Luke Fletcher
Flat jockey Luke Neil Fletcher was born in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire in 1985. He was a successful apprentice and his career peaked in 2003 when he rode 41 winners.
Flat jockey Luke Neil Fletcher was born in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire in 1985. He was a successful apprentice and his career peaked in 2003 when he rode 41 winners.
At 16, he was quite small, about 5ft 5in, but he began to thicken out as he grew older and he found himself having to go to more extreme lengths to keep his weight down. When ‘wasting’ he became gaunt and depressed and suffered from mood swings.
At 16, he was quite small, about 5ft 5in, but he began to thicken out as he grew older and he found himself having to go to more extreme lengths to keep his weight down. When ‘wasting’ he became gaunt and depressed and suffered from mood swings.
While he was determined and resilient, he was not foolish enough to sacrifice his health and wellbeing in pursuit of a career riding horses. He conceded that if he was unable to keep his weight down, he would have to call time on his racing career. He was interested in buying young horses, developing them and then selling them on. If he could no longer race-ride, that would be the avenue he’d choose to explore. However, it transpired that the final decision would not be his to take.
While he was determined and resilient, he was not foolish enough to sacrifice his health and wellbeing in pursuit of a career riding horses. He conceded that if he was unable to keep his weight down, he would have to call time on his racing career. He was interested in buying young horses, developing them and then selling them on. If he could no longer race-ride, that would be the avenue he’d choose to explore. However, it transpired that the final decision would not be his to take.
He was in demand during the 2005 Flat turf season and rode 15 winners that year. The final three of those came courtesy of a Folkestone double on September 3 on Moto for trainer Ian McInnes and After Lent for Paul Blockley, followed by a Haydock seller on September 23 aboard the James Eustace-trained Chigorin. They would be the last of his career.
He was in demand during the 2005 Flat turf season and rode 15 winners that year. The final three of those came courtesy of a Folkestone double on September 3 on Moto for trainer Ian McInnes and After Lent for Paul Blockley, followed by a Haydock seller on September 23 aboard the James Eustace-trained Chigorin. They would be the last of his career.
In August 2006 Luke was accused of corruptly passing information to a betting exchange punter through a third party. He relinquished his licence when this case was brought against him. In February 2007 he was found guilty and disqualified for three years.
In August 2006 Luke was accused of corruptly passing information to a betting exchange punter through a third party. He relinquished his licence when this case was brought against him. In February 2007 he was found guilty and disqualified for three years.