Andreas Demetriou
Cypriot champion jockey Andreas (Andy) Demetriou, first appeared on the British racing scene in the mid-1960s, riding on the Flat for the likes of David Thom, John Benstead, and Ted Goddard.
Cypriot champion jockey Andreas (Andy) Demetriou, first appeared on the British racing scene in the mid-1960s, riding on the Flat for the likes of David Thom, John Benstead, and Ted Goddard.
He then joined National Hunt trainer Toby Balding and took out a jump jockey’s licence for the 1966/67 season. He had his first ride over hurdles on Red Hot at Kempton on December 27, 1966, finishing tenth of the 14 runners. He rode the same horse at Newbury on January 14, 1967, finishing ninth in a field of 21, then came second on him at Wolverhampton four days later. Andy also steered Red Hot into fifth place in the valuable Lonsdale Handicap Hurdle at Kempton in February. However, that second place finish at Wolverhampton was as close as he ever came to riding a winner over jumps in three seasons with a licence.
He then joined National Hunt trainer Toby Balding and took out a jump jockey’s licence for the 1966/67 season. He had his first ride over hurdles on Red Hot at Kempton on December 27, 1966, finishing tenth of the 14 runners. He rode the same horse at Newbury on January 14, 1967, finishing ninth in a field of 21, then came second on him at Wolverhampton four days later. Andy also steered Red Hot into fifth place in the valuable Lonsdale Handicap Hurdle at Kempton in February. However, that second place finish at Wolverhampton was as close as he ever came to riding a winner over jumps in three seasons with a licence.
Andy continued to ride on the Flat and finally rode his first winner in Britain on the two-year-old filly Ticaloo, trained by Clifford Watts, in the Ilkley Maiden Stakes at Catterick on April 12, 1969. Six days later he won a two-year-old seller at Thirsk on another Watts-trained horse, Top Perch.
Andy continued to ride on the Flat and finally rode his first winner in Britain on the two-year-old filly Ticaloo, trained by Clifford Watts, in the Ilkley Maiden Stakes at Catterick on April 12, 1969. Six days later he won a two-year-old seller at Thirsk on another Watts-trained horse, Top Perch.
Later that year he returned to Cyprus to train. He saddled almost 200 winners there before returning to Britain in 1979 to continue his training career at Harraton Court Stables, Exning, near Newmarket, supported by mostly Greek and Cypriot owners. He started off with a string of 16 horses and did well initially, particularly with his two-year-olds Hot Gun, Vana and Happy Yappy, all of whom won races. The latter gave Andy his most important success when winning the Metropole Challenge Cup at Folkestone on May 15, 1979.
Later that year he returned to Cyprus to train. He saddled almost 200 winners there before returning to Britain in 1979 to continue his training career at Harraton Court Stables, Exning, near Newmarket, supported by mostly Greek and Cypriot owners. He started off with a string of 16 horses and did well initially, particularly with his two-year-olds Hot Gun, Vana and Happy Yappy, all of whom won races. The latter gave Andy his most important success when winning the Metropole Challenge Cup at Folkestone on May 15, 1979.
Sadly, however, the training operation failed to flourish thereafter and Andy relinquished his licence after just two seasons, presumably returning to his homeland.
Sadly, however, the training operation failed to flourish thereafter and Andy relinquished his licence after just two seasons, presumably returning to his homeland.
Andy originally came from Famagusta, Cyprus, where his father had his own stud and trained his own horses. He rode his first winner at the age of twelve and had ridden 195 winners before he decided at the end of 1963 to leave his parents, five sisters and three brothers and seek his fortune in England. He arrived in Britain unable to speak a single word of the language - a severe handicap for a jockey when and owners and trainers want to know how their horses have run.
Andy originally came from Famagusta, Cyprus, where his father had his own stud and trained his own horses. He rode his first winner at the age of twelve and had ridden 195 winners before he decided at the end of 1963 to leave his parents, five sisters and three brothers and seek his fortune in England. He arrived in Britain unable to speak a single word of the language - a severe handicap for a jockey when and owners and trainers want to know how their horses have run.