Ken Edwards
Ken Edwards
Ken Edwards
Ken Edwards, whose nickname was Hank, hailed from Cheshire. At the start of 1963, he began his apprenticeship on the Flat with Bill Elsey at Malton.
Ken Edwards, whose nickname was Hank, hailed from Cheshire. At the start of 1963, he began his apprenticeship on the Flat with Bill Elsey at Malton.
He rode his first winner on his fifth ride in public, aboard 100-8 chance Mezzotint in the Danby Maiden Stakes at Redcar on July 29, 1964. In so doing he beat Umber Rise, the mount of Elsey’s stable jockey Edward Hide, by half a length. He rode one more winner that year from a total of 33 rides, so he was obviously given plenty of opportunities.
He rode his first winner on his fifth ride in public, aboard 100-8 chance Mezzotint in the Danby Maiden Stakes at Redcar on July 29, 1964. In so doing he beat Umber Rise, the mount of Elsey’s stable jockey Edward Hide, by half a length. He rode one more winner that year from a total of 33 rides, so he was obviously given plenty of opportunities.
Rising weight subsequently led him to joining legendary trainer Fulke Walwyn’s mighty Saxon House Stables, Lambourn, in what would prove to be a brief career over jumps in the early 1970s.
Rising weight subsequently led him to joining legendary trainer Fulke Walwyn’s mighty Saxon House Stables, Lambourn, in what would prove to be a brief career over jumps in the early 1970s.
He rode three winners, the first of which was gained on hard ground at Towcester on Whit Monday, May 25, 1970, when Russian Leather won the Silverstone Handicap Hurdle by six lengths. It was the six-year-old’s first win since triumphing at the same course 13 months earlier when ridden by Aly Branford. Ken had ridden Russian Leather twice before that season, including one day at Cheltenham when they finished seventh behind a horse named Red Rum.
He rode three winners, the first of which was gained on hard ground at Towcester on Whit Monday, May 25, 1970, when Russian Leather won the Silverstone Handicap Hurdle by six lengths. It was the six-year-old’s first win since triumphing at the same course 13 months earlier when ridden by Aly Branford. Ken had ridden Russian Leather twice before that season, including one day at Cheltenham when they finished seventh behind a horse named Red Rum.
Ken made a good start to the following season with another success on Russian Leather, this time at Devon & Exeter in the Devonport Opportunity Handicap Hurdle on August 5, 1970.
Ken made a good start to the following season with another success on Russian Leather, this time at Devon & Exeter in the Devonport Opportunity Handicap Hurdle on August 5, 1970.
His third and final victory over jumps came later that same month at Huntingdon on Mugatpura, one of the Walwyn stalwarts for many seasons, in the Goodliff Handicap Hurdle on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, beating Little Green Man, the mount of Macer Gifford, in whose memory the Macer Gifford Handicap Chase is still run at Huntingdon to this day. Mugatpura won again next time out but this time with Stan Mellor in the saddle.
His third and final victory over jumps came later that same month at Huntingdon on Mugatpura, one of the Walwyn stalwarts for many seasons, in the Goodliff Handicap Hurdle on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, beating Little Green Man, the mount of Macer Gifford, in whose memory the Macer Gifford Handicap Chase is still run at Huntingdon to this day. Mugatpura won again next time out but this time with Stan Mellor in the saddle.
Ken Edwards relinquished his licence in April 1971.
Ken Edwards relinquished his licence in April 1971.