Glyn Foster
1942 - 2016
1942 - 2016
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Glyn Foster was another successful product of trainer George Todd’s Manton apprentice academy, riding 31 winners before coming out of his time.
Glyn Foster was another successful product of trainer George Todd’s Manton apprentice academy, riding 31 winners before coming out of his time.
Born on September 5, 1942, Terence Glyn Foster rode his first winner on 10/1 shot Joy’s Delight in an apprentices’ selling handicap at Kempton on September 18, 1959, the filly being purchased at the subsequent auction by trainer Doug Marks for 310 guineas.
Born on September 5, 1942, Terence Glyn Foster rode his first winner on 10/1 shot Joy’s Delight in an apprentices’ selling handicap at Kempton on September 18, 1959, the filly being purchased at the subsequent auction by trainer Doug Marks for 310 guineas.
However, it was in 1961 that Glyn sprang into prominence, thanks to two high-profile victories within nine days on George Todd’s nine-year-old veteran Caught Out, both of which resulted in front page pictures in the following day’s Sporting Life.
However, it was in 1961 that Glyn sprang into prominence, thanks to two high-profile victories within nine days on George Todd’s nine-year-old veteran Caught Out, both of which resulted in front page pictures in the following day’s Sporting Life.
The first of these came in the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap – the apprentices’ Derby – at Epsom on August Bank Holiday Monday. The 1962 edition of Cope’s Racegoer’s Encyclopaedia reflected: “To ride a waiting race over the full Derby course calls for sound judgment of pace and a cool head, but Glyn did not appear on the scene with Caught Out until well in the straight. One long run over the last three furlongs landed him the winner and earned him praise from the experienced jockeys watching the race from the stands.”
The first of these came in the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap – the apprentices’ Derby – at Epsom on August Bank Holiday Monday. The 1962 edition of Cope’s Racegoer’s Encyclopaedia reflected: “To ride a waiting race over the full Derby course calls for sound judgment of pace and a cool head, but Glyn did not appear on the scene with Caught Out until well in the straight. One long run over the last three furlongs landed him the winner and earned him praise from the experienced jockeys watching the race from the stands.”
Nine days later, Wednesday, August 16, 1961, Glyn gained an ever greater triumph on Caught Out by beating Scobie Breasley on Indian Conquest and Geoff Lewis on the previous year’s Cambridgeshire winner Midsummer Night II in the £1,500 Tote Investors Cup at Salisbury. Conceding weight all round to a field of good-class handicappers, Caught Out and Glyn gave them a sound trouncing. George Todd had instructed Glyn to tuck the horse in behind on the inside and wait for an opening to come. With less than 100 yards to run he was still only fourth and appeared hopelessly boxed in but somehow Glyn managed to find an opening, and once Caught Out saw daylight he displayed a turn of foot more associated with a sprinter, racing clear to score by a length and a half.
Nine days later, Wednesday, August 16, 1961, Glyn gained an ever greater triumph on Caught Out by beating Scobie Breasley on Indian Conquest and Geoff Lewis on the previous year’s Cambridgeshire winner Midsummer Night II in the £1,500 Tote Investors Cup at Salisbury. Conceding weight all round to a field of good-class handicappers, Caught Out and Glyn gave them a sound trouncing. George Todd had instructed Glyn to tuck the horse in behind on the inside and wait for an opening to come. With less than 100 yards to run he was still only fourth and appeared hopelessly boxed in but somehow Glyn managed to find an opening, and once Caught Out saw daylight he displayed a turn of foot more associated with a sprinter, racing clear to score by a length and a half.
The following day, the second day of that Salisbury meeting, Glyn won an apprentices’ handicap on George Todd’s seven-year-old Holy Deadlock. Later that season he won a two-mile Lingfield handicap on another Todd-trained horse named Fortwin, giving him five winners for the season. He increased his score to six in 1962, all for George Todd, beginning with Major Lionel Holliday’s Badmash in a Kempton Park seller on April 21. His other wins that year included Holy Deadlock at Lingfield, and a short-head victory on another of Todd’s veterans, Hatton Garden, at Brighton on September 19. The mainstay of Glyn’s six wins in 1963 was Todd’s black gelding Iron Blue, on whom he won the Hampton Court Handicap on May 4 and the Sandringham Handicap on July 20, both at Ascot, and the Ormonde Stakes at Newbury on October 24, where he beat Scobie Breasley on the favourite King Chestnut by two lengths.
The following day, the second day of that Salisbury meeting, Glyn won an apprentices’ handicap on George Todd’s seven-year-old Holy Deadlock. Later that season he won a two-mile Lingfield handicap on another Todd-trained horse named Fortwin, giving him five winners for the season. He increased his score to six in 1962, all for George Todd, beginning with Major Lionel Holliday’s Badmash in a Kempton Park seller on April 21. His other wins that year included Holy Deadlock at Lingfield, and a short-head victory on another of Todd’s veterans, Hatton Garden, at Brighton on September 19. The mainstay of Glyn’s six wins in 1963 was Todd’s black gelding Iron Blue, on whom he won the Hampton Court Handicap on May 4 and the Sandringham Handicap on July 20, both at Ascot, and the Ormonde Stakes at Newbury on October 24, where he beat Scobie Breasley on the favourite King Chestnut by two lengths.
The highlight of Glyn’s 1964 campaign was a second Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap victory on the by then 12-year-old Caught Out, while his five wins in 1965, his last season as an apprentice, included the Todd-trained handicappers Fine Bid at Lingfield and Vimadee at Newbury.
The highlight of Glyn’s 1964 campaign was a second Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap victory on the by then 12-year-old Caught Out, while his five wins in 1965, his last season as an apprentice, included the Todd-trained handicappers Fine Bid at Lingfield and Vimadee at Newbury.
No longer able to claim an allowance, he remained with George Todd at Manton and became more of a high-class work rider than a jockey. He still had the occasional ride in public, his last winner being on Todd’s three-year-old filly Sea Green, owned by Jim Joel, in the Hove Maiden Stakes at Brighton on June 28, 1971. He relinquished his jockey’s licence in 1974.
No longer able to claim an allowance, he remained with George Todd at Manton and became more of a high-class work rider than a jockey. He still had the occasional ride in public, his last winner being on Todd’s three-year-old filly Sea Green, owned by Jim Joel, in the Hove Maiden Stakes at Brighton on June 28, 1971. He relinquished his jockey’s licence in 1974.
He worked for Nicky Henderson for 18 years where the horses for which he was responsible included See You Then. Almost single-handedly, Glyn turned the bad-tempered See You Then into a triple Champion Hurdle winner. He was the only person who could enter his box without being savaged; horse and groom developed a strong bond.
He worked for Nicky Henderson for 18 years where the horses for which he was responsible included See You Then. Almost single-handedly, Glyn turned the bad-tempered See You Then into a triple Champion Hurdle winner. He was the only person who could enter his box without being savaged; horse and groom developed a strong bond.
He then spent 19 years with Barry Hills and earned a reputation as one of the last of the proper, old-fashioned stablemen.
He then spent 19 years with Barry Hills and earned a reputation as one of the last of the proper, old-fashioned stablemen.
Glyn Foster died in September 2016, aged 74, following a short illness. Paying tribute, Henderson said: “He was a lovely man. Everyone was fond of him and he was part of Lambourn life for a very long time.
Glyn Foster died in September 2016, aged 74, following a short illness. Paying tribute, Henderson said: “He was a lovely man. Everyone was fond of him and he was part of Lambourn life for a very long time.
“See You Then was a mouse outside his box, but in it he was genuinely savage. He would have you, but Glyn had a wonderful way with him. He adored the horse, but he adored all of his horses. See You Then almost certainly couldn’t have been the horse he was without Glyn and not many people would have put up with the carry-on that went on in that box.”
“See You Then was a mouse outside his box, but in it he was genuinely savage. He would have you, but Glyn had a wonderful way with him. He adored the horse, but he adored all of his horses. See You Then almost certainly couldn’t have been the horse he was without Glyn and not many people would have put up with the carry-on that went on in that box.”
Hills recalled: “He was one of the old school. He was brought up at the right place with George Todd and rode quite a few winners and was a good boxer. He was a beautiful rider and rode lovely work.
Hills recalled: “He was one of the old school. He was brought up at the right place with George Todd and rode quite a few winners and was a good boxer. He was a beautiful rider and rode lovely work.
“He looked after some good horses for us and will be sadly missed. There aren’t many of his ilk left.”
“He looked after some good horses for us and will be sadly missed. There aren’t many of his ilk left.”
