Clive Davies
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Born on June 15, 1945, Clive Graham Davies held a National Hunt jockey’s licence from 1963 to 1973 and rode a total of 21 winners in that time.
Born on June 15, 1945, Clive Graham Davies held a National Hunt jockey’s licence from 1963 to 1973 and rode a total of 21 winners in that time.
It has been said that his father christened him Clive Graham after the racing correspondent of that name had supplied a winning nap in the Daily Express on the day Clive was born. That tale may be apocryphal but it was certainly mentioned on air whenever Clive had a ride in a race televised by the BBC.
It has been said that his father christened him Clive Graham after the racing correspondent of that name had supplied a winning nap in the Daily Express on the day Clive was born. That tale may be apocryphal but it was certainly mentioned on air whenever Clive had a ride in a race televised by the BBC.
Clive left school at 15 and joined Richard Price’s stable at Clyro, Herefordshire. He rode his first winner on Price’s staying hurdler Ocean Cheer at Wincanton on April 29, 1965, his only success that season. He had to wait almost a whole year for his second, on selling hurdler Tadoro for Bartestree, Hereford, permit holder John Jones at Bangor on April 16, 1966. But then a brace of late season wins on Price’s handicap hurdler Pagan Prayer doubled Clive’s career score to four.
Clive left school at 15 and joined Richard Price’s stable at Clyro, Herefordshire. He rode his first winner on Price’s staying hurdler Ocean Cheer at Wincanton on April 29, 1965, his only success that season. He had to wait almost a whole year for his second, on selling hurdler Tadoro for Bartestree, Hereford, permit holder John Jones at Bangor on April 16, 1966. But then a brace of late season wins on Price’s handicap hurdler Pagan Prayer doubled Clive’s career score to four.
On Easter Monday 1966, Clive had the slightly unusual experience of riding a horse over hurdles that had been foaled in Bulgaria. Zmei III, a six-year-old gelding by Cihangir out of Etika, owned and trained by Richard Price, finished eighth of 20 in a Hereford novices’ hurdle and while not disgraced on that occasion, he failed to trouble the judge in any of his six starts that season.
On Easter Monday 1966, Clive had the slightly unusual experience of riding a horse over hurdles that had been foaled in Bulgaria. Zmei III, a six-year-old gelding by Cihangir out of Etika, owned and trained by Richard Price, finished eighth of 20 in a Hereford novices’ hurdle and while not disgraced on that occasion, he failed to trouble the judge in any of his six starts that season.
Clive rode three more winners in the 1966/67 campaign, all for various members of the Price family; Richard Price saddled Red Rascal to win the Silver Drum Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow; Leominster owner-trainer Tom Price sent out Red Dove to score at Hereford; and Talgarth, Breconshire permit holder Gordon Price produced Villo Boy to win at Uttoxeter.
Clive rode three more winners in the 1966/67 campaign, all for various members of the Price family; Richard Price saddled Red Rascal to win the Silver Drum Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow; Leominster owner-trainer Tom Price sent out Red Dove to score at Hereford; and Talgarth, Breconshire permit holder Gordon Price produced Villo Boy to win at Uttoxeter.
Red Dove, who Clive rated as the best he rode, got him off to a good start for the 1967/68 campaign, winning at Ludlow (right) in September. She was also Clive’s next winner when scoring at Hereford on Easter Monday 1968, and the one after that when landing the Elkes Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter, a victory which was not only the 12-year-old mare’s final race but also resulted in Clive’s claim being cut from 7lb to 5lb. Ludlow trainer Jack Peacock supplied Clive with a winner in Pennis Pearl at Southwell over Whitsun, giving him a total of four for the season.
Red Dove, who Clive rated as the best he rode, got him off to a good start for the 1967/68 campaign, winning at Ludlow (right) in September. She was also Clive’s next winner when scoring at Hereford on Easter Monday 1968, and the one after that when landing the Elkes Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter, a victory which was not only the 12-year-old mare’s final race but also resulted in Clive’s claim being cut from 7lb to 5lb. Ludlow trainer Jack Peacock supplied Clive with a winner in Pennis Pearl at Southwell over Whitsun, giving him a total of four for the season.
Eleven months elapsed before Richard Price’s Sentinel won the Charles Vickery Memorial Challenge Cup Hurdle down at Newton Abbot to give Clive his first winner of 1968/69. This was followed by a Uttoxeter victory aboard Artic Boy on the last day of the season.
Eleven months elapsed before Richard Price’s Sentinel won the Charles Vickery Memorial Challenge Cup Hurdle down at Newton Abbot to give Clive his first winner of 1968/69. This was followed by a Uttoxeter victory aboard Artic Boy on the last day of the season.
Gordon Price’s Villo Boy provided Clive with both his wins for 1969/70, beginning with the £1,000 Nuneaton Hurdle, a race that had previously been run at Birmingham prior to that course’s closure in 1965. The second win on Villo Boy, at Taunton on May 27, 1970, was Clive’s 15th in all, which meant that his claim was further reduced from 5lb to 3lb.
Gordon Price’s Villo Boy provided Clive with both his wins for 1969/70, beginning with the £1,000 Nuneaton Hurdle, a race that had previously been run at Birmingham prior to that course’s closure in 1965. The second win on Villo Boy, at Taunton on May 27, 1970, was Clive’s 15th in all, which meant that his claim was further reduced from 5lb to 3lb.
The following season, 1970/71, saw Clive ensconced as part of Fred Rimell’s Kinnersley training establishment. Rimell supplied Clive with all three of his winners that term, remarkably all within the space of nine days. Cling Close won over hurdles at Cheltenham and over fences at Chepstow six days apart, and then Clive had the straightforward task of taking Moonduster down beyond the last fence at Newbury, cantering back past the winning post to complete a walkover for the Hermitage Chase.
The following season, 1970/71, saw Clive ensconced as part of Fred Rimell’s Kinnersley training establishment. Rimell supplied Clive with all three of his winners that term, remarkably all within the space of nine days. Cling Close won over hurdles at Cheltenham and over fences at Chepstow six days apart, and then Clive had the straightforward task of taking Moonduster down beyond the last fence at Newbury, cantering back past the winning post to complete a walkover for the Hermitage Chase.
The next season brought yet another change, riding for Bromyard trainer Stan Wright, who put Clive up on two Newton Abbot winners, juvenile hurdler Sandwilan and three-mile chaser Spot On II.
The next season brought yet another change, riding for Bromyard trainer Stan Wright, who put Clive up on two Newton Abbot winners, juvenile hurdler Sandwilan and three-mile chaser Spot On II.
There was to be just one more winner for Clive, on Wright’s two-mile chaser Old Lag in an opportunity handicap chase at Ludlow on September 13, 1972. He relinquished his licence at the end of that season.
There was to be just one more winner for Clive, on Wright’s two-mile chaser Old Lag in an opportunity handicap chase at Ludlow on September 13, 1972. He relinquished his licence at the end of that season.
He remained involved with racing afterwards and was later associated with Flakey Dove’s trainer, Richard Price.
He remained involved with racing afterwards and was later associated with Flakey Dove’s trainer, Richard Price.
Clive Graham Davies’ winners were, in chronological order:
Clive Graham Davies’ winners were, in chronological order:
1. Ocean Cheer, Wincanton, April 29, 1965
1. Ocean Cheer, Wincanton, April 29, 1965
2. Tadoro, Bangor-on-Dee, April 16, 1966
2. Tadoro, Bangor-on-Dee, April 16, 1966
3. Pagan Prayer, Uttoxeter, May 20, 1966
3. Pagan Prayer, Uttoxeter, May 20, 1966
4. Pagan Prayer, Uttoxeter, June 11, 1966
4. Pagan Prayer, Uttoxeter, June 11, 1966
5. Red Rascal, Chepstow, December 3, 1966
5. Red Rascal, Chepstow, December 3, 1966
6. Red Dove, Hereford, May 11, 1967
6. Red Dove, Hereford, May 11, 1967
7. Villo Boy, Uttoxeter, May 30, 1967
7. Villo Boy, Uttoxeter, May 30, 1967
8. Red Dove, Ludlow, September 20, 1967
8. Red Dove, Ludlow, September 20, 1967
9. Red Dove, Hereford, April 15, 1968
9. Red Dove, Hereford, April 15, 1968
10. Red Dove, Uttoxeter, May 4, 1968
10. Red Dove, Uttoxeter, May 4, 1968
11. Pennis Pearl, Southwell, June 7, 1968
11. Pennis Pearl, Southwell, June 7, 1968
12. Sentinel, Newton Abbot, May 7, 1969
12. Sentinel, Newton Abbot, May 7, 1969
13. Artic Boy, Uttoxeter, June 12, 1969
13. Artic Boy, Uttoxeter, June 12, 1969
14. Villo Boy, Wolverhampton, November 10, 1969
14. Villo Boy, Wolverhampton, November 10, 1969
15. Villo Boy, Taunton, May 27, 1970
15. Villo Boy, Taunton, May 27, 1970
16. Cling Close, Cheltenham, October 14, 1970
16. Cling Close, Cheltenham, October 14, 1970
17. Cling Close, Chepstow, October 20, 1970
17. Cling Close, Chepstow, October 20, 1970
18. Moonduster, Newbury, October 23, 1970 (walkover)
18. Moonduster, Newbury, October 23, 1970 (walkover)
19. Sandwilan, Newton Abbot, September 11, 1971
19. Sandwilan, Newton Abbot, September 11, 1971
20. Spot On II, Newton Abbot, December 7, 1971
20. Spot On II, Newton Abbot, December 7, 1971
21. Old Lag, Ludlow, September 13, 1972
21. Old Lag, Ludlow, September 13, 1972