Tony Fairhurst

Tony Fairhurst

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden two winners on the Flat, Anthony Fairhurst, known as Tony, had a fairly brief career over jumps in the late 1970s and added another two.  

Apprenticed to his father, Tommy ‘Squeak’ Fairhurst, who trained at Middleham, in Yorkshire, Tony won his first race at Redcar on July 28, 1977, when My Chopin got the better of a sustained duel with Laser Olive, ridden by Steve Jarvis, to land the Hummersea Apprentice Handicap by a short head. Tony kept the ride on the six-year-old and was placed on all four subsequent starts, including when beaten only half a length by Tony Ives on White Emperor in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Cup at Lanark in September. 

It was not until May 8, 1978 that Tony scored again, when Relative Ease won just like that when taking the Barnton Apprentice Handicap at Edinburgh by two and a half lengths.

By this time, however, Tony had turned his attentions to the jumps scene, probably due to rising weight. He did not make a good start to his campaign, for he was one of three riders disqualified after taking the wrong course in the Sunniside Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Hexham on October 25, 1978. His mount, Christine Jane, had finished a distant fourth but was all but pulled up after the mistake took place. 

His first success was at Teesside Park on February 23, 1979, when Anything, owned and trained by his father, overhauled Irish Morn, ridden by Ridley Lamb, after the last flight and ran on well to take the Lucy Glitters Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half despite hanging in the closing stages. The six-year-old was usually partnered by Tony’s brother Chris but he was on the winner’s stable companion Miss Fanackapan on that occasion. Tony kept the ride on Anything and finished second twice that season, beaten by half a length on one occasion and a neck on the other.  

He had the second of his two victories over jumps six months later when Highfield Jet was an easy winner of the Cleethorpes Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on August 25, scoring by eight lengths. 

Highfield Jet was then off the course until February, and he provided Tony with his final ride when finishing fourth in the Carcluie Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on March 10, 1980, after leading over the final flight. Tony then became head lad to his father. 

Tony Fairhurst’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. My Chopin, Redcar, July 28, 1977

2. Relative Ease, Edinburgh, May 8, 1978

3. Anything, Teesside Park, February 23, 1979

4. Highfield Jet, Market Rasen, August 25, 1979