Born circa 1935, Colin Embleton was apprenticed to Tommy Dent, who trained at Dringhouses, near York. He rode his first winner on 10-1 chance Dutch Clover, trained by Dent, in the Palatine Apprentice Handicap at Liverpool’s mixed meeting on November 7, 1951, his sole success from 13 rides that year.
He drew a blank the following season but then became leading jockey for half an hour when winning the first race of the 1953 Flat campaign, the Apprentices’ Handicap over the straight mile at Lincoln. The horse was a four-year-old filly named Likabula, the 5-2 favourite, trained by Tommy Dent. Colin took her to the front three furlongs from home and won by a length and a half from Calydon III, the mount of Jackie Willett.
Colin remained joint leading jockey for 48 hours, as no other rider rode more than one winner until fellow apprentice Jimmy Lindley registered a double on the third and final day of Lincoln’s season-opening meeting.
Unlike Lindley, Colin rode just one more winner that year, the last of his career, on another of Tommy Dent’s fillies, the two-year-old Lilanje, who made all to win the Cambusdoon Maiden Plate at Ayr on June 13, 1953.
Colin’s apprenticeship ended later that year and he took out a professional jockey’s licence for the 1954 season. However, he failed to ride a winner from limited opportunities and did not renew his licence thereafter.
Colin Embleton’s winners were:
1. Dutch Clover, Liverpool, November 7, 1951
2. Likabula, Lincoln, March 23, 1953
3. Lilanje, Ayr, June 13, 1953