Tony Evans
Antony (Tony) Evans was born on March 14, 1979, the son of successful trainer David Evans. He rode as an amateur for five years from 1996 before turning conditional. In 2003 he broke a leg in a fall, which kept him out of action for four months but it was a case of out of sight, out of mind and it was 13 months before he rode another winner.
Antony (Tony) Evans was born on March 14, 1979, the son of successful trainer David Evans. He rode as an amateur for five years from 1996 before turning conditional. In 2003 he broke a leg in a fall, which kept him out of action for four months but it was a case of out of sight, out of mind and it was 13 months before he rode another winner.
At the start of the 2006/07 season he was the main beneficiary of Carl Llewellyn’s decision to retire and leave his position as Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable jockey to concentrate on training in Lambourn. Tony was promoted from understudy – he had been with the trainer for eight years – to first jockey. That marked a change in fortune and he celebrated by riding two trebles within three weeks during the autumn of 2006. He went on to ride 27 winners that season, all bar four of them for Twiston-Davies, despite it being cut short by injury in March. Sadly, Tony’s position as Twiston-Davies’ stable jockey was over by the end of that one season, with some owners expressing a preference for other riders. Paddy Brennan took over as stable jockey the following season, although Tony continued to ride for the trainer. He played a major part in the education of Twiston-Davies’ Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander. Tony rode him in eight consecutive races early in the horse’s career, winning a Newcastle novices’ hurdle and two Cheltenham novice chases before Brennan took over in the saddle.
At the start of the 2006/07 season he was the main beneficiary of Carl Llewellyn’s decision to retire and leave his position as Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable jockey to concentrate on training in Lambourn. Tony was promoted from understudy – he had been with the trainer for eight years – to first jockey. That marked a change in fortune and he celebrated by riding two trebles within three weeks during the autumn of 2006. He went on to ride 27 winners that season, all bar four of them for Twiston-Davies, despite it being cut short by injury in March. Sadly, Tony’s position as Twiston-Davies’ stable jockey was over by the end of that one season, with some owners expressing a preference for other riders. Paddy Brennan took over as stable jockey the following season, although Tony continued to ride for the trainer. He played a major part in the education of Twiston-Davies’ Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander. Tony rode him in eight consecutive races early in the horse’s career, winning a Newcastle novices’ hurdle and two Cheltenham novice chases before Brennan took over in the saddle.
Tony rode his last winner on his father’s Mondial Jack in a Hereford handicap chase on February 25, 2008. In September that year he seriously injured his left arm in an accident in the Cotswolds when the Mitsubishi pick-up truck he was driving rolled over, pinning him underneath the vehicle. He smashed his left elbow in two places and damaged some muscles in his arm. He was taken to Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital where the elbow was pinned and he underwent a skin graft.
Tony rode his last winner on his father’s Mondial Jack in a Hereford handicap chase on February 25, 2008. In September that year he seriously injured his left arm in an accident in the Cotswolds when the Mitsubishi pick-up truck he was driving rolled over, pinning him underneath the vehicle. He smashed his left elbow in two places and damaged some muscles in his arm. He was taken to Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital where the elbow was pinned and he underwent a skin graft.
The injury left him with restricted movement in his arm and he was forced to retire from riding. Having contacted JETS, the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme, he opted for a change of direction and, having undertaken training and obtained qualifications, he set up his own landscaping business in 2011, based in the Cotswolds. He then formed a fencing company called Equestrian Projects. The company proved successful and he now sponsors races at Hereford.
The injury left him with restricted movement in his arm and he was forced to retire from riding. Having contacted JETS, the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme, he opted for a change of direction and, having undertaken training and obtained qualifications, he set up his own landscaping business in 2011, based in the Cotswolds. He then formed a fencing company called Equestrian Projects. The company proved successful and he now sponsors races at Hereford.