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Lee Howard Enstone was born in Cheshire on July 22, 1983. He hailed from a non-racing background but became interested in horses through his father's hunting connections. From the first day he was taken point-to-pointing when he was nine, he knew he wanted to ride in races.
Lee Howard Enstone was born in Cheshire on July 22, 1983. He hailed from a non-racing background but became interested in horses through his father's hunting connections. From the first day he was taken point-to-pointing when he was nine, he knew he wanted to ride in races.
His father bought him a pony and he started riding out for Ginger McCain at the age of 13, firstly at weekends and holidays until he started bunking off school as well. He joined McCain full-time at 16 and was soon schooling over fences and hurdles. But he was always going to be too light to ride over jumps, so after 18 months he attended a three-week course at Doncaster’s Northern Racing College to concentrate on the Flat.
His father bought him a pony and he started riding out for Ginger McCain at the age of 13, firstly at weekends and holidays until he started bunking off school as well. He joined McCain full-time at 16 and was soon schooling over fences and hurdles. But he was always going to be too light to ride over jumps, so after 18 months he attended a three-week course at Doncaster’s Northern Racing College to concentrate on the Flat.
George Duffield, who was helping to instruct trainees at the college, took Lee under his wing and he joined the jockey’s trainer-wife Ann as stable apprentice. He spent a year and a half there and then left to join trainer Patrick Haslam at Middleham.
George Duffield, who was helping to instruct trainees at the college, took Lee under his wing and he joined the jockey’s trainer-wife Ann as stable apprentice. He spent a year and a half there and then left to join trainer Patrick Haslam at Middleham.
He rode his first winner on Blakeset at Yarmouth on September 13, 2000, and registered three more wins before the end of the season. He rode nine winners the following year.
He rode his first winner on Blakeset at Yarmouth on September 13, 2000, and registered three more wins before the end of the season. He rode nine winners the following year.
On July 19, 2002, Lee had a bad fall on the home turn in a seven-furlong race at Carlisle when his mount slipped on the bend, ejecting the rider onto the turf directly into the path of a following horse. Lee was trampled among the flailing hooves and was taken to hospital with suspected arm, leg and wrist injuries. Luckily x-rays revealed no bone damage, and he bounced back six days later with a winner and his confidence intact.
On July 19, 2002, Lee had a bad fall on the home turn in a seven-furlong race at Carlisle when his mount slipped on the bend, ejecting the rider onto the turf directly into the path of a following horse. Lee was trampled among the flailing hooves and was taken to hospital with suspected arm, leg and wrist injuries. Luckily x-rays revealed no bone damage, and he bounced back six days later with a winner and his confidence intact.
His gained his biggest success on Ocean Tide in a £15,000 handicap at Musselburgh on September 29, 2002. He then rode a couple of all-weather doubles at Wolverhampton in December and finished the year with a score of 44 wins, 23 of them for Pat Haslam. He rode 22 winners the following season.
His gained his biggest success on Ocean Tide in a £15,000 handicap at Musselburgh on September 29, 2002. He then rode a couple of all-weather doubles at Wolverhampton in December and finished the year with a score of 44 wins, 23 of them for Pat Haslam. He rode 22 winners the following season.
Initially, Lee had no weight problems, managing 8st 1lb comfortably without starving himself. However, by 2004 his weight had increased to the point where, at the end of that year, he was forced to take nine months out as he battled to bring it under control.
Initially, Lee had no weight problems, managing 8st 1lb comfortably without starving himself. However, by 2004 his weight had increased to the point where, at the end of that year, he was forced to take nine months out as he battled to bring it under control.
He chalked up his first success since making his comeback when getting the Ian Semple-trained Dizzy In The Head home at Catterick on November 1, 2005. This was his only winner of the season.
He chalked up his first success since making his comeback when getting the Ian Semple-trained Dizzy In The Head home at Catterick on November 1, 2005. This was his only winner of the season.
He rode 14 winners in both the 2006 and 2007 Flat turf seasons, despite his career being threatened in February 2007 when he came under investigation for alleged his alleged involvement in trying to set up a betting exchange account, through a driver, on which to lay horses to lose.
He rode 14 winners in both the 2006 and 2007 Flat turf seasons, despite his career being threatened in February 2007 when he came under investigation for alleged his alleged involvement in trying to set up a betting exchange account, through a driver, on which to lay horses to lose.
Lee’s career never really got going again after that and he continued to struggle with his weight. He rode his last winner on Demolition for trainer Noel Wilson in the 1m 4f Levy Board Handicap at Beverley on April 23, 2009. He had his final ride on the Paul Midgley-trained Saffron’s Son, who finished fourth of nine in a class 6f handicap at Catterick on August 26, 2009. After his decision to stop being a jockey he rode out for Walter Swinburn for a few months.
Lee’s career never really got going again after that and he continued to struggle with his weight. He rode his last winner on Demolition for trainer Noel Wilson in the 1m 4f Levy Board Handicap at Beverley on April 23, 2009. He had his final ride on the Paul Midgley-trained Saffron’s Son, who finished fourth of nine in a class 6f handicap at Catterick on August 26, 2009. After his decision to stop being a jockey he rode out for Walter Swinburn for a few months.
On Becher Chase day at Aintree in December 2012, Lee, along with former jump jockey Steve Wynne, were the outriders used to catch loose horses on the Grand National course.
On Becher Chase day at Aintree in December 2012, Lee, along with former jump jockey Steve Wynne, were the outriders used to catch loose horses on the Grand National course.
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