Chris Fairhurst
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Christopher William Fairhurst was born on August 16, 1957, the son of Middleham trainer Tommy ‘Squeak’ Fairhurst. He rode winners as an apprentice on the Flat and under National Hunt rules.
Christopher William Fairhurst was born on August 16, 1957, the son of Middleham trainer Tommy ‘Squeak’ Fairhurst. He rode winners as an apprentice on the Flat and under National Hunt rules.
His first two winners were over hurdles, both of them on his father’s novice hurdler Brigant, at Kelso on March 1, 1975, then at Ayr nine days later.
His first two winners were over hurdles, both of them on his father’s novice hurdler Brigant, at Kelso on March 1, 1975, then at Ayr nine days later.
His first winner on the Flat followed the next month, on Relative Ease in five furlongs Strathaven Handicap at Lanark on April 17, 1975.
His first winner on the Flat followed the next month, on Relative Ease in five furlongs Strathaven Handicap at Lanark on April 17, 1975.
Chris rode two winners during the 1975/76 campaign, both of them on novice hurdler Star Penny, at Sedgefield in January and Teesside Park in February.
Chris rode two winners during the 1975/76 campaign, both of them on novice hurdler Star Penny, at Sedgefield in January and Teesside Park in February.
His wins in 1976/77 included five on Miss Fanackapan, although they were disqualified in one of those for interfering with the runner-up. The following season he rode Miss Fanackapan to win a Joe Coral Golden Hurdle Qualifier at Warwick on November 17, 1977.
His wins in 1976/77 included five on Miss Fanackapan, although they were disqualified in one of those for interfering with the runner-up. The following season he rode Miss Fanackapan to win a Joe Coral Golden Hurdle Qualifier at Warwick on November 17, 1977.
Riding pretty much exclusively for his father, Chris recorded a score of nine for the 1978/79 season. Silver Cygnet got him off the mark at Catterick on November 8; First Lift won at Kelso in November and Teesside Park in December; Second Time Lucky obliged at Catterick in December and Teesside in February; Big Ginger won at Hexham in May. All of those six were in novice hurdles but Chris also won three over fences on the much-travelled Ormonde Tudor, at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, Wetherby in February and finishing with the Lonsdale Handicap Chase at Carlisle’s 1979 Easter fixture.
Riding pretty much exclusively for his father, Chris recorded a score of nine for the 1978/79 season. Silver Cygnet got him off the mark at Catterick on November 8; First Lift won at Kelso in November and Teesside Park in December; Second Time Lucky obliged at Catterick in December and Teesside in February; Big Ginger won at Hexham in May. All of those six were in novice hurdles but Chris also won three over fences on the much-travelled Ormonde Tudor, at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, Wetherby in February and finishing with the Lonsdale Handicap Chase at Carlisle’s 1979 Easter fixture.
Tommy Fairhurst’s novice hurdlers Highfield Jet (at Ayr in October), Commander Bond (Wetherby in December) and Summergold (Sedgefield in April) comprised Chris’s three winners for 1979/80. His score fell to just two in 80/81 but included Sedgefield’s Boxing Day feature, the Rent Roll Cup Handicap Chase, on Durham Lad.
Tommy Fairhurst’s novice hurdlers Highfield Jet (at Ayr in October), Commander Bond (Wetherby in December) and Summergold (Sedgefield in April) comprised Chris’s three winners for 1979/80. His score fell to just two in 80/81 but included Sedgefield’s Boxing Day feature, the Rent Roll Cup Handicap Chase, on Durham Lad.
Chris became ever more involved in his father’s training operation at Glasgow House, the historic Middleham yard from which trainer James Croft had sent out the first four in the 1822 St Leger and won it again with Jerry in 1924.
Chris became ever more involved in his father’s training operation at Glasgow House, the historic Middleham yard from which trainer James Croft had sent out the first four in the 1822 St Leger and won it again with Jerry in 1924.
Having handed in his jockey’s licence in 1987 with more than 50 winners over jumps, he obtained a trainer’s licence in November 1993 and took over from his father the following year. His best horse in those early days was Boldly Goes, winner of six races including four of his first five starts, culminating in the Listed Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy in 1998.
Having handed in his jockey’s licence in 1987 with more than 50 winners over jumps, he obtained a trainer’s licence in November 1993 and took over from his father the following year. His best horse in those early days was Boldly Goes, winner of six races including four of his first five starts, culminating in the Listed Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy in 1998.
Chris continues to train at Glasgow House, Middleham, with a string of around 20 horses.
Chris continues to train at Glasgow House, Middleham, with a string of around 20 horses.