Eric Foster
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
South-west National Hunt jockey Eric Henry Foster was born on August 10, in 1939, the youngest of four jockey brothers who all plied their trade in the 1950s and ’60s. John (born 1934), David (1935), Gerald (1937) and Eric were four of ten children, six boys and four girls, from a Somerset farming family.
South-west National Hunt jockey Eric Henry Foster was born on August 10, in 1939, the youngest of four jockey brothers who all plied their trade in the 1950s and ’60s. John (born 1934), David (1935), Gerald (1937) and Eric were four of ten children, six boys and four girls, from a Somerset farming family.
As with his three brothers, Eric began his racing career with Major Bay Powell at Aldbourne, near Marlborough. It was the natural thing to do, as they all had a connection with him via the pony club and the Portman Estate. He rode for Saltash, Cornwall, trainer Fred Barrett for a time, then joined Arthur Thomas at Guy’s Cliffe, Warwick, and later moved to Eddie Reavey at East Hendred, Berkshire.
As with his three brothers, Eric began his racing career with Major Bay Powell at Aldbourne, near Marlborough. It was the natural thing to do, as they all had a connection with him via the pony club and the Portman Estate. He rode for Saltash, Cornwall, trainer Fred Barrett for a time, then joined Arthur Thomas at Guy’s Cliffe, Warwick, and later moved to Eddie Reavey at East Hendred, Berkshire.
He rode his first winner Seaplane II, trained by Fred Barrett, in a 2m 6f handicap hurdle at Wincanton on Boxing Day 1955. His only other winner that season, also trained by Barret, was selling hurdler Tschuggan at Buckfastleigh in May 1956.
He rode his first winner Seaplane II, trained by Fred Barrett, in a 2m 6f handicap hurdle at Wincanton on Boxing Day 1955. His only other winner that season, also trained by Barret, was selling hurdler Tschuggan at Buckfastleigh in May 1956.
He doubled his score to four the following season, 1956/57, courtesy of Fred Barrett’s selling hurdlers Tschuggan and Vain Help, Arthur Thomas’s Sunflax up at Manchester, and Eddie Reavey’s Settled, who became Eric’s first win over fences when winning a Stratford novices’ chase.
He doubled his score to four the following season, 1956/57, courtesy of Fred Barrett’s selling hurdlers Tschuggan and Vain Help, Arthur Thomas’s Sunflax up at Manchester, and Eddie Reavey’s Settled, who became Eric’s first win over fences when winning a Stratford novices’ chase.
Eric went on to ride a total of 17 winners and, although there were no big ones, he did have the satisfaction of beating two of his brothers when winning a steeplechase at Buckfastleigh on Whit Monday 1958 on Nugget. John finished second on Sea Captain and Gerry was fourth on the favourite, Tatler III. That was as close as they came to a Foster family one-two-three.
Eric went on to ride a total of 17 winners and, although there were no big ones, he did have the satisfaction of beating two of his brothers when winning a steeplechase at Buckfastleigh on Whit Monday 1958 on Nugget. John finished second on Sea Captain and Gerry was fourth on the favourite, Tatler III. That was as close as they came to a Foster family one-two-three.
Eric was also the only one of the four brothers to take up training. His initial venture, based at Crossways Stables, Yelverton, near Plymouth, didn’t last long, around a year, but during that brief time he had probably the best horse he trained and rode, Fidus Achates, owned by the wife of bookmaker Charlie Stuck, for whom Eric won the Christmas Greetings Handicap Hurdle at Taunton on December 28, 1959, his sole success in the saddle that season. However, before the season was out, Charlie Stuck had employed Mick James as his private trainer – which also turned out to be a short-lived affair – and it was James who trained Fidus Achates to win the 1961 Imperial Cup, ridden by Clive Chapman.
Eric was also the only one of the four brothers to take up training. His initial venture, based at Crossways Stables, Yelverton, near Plymouth, didn’t last long, around a year, but during that brief time he had probably the best horse he trained and rode, Fidus Achates, owned by the wife of bookmaker Charlie Stuck, for whom Eric won the Christmas Greetings Handicap Hurdle at Taunton on December 28, 1959, his sole success in the saddle that season. However, before the season was out, Charlie Stuck had employed Mick James as his private trainer – which also turned out to be a short-lived affair – and it was James who trained Fidus Achates to win the 1961 Imperial Cup, ridden by Clive Chapman.
Eric’s best season in the saddle was in 1961/62 when he rode five winners, including three in a row on novice chaser Comforting Wave for owner-trainer Geoffrey Gregson, who subsequently rode him to victory on several occasions himself in the mid-60s.
Eric’s best season in the saddle was in 1961/62 when he rode five winners, including three in a row on novice chaser Comforting Wave for owner-trainer Geoffrey Gregson, who subsequently rode him to victory on several occasions himself in the mid-60s.
Eric had just one more winner, novice chaser High Dyke, owned and trained by Oliver Carter near Ottery St Mary, at Newton Abbot on August 30, 1962. He retired at the end of the 1963/64 season and began training again, firstly at Henlade, near Taunton and then at Russley Park, Baydon, near Marlborough. He enjoyed plenty of early success with selling chasers Cordonis and His Lordship and, more notably, with Complete Treasure, a decent handicap chaser in the mid-1960s, but he relinquished his licence not long after.
Eric had just one more winner, novice chaser High Dyke, owned and trained by Oliver Carter near Ottery St Mary, at Newton Abbot on August 30, 1962. He retired at the end of the 1963/64 season and began training again, firstly at Henlade, near Taunton and then at Russley Park, Baydon, near Marlborough. He enjoyed plenty of early success with selling chasers Cordonis and His Lordship and, more notably, with Complete Treasure, a decent handicap chaser in the mid-1960s, but he relinquished his licence not long after.
Having finished training, he drove lorries for a few years and then went to live in a village just outside Guildford, where he managed a small estate.
Having finished training, he drove lorries for a few years and then went to live in a village just outside Guildford, where he managed a small estate.
Eric Foster’s winners were, in chronological order:
Eric Foster’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Seaplane II, Wincanton, December 26, 1955
1. Seaplane II, Wincanton, December 26, 1955
2. Tschuggan, Buckfastleigh, May 19, 1956
2. Tschuggan, Buckfastleigh, May 19, 1956
3. Tschuggan, Devon & Exeter, September 13, 1956
3. Tschuggan, Devon & Exeter, September 13, 1956
4. Vain Help, Newton Abbot, September 29, 1956
4. Vain Help, Newton Abbot, September 29, 1956
5. Sunflax, Manchester, December 7, 1956
5. Sunflax, Manchester, December 7, 1956
6. Settled, Stratford-on-Avon, April 11, 1957
6. Settled, Stratford-on-Avon, April 11, 1957
7. Square Dance, Taunton, May 1, 1958
7. Square Dance, Taunton, May 1, 1958
8. Nugget, Buckfastleigh, Buckfastleigh, May 26, 1958
8. Nugget, Buckfastleigh, Buckfastleigh, May 26, 1958
9. Prune, Devon & Exeter, September 10, 1958
9. Prune, Devon & Exeter, September 10, 1958
10. Prune, Newton Abbot, September 26, 1958
10. Prune, Newton Abbot, September 26, 1958
11. Fidus Achates, Taunton, December 28, 1959
11. Fidus Achates, Taunton, December 28, 1959
12. Willie Can, Taunton, November 4, 1961
12. Willie Can, Taunton, November 4, 1961
13. Doyle’s Cross, Worcester, March 31, 1962
13. Doyle’s Cross, Worcester, March 31, 1962
14. Comforting Wave, Southwell, April 21, 1962
14. Comforting Wave, Southwell, April 21, 1962
15. Comforting Wave, Bangor-on-Dee, April 28, 1962
15. Comforting Wave, Bangor-on-Dee, April 28, 1962
16. Comforting Wave, Uttoxeter, May 12, 1962
16. Comforting Wave, Uttoxeter, May 12, 1962
17. High Dyke, Newton Abbot, August 30, 1962
17. High Dyke, Newton Abbot, August 30, 1962