Ben de Haan
Ben de Haan was born at Clivedon on July 9, 1959.
Ben de Haan was born at Clivedon on July 9, 1959.
His mother was housekeeper to trainer Charlie Smith, the brother of former champion jockey Doug Smith, who tragically committed suicide in 1989. It was Charlie Smith who recommended his house-keeper’s boy, Ben, to Fred Winter, Doug Smith’s brother-in-law.
His mother was housekeeper to trainer Charlie Smith, the brother of former champion jockey Doug Smith, who tragically committed suicide in 1989. It was Charlie Smith who recommended his house-keeper’s boy, Ben, to Fred Winter, Doug Smith’s brother-in-law.
Winter agreed to take the lad on and, shortly before his sixteenth birthday, in the summer of 1975, Ben de Haan - born on July 9, 1959 - arrived at Uplands to begin work for the princely sum of £2 per week.
Winter agreed to take the lad on and, shortly before his sixteenth birthday, in the summer of 1975, Ben de Haan - born on July 9, 1959 - arrived at Uplands to begin work for the princely sum of £2 per week.
Any aspirations he may have held for overnight success were quickly vanquished – it was four years before he had his first ride, let alone a winner.
Any aspirations he may have held for overnight success were quickly vanquished – it was four years before he had his first ride, let alone a winner.
Ben found it difficult to get to know the reticent Winter who had hardly spoke to him at the interview. De Haan, himself an essentially private person, did not mind that, but often in those four years, he would wonder whether or not he was in the right job.
Ben found it difficult to get to know the reticent Winter who had hardly spoke to him at the interview. De Haan, himself an essentially private person, did not mind that, but often in those four years, he would wonder whether or not he was in the right job.
Then, one morning, Winter asked him to ride Rough and Tumble in a piece of work. Although the horse had twice been placed in the Grand National, he was not an easy ride and it ran away with Ben on the gallops.
Then, one morning, Winter asked him to ride Rough and Tumble in a piece of work. Although the horse had twice been placed in the Grand National, he was not an easy ride and it ran away with Ben on the gallops.
“The guv’nor went berserk,” Ben related. “He shouted at me: “You want to be a jockey and you can’t even keep hold of a horse!” I felt very low until, two mornings after, he got on Rough and Tumble himself and the horse ran away with him, too.”
“The guv’nor went berserk,” Ben related. “He shouted at me: “You want to be a jockey and you can’t even keep hold of a horse!” I felt very low until, two mornings after, he got on Rough and Tumble himself and the horse ran away with him, too.”
Then Ben was involved in a hit-and-run and he saw the other side of his boss. Winter fixed him up with a solicitor and sorted the whole thing out.
Then Ben was involved in a hit-and-run and he saw the other side of his boss. Winter fixed him up with a solicitor and sorted the whole thing out.
Discussing Winter, Ben said “I always got on well with him, really, and I think it was because we were very similar types. Neither of us used to say very much. He would never offer advice unless you asked for it, but it needed guts to go and see him. If you did, he would always try to help, no matter what the problem was.”
Discussing Winter, Ben said “I always got on well with him, really, and I think it was because we were very similar types. Neither of us used to say very much. He would never offer advice unless you asked for it, but it needed guts to go and see him. If you did, he would always try to help, no matter what the problem was.”
Ben’s first ride in public came on Wednesday February 20 1980 aboard Stopped Worcester as the horse completed its Cheltenham preparation. Winter had entered it for the Grand Annual Chase (March 1980). It was Ben’s first ride at the course and to his own amazement, he won!
Ben’s first ride in public came on Wednesday February 20 1980 aboard Stopped Worcester as the horse completed its Cheltenham preparation. Winter had entered it for the Grand Annual Chase (March 1980). It was Ben’s first ride at the course and to his own amazement, he won!
Two years earlier, ridden by John Francome in the 1978 Imperial Cup, Stopped had started favourite but, coming from a long way off the pace, via some traffic problems, had managed only third. There was deep suspicion that Francome had pulled the horse, and he was immediately referred to the Jockey Club who ‘recorded’ his explanation but did not ‘accept’ it. Francome refused to have anymore to do with the horse – thus, Ben de Haan climbed aboard at Cheltenham.
Two years earlier, ridden by John Francome in the 1978 Imperial Cup, Stopped had started favourite but, coming from a long way off the pace, via some traffic problems, had managed only third. There was deep suspicion that Francome had pulled the horse, and he was immediately referred to the Jockey Club who ‘recorded’ his explanation but did not ‘accept’ it. Francome refused to have anymore to do with the horse – thus, Ben de Haan climbed aboard at Cheltenham.
Recalling the race, Ben said “I received no riding instructions from Mr Winter who simply said “You know the horse better than I do.” I remember talking to the horse all the way round Cheltenham, calling him names, mainly. I used to hate the horse; he was generally such a bloody nuisance, but I wasn’t complaining that day.”
Recalling the race, Ben said “I received no riding instructions from Mr Winter who simply said “You know the horse better than I do.” I remember talking to the horse all the way round Cheltenham, calling him names, mainly. I used to hate the horse; he was generally such a bloody nuisance, but I wasn’t complaining that day.”
Two day later, the pair were back at Cheltenham, striking, it was hoped, while the iron was hot. Winter had entered Stopped into the Cathcart Chase. The horse was made red-hot favourite. Cruising along and looking all over the winner, Stopped came down at the uphill fence. Winter was waiting for Ben back at the weighing room. There was no sympathy, just one question. “Why did you fall off?”
Two day later, the pair were back at Cheltenham, striking, it was hoped, while the iron was hot. Winter had entered Stopped into the Cathcart Chase. The horse was made red-hot favourite. Cruising along and looking all over the winner, Stopped came down at the uphill fence. Winter was waiting for Ben back at the weighing room. There was no sympathy, just one question. “Why did you fall off?”
History showed that Ben de Haan never made it as a top class jockey though, in 1983, he briefly became a household name when winning the Grand National on the redoubtable Jenny Pitman’s Corbiere. Remembering what Winter had taught him, Ben followed the inside course which Sundew and Kilmore had successfully taken years before.
History showed that Ben de Haan never made it as a top class jockey though, in 1983, he briefly became a household name when winning the Grand National on the redoubtable Jenny Pitman’s Corbiere. Remembering what Winter had taught him, Ben followed the inside course which Sundew and Kilmore had successfully taken years before.
Jenny Pitman immediately offered Ben a retainer to join her Weathercock House Stables at Upper Lambourn as first jockey, but Ben, not really wanting to leave, remained loyal to Winter.
Jenny Pitman immediately offered Ben a retainer to join her Weathercock House Stables at Upper Lambourn as first jockey, but Ben, not really wanting to leave, remained loyal to Winter.
After retiring as a jockey, Ben became a trainer, operating from his Fairview Racing Stables at Lambourn.
After retiring as a jockey, Ben became a trainer, operating from his Fairview Racing Stables at Lambourn.
On Tuesday, 26th June, 2012, whilst exercising Generalyse, a cat jumped out and spooked the colt. Startled, the horse, whipping round, caught Ben on the side of his head, breaking the trainer’s neck. He was thrown and then kicked in the head. He was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon where he underwent an operation the next day. He was able to return home on the Saturday wearing a metal brace and surgical collar known as a ‘halo’ having suffered broken vertebrae in a condition known as a Jefferson fracture. His two lads, Dan and Oliver, took over the running of the yard.
On Tuesday, 26th June, 2012, whilst exercising Generalyse, a cat jumped out and spooked the colt. Startled, the horse, whipping round, caught Ben on the side of his head, breaking the trainer’s neck. He was thrown and then kicked in the head. He was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon where he underwent an operation the next day. He was able to return home on the Saturday wearing a metal brace and surgical collar known as a ‘halo’ having suffered broken vertebrae in a condition known as a Jefferson fracture. His two lads, Dan and Oliver, took over the running of the yard.
Grand National winner: Corbiere (1983)
Grand National winner: Corbiere (1983)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1980: Grand Annual Chase – Stopped
1980: Grand Annual Chase – Stopped
1980: Tingle Creek Handicap Chase – Stopped
1980: Tingle Creek Handicap Chase – Stopped
1982: Welsh Grand National – Corbiere
1982: Welsh Grand National – Corbiere
1987: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Gainsay
1987: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Gainsay
1990: Sun Alliance Chase – Garrison Savannah
1990: Sun Alliance Chase – Garrison Savannah