Brian Ford
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Brian Ford rode 30 winners on the Flat between the mid-1950s and mid-60s, many of them in India, before briefly reinventing himself over hurdles.
Brian Ford rode 30 winners on the Flat between the mid-1950s and mid-60s, many of them in India, before briefly reinventing himself over hurdles.
Born in Chester in 1937, Brian Gilbert Ford served his apprenticeship with Victor Smyth and rode his first winner on Scarlet Spur in a two-year-old seller at Lingfield Park on November 12, 1954. He rode five winners from 77 mounts in 1955, including a pair of one-mile handicaps at Warwick and Worcester on Victor Smyth’s three-year-old colt Wahoo.
Born in Chester in 1937, Brian Gilbert Ford served his apprenticeship with Victor Smyth and rode his first winner on Scarlet Spur in a two-year-old seller at Lingfield Park on November 12, 1954. He rode five winners from 77 mounts in 1955, including a pair of one-mile handicaps at Warwick and Worcester on Victor Smyth’s three-year-old colt Wahoo.
After completing his apprenticeship, he had a few seasons riding in India, returning to Britain in 1962 and joining Eric Cousins’ Tarporley stable. He rode two winners in 1963, both on Cousins’ two-year-old filly My Audrey, at Manchester on September 7 and Haydock on October 4. He rode two more winners in 1964, again both on two-year-olds trained by Cousins, these being a filly named Star Money at Catterick on August 13, and a gelding called Sunderton at Haydock on October 3.
After completing his apprenticeship, he had a few seasons riding in India, returning to Britain in 1962 and joining Eric Cousins’ Tarporley stable. He rode two winners in 1963, both on Cousins’ two-year-old filly My Audrey, at Manchester on September 7 and Haydock on October 4. He rode two more winners in 1964, again both on two-year-olds trained by Cousins, these being a filly named Star Money at Catterick on August 13, and a gelding called Sunderton at Haydock on October 3.
He failed to ride a winner in 1965, his last season on the Flat, coming closest when finishing second, beaten a length, on Tudor Prince at Edinburgh.
He failed to ride a winner in 1965, his last season on the Flat, coming closest when finishing second, beaten a length, on Tudor Prince at Edinburgh.
However, he then took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1965/66 campaign and rode his first winner over jumps on only his fifth ride, aboard the Don Charlesworth-trained Grave Danger at Wolverhampton on January 25, 1966. Sadly, it did not prove a springboard for a successful second career as he had only two more rides over hurdles that season and did not renew his licence the following year.
However, he then took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1965/66 campaign and rode his first winner over jumps on only his fifth ride, aboard the Don Charlesworth-trained Grave Danger at Wolverhampton on January 25, 1966. Sadly, it did not prove a springboard for a successful second career as he had only two more rides over hurdles that season and did not renew his licence the following year.