Carl Duckett
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Flat apprentice Carl Duckett served his apprenticeship with Tom Corrie, who trained at Leighton Hall, near Shrewsbury. He rode his first winner on Corrie’s Rusty Hope in a nine-furlong apprentices’ selling handicap at Wolverhampton on August 6, 1968, overcoming a slow start to take the lead three furlongs out and hold on by a head. He won again on Rusty Hope in a similar contest, this time over six furlongs, at Windsor in October.
Flat apprentice Carl Duckett served his apprenticeship with Tom Corrie, who trained at Leighton Hall, near Shrewsbury. He rode his first winner on Corrie’s Rusty Hope in a nine-furlong apprentices’ selling handicap at Wolverhampton on August 6, 1968, overcoming a slow start to take the lead three furlongs out and hold on by a head. He won again on Rusty Hope in a similar contest, this time over six furlongs, at Windsor in October.
Rusty Hope also became Carl’s third winner when landing a one-mile Ripon seller in April 1969. His only other victory that year was on Ceilidh at Haydock in July, scraping home by a short head from Frank Durr’s mount, 13/8 favourite The Running Horse. Carl weighed just six stone so was able to ride with ease at 6st 13lb that day.
Rusty Hope also became Carl’s third winner when landing a one-mile Ripon seller in April 1969. His only other victory that year was on Ceilidh at Haydock in July, scraping home by a short head from Frank Durr’s mount, 13/8 favourite The Running Horse. Carl weighed just six stone so was able to ride with ease at 6st 13lb that day.
Rusty Hope was Carl’s sole success in 1970 when winning a Kempton apprentices’ race in September. However, he notched three winners in as many weeks at the start of the 1971 campaign, courtesy of Corrie’s three-year-olds Broomstick and Brass Farthing and his old friend Rusty Hope. Despite that good start, he was only able to add one more to his score that year, the Corrie-trained juvenile Into Orbit at Pontefract in June.
Rusty Hope was Carl’s sole success in 1970 when winning a Kempton apprentices’ race in September. However, he notched three winners in as many weeks at the start of the 1971 campaign, courtesy of Corrie’s three-year-olds Broomstick and Brass Farthing and his old friend Rusty Hope. Despite that good start, he was only able to add one more to his score that year, the Corrie-trained juvenile Into Orbit at Pontefract in June.
Broomstick got Carl off the mark for 1972, winning a Wolverhampton apprentices’ race in April, while the nine-year-old Rusty Hope won for him again, this time up at Hamilton in May.
Broomstick got Carl off the mark for 1972, winning a Wolverhampton apprentices’ race in April, while the nine-year-old Rusty Hope won for him again, this time up at Hamilton in May.
That was to prove Carl’s final winner, although his apprentice status lasted until 1985, by which time his weight had risen to 8st 6lb. It was, perhaps, appropriate that the horse that had given him his first success – and six of the eleven winners he rode during his career – should also provide him with his last.
That was to prove Carl’s final winner, although his apprentice status lasted until 1985, by which time his weight had risen to 8st 6lb. It was, perhaps, appropriate that the horse that had given him his first success – and six of the eleven winners he rode during his career – should also provide him with his last.
Carl Duckett’s winners were, in chronological order:
Carl Duckett’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Rusty Hope, Wolverhampton, August 6, 1968
1. Rusty Hope, Wolverhampton, August 6, 1968
2. Rusty Hope, Windsor, October 5, 1968
2. Rusty Hope, Windsor, October 5, 1968
3. Rusty Hope, Ripon, April 23, 1969
3. Rusty Hope, Ripon, April 23, 1969
4. Ceilidh, Haydock, July 4, 1969
4. Ceilidh, Haydock, July 4, 1969
5. Rusty Hope, Kempton Park, September 18, 1970
5. Rusty Hope, Kempton Park, September 18, 1970
6. Broomstick, Wolverhampton, March 30, 1971
6. Broomstick, Wolverhampton, March 30, 1971
7. Brass Farthing, Warwick, April 12, 1971
7. Brass Farthing, Warwick, April 12, 1971
8. Rusty Hope, Ripon, April 21, 1971
8. Rusty Hope, Ripon, April 21, 1971
9. Into Orbit, Pontefract, June 29, 1971
9. Into Orbit, Pontefract, June 29, 1971
10. Broomstick, Wolverhampton, April 5, 1972
10. Broomstick, Wolverhampton, April 5, 1972
11. Rusty Hope, Hamilton Park, May 20, 1972
11. Rusty Hope, Hamilton Park, May 20, 1972