John Friar
John Friar was a useful apprentice from the George Todd academy at Manton but his opportunities were restricted by his weight as he struggled to ‘do’ less than 7st 10lb.
John Friar was a useful apprentice from the George Todd academy at Manton but his opportunities were restricted by his weight as he struggled to ‘do’ less than 7st 10lb.
He rode his first winner on George Todd’s Green Crispin in a one-mile Salisbury apprentices’ handicap on July 8, 1958. The following month he won on Todd’s Holy Deadlock at Hurst Park and then won on Caught Out at Newbury in August. He also finished second on Caught Out in that year’s Steve Donoghue Apprentices’ Handicap at Epsom.
He rode his first winner on George Todd’s Green Crispin in a one-mile Salisbury apprentices’ handicap on July 8, 1958. The following month he won on Todd’s Holy Deadlock at Hurst Park and then won on Caught Out at Newbury in August. He also finished second on Caught Out in that year’s Steve Donoghue Apprentices’ Handicap at Epsom.
Caught Out was John’s first winner of the 1959 campaign, winning at Brighton on June 30. He rode six that year, all of them for Todd, including one-mile handicaps at Salisbury and Worcester on Allumeuse and a pair of Ascot apprentice races on Green Crispin.
Caught Out was John’s first winner of the 1959 campaign, winning at Brighton on June 30. He rode six that year, all of them for Todd, including one-mile handicaps at Salisbury and Worcester on Allumeuse and a pair of Ascot apprentice races on Green Crispin.
He rode five winners in 1960, again all for George Todd, and six the following year, the most important of which was the £1,205 to the winner Tankerville Nursery at Ascot on October 7, 1961. When winning on Badmash at Brighton the previous month, he’d lost his cap during the race, hence it was a somewhat unusual photo that appeared on the front page of the next day’s Sporting Life.
He rode five winners in 1960, again all for George Todd, and six the following year, the most important of which was the £1,205 to the winner Tankerville Nursery at Ascot on October 7, 1961. When winning on Badmash at Brighton the previous month, he’d lost his cap during the race, hence it was a somewhat unusual photo that appeared on the front page of the next day’s Sporting Life.
John rode just one winner in 1962, George Todd’s I Claudius in the sponsored Jack Hylton Maiden (at closing) Stakes for three-year-olds at Kempton on June 9. He completed his apprenticeship later that year.
John rode just one winner in 1962, George Todd’s I Claudius in the sponsored Jack Hylton Maiden (at closing) Stakes for three-year-olds at Kempton on June 9. He completed his apprenticeship later that year.
He rode as a professional jockey from 1963 to 1966, riding mainly for Cheshire trainer Ron Barnes. He managed just two winners during that time, both for Barnes, namely 25/1 shot Adam Gee at Redcar on April 27, 1963, and 10/1 chance Kabadi at Catterick on April 11, 1964. In September 1965 he came close to winning the Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap at Hamilton on Kabadi, being beaten a length into second place by Lionel Brown’s mount Warp.
He rode as a professional jockey from 1963 to 1966, riding mainly for Cheshire trainer Ron Barnes. He managed just two winners during that time, both for Barnes, namely 25/1 shot Adam Gee at Redcar on April 27, 1963, and 10/1 chance Kabadi at Catterick on April 11, 1964. In September 1965 he came close to winning the Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap at Hamilton on Kabadi, being beaten a length into second place by Lionel Brown’s mount Warp.
John renewed his licence in 1971 and rode initially as a freelance and then for Didcot trainer Ken Cundell, but failed to ride another winner before hanging up his boots and saddle in 1973.
John renewed his licence in 1971 and rode initially as a freelance and then for Didcot trainer Ken Cundell, but failed to ride another winner before hanging up his boots and saddle in 1973.