Peter Pocock
Peter Pocock
Peter Pocock
1934-2007
1934-2007
Peter George ‘Snowy’ Pocock was born in Epsom on October 18, 1934. He served his apprenticeship in Epsom, initially with Harold Wallington at Hillcrest from 1951-55, then with Dick Thrale at Downs House from 1956-57.
Peter George ‘Snowy’ Pocock was born in Epsom on October 18, 1934. He served his apprenticeship in Epsom, initially with Harold Wallington at Hillcrest from 1951-55, then with Dick Thrale at Downs House from 1956-57.
He rode a total of seven winners as an apprentice, the first being 100-6 chance Regal Link, trained by Harold Wallington and owned by Mrs Wallington, in the Juvenile Two-Year-Old Selling Stakes at Nottingham on July 7, 1952, drawing clear inside the final furlong to beat the evens favourite Amron, the mount of Bill Rickaby, by two lengths, despite swerving in the closing stages.
He rode a total of seven winners as an apprentice, the first being 100-6 chance Regal Link, trained by Harold Wallington and owned by Mrs Wallington, in the Juvenile Two-Year-Old Selling Stakes at Nottingham on July 7, 1952, drawing clear inside the final furlong to beat the evens favourite Amron, the mount of Bill Rickaby, by two lengths, despite swerving in the closing stages.
That was his sole winner of the season, but he rode two the next, Tepolas in a two-year-old seller at Birmingham in June, and Blue Demon in an apprentice race at Bath in August.
That was his sole winner of the season, but he rode two the next, Tepolas in a two-year-old seller at Birmingham in June, and Blue Demon in an apprentice race at Bath in August.
He had just one win in 1954, in another apprentice race, this time at Catterick, on Epidote for Dick Thrale. Likewise the next season, on Two Royals in a one-mile handicap at Worcester for Harold Wallington; and again in 1956, aboard the Thrale-trained Honeypot Lane in a three-year-old handicap at Nottingham.
He had just one win in 1954, in another apprentice race, this time at Catterick, on Epidote for Dick Thrale. Likewise the next season, on Two Royals in a one-mile handicap at Worcester for Harold Wallington; and again in 1956, aboard the Thrale-trained Honeypot Lane in a three-year-old handicap at Nottingham.
Peter rode his final winner on Mickey Boy for Dick Thrale in the Gopsall Selling Plate at Leicester on April 6, 1957, hitting the front three furlongs out and pulling clear to score by six lengths. He finished fourth on that horse at Warwick a fortnight later, then fourth again at Bath in May.
Peter rode his final winner on Mickey Boy for Dick Thrale in the Gopsall Selling Plate at Leicester on April 6, 1957, hitting the front three furlongs out and pulling clear to score by six lengths. He finished fourth on that horse at Warwick a fortnight later, then fourth again at Bath in May.
He completed his apprenticeship shortly afterwards and was obliged to compete against senior jockeys from thereon without the benefit of a 7lb claim. He had a professional jockey’s licence for the remainder of the 1957 season and again in 1958 but rode no more winners. He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence for one season, 1959/60, but had few opportunities.
He completed his apprenticeship shortly afterwards and was obliged to compete against senior jockeys from thereon without the benefit of a 7lb claim. He had a professional jockey’s licence for the remainder of the 1957 season and again in 1958 but rode no more winners. He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence for one season, 1959/60, but had few opportunities.
He later became an actor and had uncredited appearances in three early episodes of Doctor Who, and played various characters in the 1968 TV series ‘Marty’ starring Marty Feldman.
He later became an actor and had uncredited appearances in three early episodes of Doctor Who, and played various characters in the 1968 TV series ‘Marty’ starring Marty Feldman.
He had an appropriate part in the film/play ‘The Whip Hand’, shown on BBC2 in 1975, playing the stable jockey to a Lambourn trainer. Former jockey-turned-stuntman Mick Dillon also had a role in the same production as ‘Pat Donovan’.
He had an appropriate part in the film/play ‘The Whip Hand’, shown on BBC2 in 1975, playing the stable jockey to a Lambourn trainer. Former jockey-turned-stuntman Mick Dillon also had a role in the same production as ‘Pat Donovan’.
Peter appeared in the films Carry On Cowboy (1965), International Velvet (1978) and Dick Turpin (1979), playing the role on ‘An Informer’ in the latter. As with Mick Dillon, he also performed as a stuntman.
Peter appeared in the films Carry On Cowboy (1965), International Velvet (1978) and Dick Turpin (1979), playing the role on ‘An Informer’ in the latter. As with Mick Dillon, he also performed as a stuntman.
He died in Weybridge, Surrey, on May 5, 2007, aged 72.
He died in Weybridge, Surrey, on May 5, 2007, aged 72.
Peter Pocock’s winners were, in chronological order:
Peter Pocock’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Regal Link, Nottingham, July 7, 1952
1. Regal Link, Nottingham, July 7, 1952
2. Tepolas, Birmingham, June 22, 1953
2. Tepolas, Birmingham, June 22, 1953
3. Blue Demon, Bath, August 20, 1953
3. Blue Demon, Bath, August 20, 1953
4. Epidote, Catterick Bridge, July 30, 1954
4. Epidote, Catterick Bridge, July 30, 1954
5. Two Royals, Worcester, September 21, 1955
5. Two Royals, Worcester, September 21, 1955
6. Honeypot Lane, Nottingham, July 10, 1956
6. Honeypot Lane, Nottingham, July 10, 1956
7. Mickey Boy, Leicester, April 6, 1957.
7. Mickey Boy, Leicester, April 6, 1957.
Regal Link, Peter Pocock's first win
Regal Link, Peter Pocock's first win
Mickey Boy, Peter's final win
Mickey Boy, Peter's final win
The TV play Peter Pocock appeared in
The TV play Peter Pocock appeared in