Ray Peacock
1934 - 2019
1934 - 2019
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Raymond Eric Peacock was born on January 28, 1934. He served his apprenticeship with R. H. Blake at Hampton, near Malpas, in Cheshire, from April 1946 to April 1953. Ronald Hugh Blake’s main claim to fame had been when taking his entire string, consisting of just three horses, to a meeting at Woore in 1932 and winning with all three.
Raymond Eric Peacock was born on January 28, 1934. He served his apprenticeship with R. H. Blake at Hampton, near Malpas, in Cheshire, from April 1946 to April 1953. Ronald Hugh Blake’s main claim to fame had been when taking his entire string, consisting of just three horses, to a meeting at Woore in 1932 and winning with all three.
Ray did two years’ National Service in the RAF and then rode as a professional jockey under National Hunt rules between 1955 and 1967, primarily for his elder brother Jack Peacock, for whom he acted as assistant trainer from 1957 to 1964. Based initially at Whitchurch, in Shropshire, they later moved to Caynham, near Ludlow.
Ray did two years’ National Service in the RAF and then rode as a professional jockey under National Hunt rules between 1955 and 1967, primarily for his elder brother Jack Peacock, for whom he acted as assistant trainer from 1957 to 1964. Based initially at Whitchurch, in Shropshire, they later moved to Caynham, near Ludlow.
Ray rode a total of 25 winners, the first of which was at Hereford, April 22, 1957, on selling hurdler Minden. Minden was also his second winner when scoring over course and distance on Whit Monday, and his third too when winning at Buckfastleigh at the start of the 1957/58 season.
Ray rode a total of 25 winners, the first of which was at Hereford, April 22, 1957, on selling hurdler Minden. Minden was also his second winner when scoring over course and distance on Whit Monday, and his third too when winning at Buckfastleigh at the start of the 1957/58 season.
Handicap hurdler Hydrant (left) was Ray’s next winner, at Haydock in November 1960, followed by Distinctive Flower at Nottingham in January 1961. Distinctive Flower, who Ray rated as the best he rode, won twice during the 1961/62 season but was ridden by a promising 5lb claimer named Johnny Haine on both occasions.
Handicap hurdler Hydrant (left) was Ray’s next winner, at Haydock in November 1960, followed by Distinctive Flower at Nottingham in January 1961. Distinctive Flower, who Ray rated as the best he rode, won twice during the 1961/62 season but was ridden by a promising 5lb claimer named Johnny Haine on both occasions.
Ray’s next visit to the winner’s enclosure was after getting 20-1 outsider Barslipper up on the line to earn a dead-heat with Haine’s mount Upton Grove at Ludlow in September 1962. He then won on Distinctive Flower at Ludlow in October. They were the first two of six winners Ray rode that season, including a brace of selling hurdles on Lustleigh Lad and one on handicapper Radnor Fair.
Ray’s next visit to the winner’s enclosure was after getting 20-1 outsider Barslipper up on the line to earn a dead-heat with Haine’s mount Upton Grove at Ludlow in September 1962. He then won on Distinctive Flower at Ludlow in October. They were the first two of six winners Ray rode that season, including a brace of selling hurdles on Lustleigh Lad and one on handicapper Radnor Fair.
Juvenile hurdler Vilone won twice for Ray during 1963/64 – a photo of him jumping the last at Nottingham appeared on the front page of the following day’s Sporting Life – while Lustleigh Lad and Radnor Fair both obliged again, giving him four winners for the season. That tally was doubled to eight in 1964/65, making a quick start with winners on both days of Ludlow’s September meeting and finishing the campaign by winning the Whitsun Selling Hurdle at Uttoxeter on John’s Hunter.
Juvenile hurdler Vilone won twice for Ray during 1963/64 – a photo of him jumping the last at Nottingham appeared on the front page of the following day’s Sporting Life – while Lustleigh Lad and Radnor Fair both obliged again, giving him four winners for the season. That tally was doubled to eight in 1964/65, making a quick start with winners on both days of Ludlow’s September meeting and finishing the campaign by winning the Whitsun Selling Hurdle at Uttoxeter on John’s Hunter.
Encouraged by offers from owners, Ray followed his brother Jack’s footsteps by taking out a trainer’s licence on August 1, 1965, based at Tilstone Paddocks, Tilstone Fearnall, near Tarporley. He combined training with riding for two seasons, with John’s Hunter becoming his first winner as a trainer-rider when winning another Uttoxeter selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1966. His second – his final victory as a jockey – came at Warwick on, May 2, 1966, aboard Unwick’s Peace.
Encouraged by offers from owners, Ray followed his brother Jack’s footsteps by taking out a trainer’s licence on August 1, 1965, based at Tilstone Paddocks, Tilstone Fearnall, near Tarporley. He combined training with riding for two seasons, with John’s Hunter becoming his first winner as a trainer-rider when winning another Uttoxeter selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1966. His second – his final victory as a jockey – came at Warwick on, May 2, 1966, aboard Unwick’s Peace.
On November 2, 1967 he married Carmen Davies, who, besides riding horses for her husband in amateur riders’ races, also bore him a son, Timothy, who would also go on to ride under NH Rules, and a daughter, Sarah. Carmen was also his assistant trainer.
On November 2, 1967 he married Carmen Davies, who, besides riding horses for her husband in amateur riders’ races, also bore him a son, Timothy, who would also go on to ride under NH Rules, and a daughter, Sarah. Carmen was also his assistant trainer.
Ray’s best horses during the early 1970s included multiple chase winners Dad’s Lad, whose many victories included Ascot’s Sapling Novices’ Chase and Cartmel’s Lancashire Cup, and Miss Soundly, winner of Uttoxeter’s Charles Lewis Cup; not forgetting the remarkable veteran Self Raising, who won a selling hurdle and a selling chase at Cartmel’s 1973 Whitsun fixture when aged 14, and came within a length of landing the corresponding chase as a 15-year-old the following year.
Ray’s best horses during the early 1970s included multiple chase winners Dad’s Lad, whose many victories included Ascot’s Sapling Novices’ Chase and Cartmel’s Lancashire Cup, and Miss Soundly, winner of Uttoxeter’s Charles Lewis Cup; not forgetting the remarkable veteran Self Raising, who won a selling hurdle and a selling chase at Cartmel’s 1973 Whitsun fixture when aged 14, and came within a length of landing the corresponding chase as a 15-year-old the following year.
Photo, left: Ray Peacock leads in Stan Mellor on Blue Bridge, Uttoxeter, March 30, 1954.
Photo, left: Ray Peacock leads in Stan Mellor on Blue Bridge, Uttoxeter, March 30, 1954.
But undoubtedly the best horse Ray trained was Rushmoor, whom he saddled to win the 1984 Scottish Champion Hurdle and, more importantly, enjoyed his finest hour in the 1986 Galway Hurdle, coming home eight lengths in front of top-weight Spring Forward to become the first British-trained winner of the ultra-competitive handicap. Rushmoor also finished runner-up in Sandown’s Imperial Cup and third in the Chester Cup.
But undoubtedly the best horse Ray trained was Rushmoor, whom he saddled to win the 1984 Scottish Champion Hurdle and, more importantly, enjoyed his finest hour in the 1986 Galway Hurdle, coming home eight lengths in front of top-weight Spring Forward to become the first British-trained winner of the ultra-competitive handicap. Rushmoor also finished runner-up in Sandown’s Imperial Cup and third in the Chester Cup.
When Ray’s Tarporley base was turned into a golf course in 1991, he moved to Oliver House Stud, Chedglow, near Malmesbury, in Wiltshire,
When Ray’s Tarporley base was turned into a golf course in 1991, he moved to Oliver House Stud, Chedglow, near Malmesbury, in Wiltshire,
In 1999, aged 65, Ray suffered a life-changing accident that left him with a broken neck. He was working a horse “flat out” on the gallops when it turned over. Air-lifted to Frenchay Hospital, he was found to have broken his C4, 5 and 6 vertebrae and neck. He was given little chance of survival. However, his fitness, thanks to a regime of riding out three lots a day, had given him the strength and constitution to pull through. After an operation taking bone from his hip and inserting it into his neck, 12 weeks flat on his back, and six months in hospital, Ray returned home to continue training.
In 1999, aged 65, Ray suffered a life-changing accident that left him with a broken neck. He was working a horse “flat out” on the gallops when it turned over. Air-lifted to Frenchay Hospital, he was found to have broken his C4, 5 and 6 vertebrae and neck. He was given little chance of survival. However, his fitness, thanks to a regime of riding out three lots a day, had given him the strength and constitution to pull through. After an operation taking bone from his hip and inserting it into his neck, 12 weeks flat on his back, and six months in hospital, Ray returned home to continue training.
In July 2005 Ray and Carmen moved to Elliott House Farm, Tenbury Wells, in the shadow of Clee Hill. On January 17, 2008, Ray sent out his first winner in seven years, when his six-year-old gelding Komreyev Star won a Class 6 one-mile handicap at Southwell. He followed up over course and distance the next month.
In July 2005 Ray and Carmen moved to Elliott House Farm, Tenbury Wells, in the shadow of Clee Hill. On January 17, 2008, Ray sent out his first winner in seven years, when his six-year-old gelding Komreyev Star won a Class 6 one-mile handicap at Southwell. He followed up over course and distance the next month.
Although his accident confines him to an electric wheelchair, Ray continues to train a small string at Elliott House farm today. He told the Racing Post in 2008: “I wouldn't stop training. I’d rather die than give this up. The people keep you going – there are so many gentlemen in racing.”
Although his accident confines him to an electric wheelchair, Ray continues to train a small string at Elliott House farm today. He told the Racing Post in 2008: “I wouldn't stop training. I’d rather die than give this up. The people keep you going – there are so many gentlemen in racing.”
Ray died on December 26 2019, aged 86.
Ray died on December 26 2019, aged 86.
Ray Peacock’s winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
Ray Peacock’s winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
1. Minden, Hereford, April 22, 1957
1. Minden, Hereford, April 22, 1957
2. Minden, Hereford, June 10, 1957
2. Minden, Hereford, June 10, 1957
3. Minden, Buckfastleigh, August 10, 1957
3. Minden, Buckfastleigh, August 10, 1957
4. Hydrant, Haydock Park, November 23, 1960
4. Hydrant, Haydock Park, November 23, 1960
5. Distinctive Flower, Nottingham, January 31, 1961
5. Distinctive Flower, Nottingham, January 31, 1961
6. Barslipper, Ludlow, September 19, 1962
6. Barslipper, Ludlow, September 19, 1962
7. Distinctive Flower, Southwell, October 17, 1962
7. Distinctive Flower, Southwell, October 17, 1962
8. Lustleigh Lad, Woore, October 27, 1962
8. Lustleigh Lad, Woore, October 27, 1962
9. Burley Dam Star, Worcester, December 1, 1962
9. Burley Dam Star, Worcester, December 1, 1962
10. Lustleigh Lad, Uttoxeter, April 16, 1963
10. Lustleigh Lad, Uttoxeter, April 16, 1963
11. Radnor Fair, Uttoxeter, June 3, 1963
11. Radnor Fair, Uttoxeter, June 3, 1963
12. Vilone, Nottingham, December 2, 1963
12. Vilone, Nottingham, December 2, 1963
13. Lustleigh Lad, Birmingham, December 10, 1963
13. Lustleigh Lad, Birmingham, December 10, 1963
14. Vilone, Southwell, May 10, 1964
14. Vilone, Southwell, May 10, 1964
15. Radnor Fair, Southwell, June 13, 1964
15. Radnor Fair, Southwell, June 13, 1964
16. Dunyasha, Ludlow, September 16, 1964
16. Dunyasha, Ludlow, September 16, 1964
17. Ready Maid, Ludlow, September 17, 1964
17. Ready Maid, Ludlow, September 17, 1964
18. Heron’s Flight, Worcester, October 13, 1964
18. Heron’s Flight, Worcester, October 13, 1964
19. Bridgtown, Warwick, November 7, 1964
19. Bridgtown, Warwick, November 7, 1964
20. Gansy, Stratford-on-Avon, April 22, 1965
20. Gansy, Stratford-on-Avon, April 22, 1965
21. Radnor Fair, Southwell, May 3, 1965
21. Radnor Fair, Southwell, May 3, 1965
22. Gansy, Uttoxeter, May 20, 1965
22. Gansy, Uttoxeter, May 20, 1965
23. John’s Hunter, Uttoxeter, June 7, 1965
23. John’s Hunter, Uttoxeter, June 7, 1965
24. John’s Hunter, Uttoxeter, April 11, 1966
24. John’s Hunter, Uttoxeter, April 11, 1966
25. Unwick’s Peace, Warwick, May 2, 1966
25. Unwick’s Peace, Warwick, May 2, 1966
Ray Peacock leading in Stan Mellor on Blue Bridge Uttoxeter 20 March 1954.
Ray Peacock leading in Stan Mellor on Blue Bridge Uttoxeter 20 March 1954.
Ray Peacock on Vilone Nottingham.
Ray Peacock on Vilone Nottingham.