Simon Pearce
The son of trainers Jeff and Lydia Pearce, Simon Pearce started his racing career as an amateur before spending a month in Florida gaining work experience with trainer Michael Matts.
The son of trainers Jeff and Lydia Pearce, Simon Pearce started his racing career as an amateur before spending a month in Florida gaining work experience with trainer Michael Matts.
Returning to England, he continued riding an amateur and became champion amateur on the all-weather. He then decided to become an apprentice jockey and served his apprenticeship at Manor House Stables, owned by Michael Owen. However, he then suffered a knee injury that forced him to take an extended break from riding.
Returning to England, he continued riding an amateur and became champion amateur on the all-weather. He then decided to become an apprentice jockey and served his apprenticeship at Manor House Stables, owned by Michael Owen. However, he then suffered a knee injury that forced him to take an extended break from riding.
Following his recovery from injury, he returned to Newmarket and rode for his mother and father. During this time, he won the Betfair Apprentice Series before travelling to California where he was based at Santa Anita racetrack. There he rode out for top trainers Ben Cecil, Doug O’Neil and Neil Drysdale.
Following his recovery from injury, he returned to Newmarket and rode for his mother and father. During this time, he won the Betfair Apprentice Series before travelling to California where he was based at Santa Anita racetrack. There he rode out for top trainers Ben Cecil, Doug O’Neil and Neil Drysdale.
Upon returning to England, he had a couple of rides for Andrew Balding and decided to move down to Kingsclere as a 5lb claimer. He was lucky enough to ride for the Queen.
Upon returning to England, he had a couple of rides for Andrew Balding and decided to move down to Kingsclere as a 5lb claimer. He was lucky enough to ride for the Queen.
After two years at Andrew Balding’s, Simon set off for Australia and spent six months there. He went to Melbourne to experience the Melbourne Cup Carnival and worked for Gai Waterhouse for those three weeks. He was one of the exercise riders for Fiorente who went on to win the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
After two years at Andrew Balding’s, Simon set off for Australia and spent six months there. He went to Melbourne to experience the Melbourne Cup Carnival and worked for Gai Waterhouse for those three weeks. He was one of the exercise riders for Fiorente who went on to win the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
He then moved to Sydney where he was employed by Bjorn Baker, before returning to England where his mother now held the trainer’s licence and made Simon her stable jockey.
He then moved to Sydney where he was employed by Bjorn Baker, before returning to England where his mother now held the trainer’s licence and made Simon her stable jockey.
He had a two-month stint in New York where he met several prominent owners, then later that year returned there and rode a winner for one of those owners. That was Simon’s 95th winner, meaning he had ridden out his claim.
He had a two-month stint in New York where he met several prominent owners, then later that year returned there and rode a winner for one of those owners. That was Simon’s 95th winner, meaning he had ridden out his claim.
He rode his last four winners during 2017, all at Lingfield Park and all trained by his mother. Camaradorie set the ball rolling with victories in January and February, Bartholomew J obliged in April, and 16-1 chance Luna Magic gave him his final success in a one-mile class 6 handicap on December 30.
He rode his last four winners during 2017, all at Lingfield Park and all trained by his mother. Camaradorie set the ball rolling with victories in January and February, Bartholomew J obliged in April, and 16-1 chance Luna Magic gave him his final success in a one-mile class 6 handicap on December 30.
At that point, he decided it was time to hang up his boots and start working towards obtaining a trainer’s licence by becoming assistant trainer to his mother and completing the trainer’s course.
At that point, he decided it was time to hang up his boots and start working towards obtaining a trainer’s licence by becoming assistant trainer to his mother and completing the trainer’s course.
Simon had his final three rides early in the New Year, the last of them when finishing fifth of six on Bartholomew J in a one-mile four-furlong class 6 handicap at Lingfield on January 19, 2018.
Simon had his final three rides early in the New Year, the last of them when finishing fifth of six on Bartholomew J in a one-mile four-furlong class 6 handicap at Lingfield on January 19, 2018.
He took over the licence from Lydia Pearce in the autumn of 2019, based at Wroughton House Stables, Old Station Road, Newmarket, with a string of around 16 horses. His first winner as a trainer was Noble Peace in an all-weather apprentice handicap at Lingfield Park on 11 December 2019.
He took over the licence from Lydia Pearce in the autumn of 2019, based at Wroughton House Stables, Old Station Road, Newmarket, with a string of around 16 horses. His first winner as a trainer was Noble Peace in an all-weather apprentice handicap at Lingfield Park on 11 December 2019.