentice Handicap at Wolverhampton. He rode his second winner the very next day, also at Wolverhampton, on 33-1 outsider Fionchra.
Born in Evesham, Worcestershire on April 3, 1930, Peter's interest in horses stemmed from his father, who was a huntsman. Peter was just five when he sat on his first pony. Leaving school at 13, he joined Harvey Leader at Newmarket and, on June 10, 1946, rode his first winner, Zero, in the Himley Apprentice Handicap at Wolverhampton. He rode his second winner the very next day, also at Wolverhampton, on 33-1 outsider Fionchra.
The following month he won on Zero at Newmarket, a driving finish in which the first three were separated by two short-heads, the result being determined by one of the first photo-finish prints, the system having been introduced that year.
The following month he won on Zero at Newmarket, a driving finish in which the first three were separated by two short-heads, the result being determined by one of the first photo-finish prints, the system having been introduced that year.
He weighed just 4st 7lb when starting out but Increasing weight forced him to change stables and racing codes. He joined Rip Bissill's yard at Aslockton, Nottinghamshire, and tried his luck at jumping. His first winner over the sticks, Redcross Girl for owner-trainer John Rose, came at Market Rasen, on Easter Monday, March 26, 1951.
He weighed just 4st 7lb when starting out but Increasing weight forced him to change stables and racing codes. He joined Rip Bissill's yard at Aslockton, Nottinghamshire, and tried his luck at jumping. His first winner over the sticks, Redcross Girl for owner-trainer John Rose, came at Market Rasen, on Easter Monday, March 26, 1951.
The following season he won a Doncaster selling chase on Column, trained by Bissill for Sir Arthur Pilkington of the Pilkington glass family. Column was no more than a veteran selling chaser and had been among the dozen that crashed out at the first fence in the 1951 Grand National when partnered by Atty Corbett. Nevertheless, his owner was keen to run him at Aintree again and said that Peter could have the ride. Although dismissed as 100-1 no-hopers they managed to complete the course in eighth place, well behind the placed horses but ahead of two other longshot finishers.
The following season he won a Doncaster selling chase on Column, trained by Bissill for Sir Arthur Pilkington of the Pilkington glass family. Column was no more than a veteran selling chaser and had been among the dozen that crashed out at the first fence in the 1951 Grand National when partnered by Atty Corbett. Nevertheless, his owner was keen to run him at Aintree again and said that Peter could have the ride. Although dismissed as 100-1 no-hopers they managed to complete the course in eighth place, well behind the placed horses but ahead of two other longshot finishers.
Peter gained his biggest success at Cheltenham when booting home Flaming East in the 1957 County Hurdle. He also won three times on Hart Royal during that 1956/57 campaign, including when making all to win the valuable Lancashire Chase at Manchester, and went into the 1957 Grand National as the 100-7 fourth favourite, only to over-jump and fall at the very first fence.
Peter gained his biggest success at Cheltenham when booting home Flaming East in the 1957 County Hurdle. He also won three times on Hart Royal during that 1956/57 campaign, including when making all to win the valuable Lancashire Chase at Manchester, and went into the 1957 Grand National as the 100-7 fourth favourite, only to over-jump and fall at the very first fence.
Hart Royal and Peter returned to winning ways at Windsor in February 1958, beating former Gold Cup winner Gay Donald. They won another race at Haydock then tried again in the 1958 Grand National, only to pull up at Becher’s on the second circuit. They headed back to Manchester nine days later to dead-heat with Dovetail in the Lancashire Chase. In 1959 they won Worcester’s richest race, the Royal Porcelain Chase, by 10 lengths. They enjoyed one more victory together, at Windsor in March 1961.
Hart Royal and Peter returned to winning ways at Windsor in February 1958, beating former Gold Cup winner Gay Donald. They won another race at Haydock then tried again in the 1958 Grand National, only to pull up at Becher’s on the second circuit. They headed back to Manchester nine days later to dead-heat with Dovetail in the Lancashire Chase. In 1959 they won Worcester’s richest race, the Royal Porcelain Chase, by 10 lengths. They enjoyed one more victory together, at Windsor in March 1961.
Peter rode Carrasco for Bryan Marshall in the 1961 Grand National but fell at Becher's first time round. In 1965, he completed the course on the front-running Peacetown. In November that year he came within half a length of winning the Mackeson Gold Cup on Choreographer, beaten by the top-class Dunkirk. Choreographer also gave Peter his final ride over the Grand National fences when completing the course in the 1966 Topham Trophy.
Peter rode Carrasco for Bryan Marshall in the 1961 Grand National but fell at Becher's first time round. In 1965, he completed the course on the front-running Peacetown. In November that year he came within half a length of winning the Mackeson Gold Cup on Choreographer, beaten by the top-class Dunkirk. Choreographer also gave Peter his final ride over the Grand National fences when completing the course in the 1966 Topham Trophy.
He went from riding a career best of 22 winners (1964/65) to a career low of just four in 1967/68, three of them courtesy of novice chaser Moison during the opening month of the season.
He went from riding a career best of 22 winners (1964/65) to a career low of just four in 1967/68, three of them courtesy of novice chaser Moison during the opening month of the season.
He rode what was to be his last winner on four-year-old hurdler Pelta at Bangor-on-Dee on Saturday, April 6, 1968. By then he was 39 and going round on bad horses that other jockeys refused to ride and saw no point in doing it. He decided to hang up his boots.
He rode what was to be his last winner on four-year-old hurdler Pelta at Bangor-on-Dee on Saturday, April 6, 1968. By then he was 39 and going round on bad horses that other jockeys refused to ride and saw no point in doing it. He decided to hang up his boots.
In retirement he still went to Cheltenham every year, and maybe his mind would go back to his win on Flaming East in that 1957 County Hurdle.
In retirement he still went to Cheltenham every year, and maybe his mind would go back to his win on Flaming East in that 1957 County Hurdle.
Peter Pickford died in May 2021, aged 91.
Peter Pickford died in May 2021, aged 91.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1957: County Handicap Hurdle – Flaming East
1957: County Handicap Hurdle – Flaming East
1957: Lancashire Chase – Hart Royal
1957: Lancashire Chase – Hart Royal
1958: Lancashire Chase – Hart Royal (dead-heat)
1958: Lancashire Chase – Hart Royal (dead-heat)
1959: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Hart Royal
1959: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Hart Royal
1959: Rendlesham Hurdle – Winter Warmer
1959: Rendlesham Hurdle – Winter Warmer
1961: Mole Handicap Chase (Sandown) – Ayala
1961: Mole Handicap Chase (Sandown) – Ayala
1966: National Hunt Centenary Chase (Wye) – Some Slipper
1966: National Hunt Centenary Chase (Wye) – Some Slipper
Peter's best win: March 14, 1957. Cheltenham
Peter's best win: March 14, 1957. Cheltenham
Peter comes down at the first when riding Hart Royal in the Grand National of 1957.
Peter comes down at the first when riding Hart Royal in the Grand National of 1957.
Photo courtesy of Chris Pitt
Photo courtesy of Chris Pitt
Peter on Hart Royal
Peter on Hart Royal