Roy Podmore
1941 - 2009
1941 - 2009
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
“The way in which he sits on a horse reminds me of Joe Childs,” Epsom trainer Peter Thrale once remarked to Lionel Cureton, ‘Templegate’ of the Daily Herald. High praise indeed. He was talking about his apprentice Roy Podmore. By far the best-known horse with which he was associated was John Benstead’s popular old warrior Operatic Society, on which he won ten races.
“The way in which he sits on a horse reminds me of Joe Childs,” Epsom trainer Peter Thrale once remarked to Lionel Cureton, ‘Templegate’ of the Daily Herald. High praise indeed. He was talking about his apprentice Roy Podmore. By far the best-known horse with which he was associated was John Benstead’s popular old warrior Operatic Society, on which he won ten races.
Born on July 19, 1941, Roy Podmore served his apprenticeship initially with Peter Thrale.
Born on July 19, 1941, Roy Podmore served his apprenticeship initially with Peter Thrale.
He rode his first winner on Thrale’s filly Maiden Newton in the Pall Mall (3yo) Handicap at Hurst Park on Friday, April 11, 1958 and went on to ride another four winners that year.
He rode his first winner on Thrale’s filly Maiden Newton in the Pall Mall (3yo) Handicap at Hurst Park on Friday, April 11, 1958 and went on to ride another four winners that year.
Following Peter Thrale’s death in 1959, his indentures were transferred to fellow Epsom trainer John Benstead. Roy rode 14 winners that year, including three in a row on the then three-year-old Operatic Society, at Alexandra Park and Bath in May and at Lewes in June. He did not ride Operatic Society at all in 1960 – Ken Gethin rode him each time – but he was reunited in 1961, winning the King’s Plate at Windsor on May 25 and the Fairlawne Stakes at Lingfield on September 7.
Following Peter Thrale’s death in 1959, his indentures were transferred to fellow Epsom trainer John Benstead. Roy rode 14 winners that year, including three in a row on the then three-year-old Operatic Society, at Alexandra Park and Bath in May and at Lewes in June. He did not ride Operatic Society at all in 1960 – Ken Gethin rode him each time – but he was reunited in 1961, winning the King’s Plate at Windsor on May 25 and the Fairlawne Stakes at Lingfield on September 7.
Roy completed his apprenticeship at the end of 1961 and began 1962 as a fully-fledged jockey. Operatic Society provided him with three of his four wins that year: the Water Orton Plate at Birmingham on April 23, the Goring Welter Stakes at Brighton on May 15, and the Linton Stakes at Newmarket on October 17.
Roy completed his apprenticeship at the end of 1961 and began 1962 as a fully-fledged jockey. Operatic Society provided him with three of his four wins that year: the Water Orton Plate at Birmingham on April 23, the Goring Welter Stakes at Brighton on May 15, and the Linton Stakes at Newmarket on October 17.
Similarly, Operatic Society was responsible for two of Roy’s three wins in 1963, namely the Southdown Welter Plate (carrying 10st 3lb) at Lewes (left) on July 15, and the Dungeness Handicap (carrying 10st) at Folkestone on August 12.
Similarly, Operatic Society was responsible for two of Roy’s three wins in 1963, namely the Southdown Welter Plate (carrying 10st 3lb) at Lewes (left) on July 15, and the Dungeness Handicap (carrying 10st) at Folkestone on August 12.
However, it was for Upper Lambourn trainer Matt Feakes that Roy enjoyed his biggest success in the saddle, on Princess Gretel, who scored a short-head victory in the £1,390 to the winner Queen Elizabeth Cup Handicap at Lingfield on Saturday, August 24, 1963.
However, it was for Upper Lambourn trainer Matt Feakes that Roy enjoyed his biggest success in the saddle, on Princess Gretel, who scored a short-head victory in the £1,390 to the winner Queen Elizabeth Cup Handicap at Lingfield on Saturday, August 24, 1963.
That was also his final success on British soil. He relinquished his licence at the end of that year, having ridden 37 winners.
That was also his final success on British soil. He relinquished his licence at the end of that year, having ridden 37 winners.
In 1964 Roy Podmore, whose recreations included fishing, football and motoring, left Britain to ride in Barbados, where he went on to enjoy considerable success and also helped to establish a school for apprentice jockeys there.
In 1964 Roy Podmore, whose recreations included fishing, football and motoring, left Britain to ride in Barbados, where he went on to enjoy considerable success and also helped to establish a school for apprentice jockeys there.
The following was taken from the Trinidad Express Newspaper, March 6, 2009
The following was taken from the Trinidad Express Newspaper, March 6, 2009
Roy Podmore Passes Away
Roy Podmore Passes Away
ROY PODMORE, the former Arima Race Club (ARC) racing secretary fondly known as "The British", has passed away.
ROY PODMORE, the former Arima Race Club (ARC) racing secretary fondly known as "The British", has passed away.
He was discovered dead at his Carapo, Arima home on Wednesday morning from a suspected heart attack.
He was discovered dead at his Carapo, Arima home on Wednesday morning from a suspected heart attack.
Podmore, a former trainer, has been a fixture at the ARC since hanging up his "tack". Since centralisation of racing at Santa Rosa Park, Arima in 1994, Podmore worked at the club as a clerk, steward and was elevated to the post of racing secretary last year.
Podmore, a former trainer, has been a fixture at the ARC since hanging up his "tack". Since centralisation of racing at Santa Rosa Park, Arima in 1994, Podmore worked at the club as a clerk, steward and was elevated to the post of racing secretary last year.
ARC president Kama Maharaj, who knew Podmore for several years, said: "He was a personal friend of mine for more than 30 years.
ARC president Kama Maharaj, who knew Podmore for several years, said: "He was a personal friend of mine for more than 30 years.
"We travelled together and we had a lot of mutual friends together. He did an admirable job under trying circumstances as the racing secretary and certainly will be missed by the entire racing fraternity.
"We travelled together and we had a lot of mutual friends together. He did an admirable job under trying circumstances as the racing secretary and certainly will be missed by the entire racing fraternity.
"He always had a fantastic demeanour and we were hoping to keep him on as an outside steward," Maharaj continued. "The club will be taking the necessary action to recognise him and we have included a Memoriam in tomorrow's race programme."
"He always had a fantastic demeanour and we were hoping to keep him on as an outside steward," Maharaj continued. "The club will be taking the necessary action to recognise him and we have included a Memoriam in tomorrow's race programme."
Podmore, a jockey in his native England, rode Operatic Society to success at the Royal Ascot meeting and also rode for the Royal Family in the Royal Hunt Cup. Among his mounts in England was sprinter Indigenous, which was credited as the fastest horse when breaking the five-furlong track record at Espom racecourse with Lester Piggott aboard, taking 133 lbs and returning a time of 52.30 seconds.
Podmore, a jockey in his native England, rode Operatic Society to success at the Royal Ascot meeting and also rode for the Royal Family in the Royal Hunt Cup. Among his mounts in England was sprinter Indigenous, which was credited as the fastest horse when breaking the five-furlong track record at Espom racecourse with Lester Piggott aboard, taking 133 lbs and returning a time of 52.30 seconds.
The Caribbean benefited when Podmore migrated to Barbados several years ago and, fortunately for Trinidad and Tobago, he took ill and had to travel to T&T for surgery and never left. He leaves to mourn his four children, Captain Barry Podmore, Joshua Stephen, Mandy and apprentice jockey Allan Podmore.
The Caribbean benefited when Podmore migrated to Barbados several years ago and, fortunately for Trinidad and Tobago, he took ill and had to travel to T&T for surgery and never left. He leaves to mourn his four children, Captain Barry Podmore, Joshua Stephen, Mandy and apprentice jockey Allan Podmore.
February 29, 2012
February 29, 2012
THE Arima Race Club (ARC) will be remembering Roy Podmore at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday.
THE Arima Race Club (ARC) will be remembering Roy Podmore at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday.
There will be eight races during the ninth round of the ARC's 2012 Season with the Roy Podmore Memorial Trophy being the feature and final event of the card.
There will be eight races during the ninth round of the ARC's 2012 Season with the Roy Podmore Memorial Trophy being the feature and final event of the card.
Podmore, is a former English jockey who came to Trinidad in the 1970s and later became a trainer after ending his career in the saddle down here. He started working as an ARC official in the late 1990s and was the racing secretary shortly before passing away a few years ago.
Podmore, is a former English jockey who came to Trinidad in the 1970s and later became a trainer after ending his career in the saddle down here. He started working as an ARC official in the late 1990s and was the racing secretary shortly before passing away a few years ago.
The “Podmore Memorial” is a 1,750-metre contest for 100-80 rated horses at 5.22 p.m. Among the ten declared starters are Blackstone Street, the 2009 Stewards' Cup winner, 2010 Trinidad Derby runner-up Go For The Gold as well as Rock Movistar, Just Call Me Roger, Skyline Pigeon and Lang Amour.
The “Podmore Memorial” is a 1,750-metre contest for 100-80 rated horses at 5.22 p.m. Among the ten declared starters are Blackstone Street, the 2009 Stewards' Cup winner, 2010 Trinidad Derby runner-up Go For The Gold as well as Rock Movistar, Just Call Me Roger, Skyline Pigeon and Lang Amour.
Post time is 1 p.m.
Post time is 1 p.m.