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Born on February 2, 1929, Dennis Brian Dillon served his apprenticeship with Vic Smyth at Mospey, Smyth’s stables at Burgh Heath Road, Epsom. He rode his first winner on Merry Mood, owned and trained by Smyth, in the Berkshire Handicap (Division 2) at Windsor on November 4, 1944, beating top jockey Eph Smith by a neck. This was the last fixture of the war-time Flat race season.
Born on February 2, 1929, Dennis Brian Dillon served his apprenticeship with Vic Smyth at Mospey, Smyth’s stables at Burgh Heath Road, Epsom. He rode his first winner on Merry Mood, owned and trained by Smyth, in the Berkshire Handicap (Division 2) at Windsor on November 4, 1944, beating top jockey Eph Smith by a neck. This was the last fixture of the war-time Flat race season.
Merry Mood, a five-year-old grey gelding by Mahmoud, started at 25-1.
Merry Mood, a five-year-old grey gelding by Mahmoud, started at 25-1.
Unknown to Dennis at the time, he had ridden his first winner with a broken collarbone, having fallen off his bike on his way to work on the morning of the race.
Unknown to Dennis at the time, he had ridden his first winner with a broken collarbone, having fallen off his bike on his way to work on the morning of the race.
Having completed his National Service with the R.A.F., Dennis began riding over jumps. Based in Epsom, he became a specialist hurdle race jockey, seldom if ever riding over fences. He recorded his first important success on Tough Guy for Wroughton trainer Ivor Anthony in the Gloucestershire Hurdle (Division 2) at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting on March 8, 1949. He won Division 1 of the Gloucestershire Hurdle in 1951 on Red Stranger for Epsom trainer Ron Smyth, brother of Vic.
Having completed his National Service with the R.A.F., Dennis began riding over jumps. Based in Epsom, he became a specialist hurdle race jockey, seldom if ever riding over fences. He recorded his first important success on Tough Guy for Wroughton trainer Ivor Anthony in the Gloucestershire Hurdle (Division 2) at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting on March 8, 1949. He won Division 1 of the Gloucestershire Hurdle in 1951 on Red Stranger for Epsom trainer Ron Smyth, brother of Vic.
Although the Triumph Hurdle, a race he was destined to win in 1957, would prove the biggest success of his career in the saddle, the most famous horse he rode was the dual Champion Hurdle winner National Spirit.
Although the Triumph Hurdle, a race he was destined to win in 1957, would prove the biggest success of his career in the saddle, the most famous horse he rode was the dual Champion Hurdle winner National Spirit.
Perhaps it was the horse’s name that made him such a favourite in the austere immediate post-war years. Whatever the reason, there was no more popular horse in training around that time.
Perhaps it was the horse’s name that made him such a favourite in the austere immediate post-war years. Whatever the reason, there was no more popular horse in training around that time.
National Spirit had already won back-to-back Champion Hurdles (1947/1948) by the time Dennis first rode him in a race but he then became his regular pilot for the next four seasons. In all, Dennis rode National Spirit 18 times, winning on seven occasions.
National Spirit had already won back-to-back Champion Hurdles (1947/1948) by the time Dennis first rode him in a race but he then became his regular pilot for the next four seasons. In all, Dennis rode National Spirit 18 times, winning on seven occasions.
His first four rides on National Spirit were all winning ones, beginning with the Rank Challenge Cup Hurdle at Fontwell Park on November 2, 1949. They then won the Princess Elizabeth Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster, the Trespasser Hurdle at Lingfield Park, and the Oteley Hurdle at Sandown, before finishing fourth behind Hatton’s Grace in the 1950 Champion Hurdle.
His first four rides on National Spirit were all winning ones, beginning with the Rank Challenge Cup Hurdle at Fontwell Park on November 2, 1949. They then won the Princess Elizabeth Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster, the Trespasser Hurdle at Lingfield Park, and the Oteley Hurdle at Sandown, before finishing fourth behind Hatton’s Grace in the 1950 Champion Hurdle.
The following season Dennis rode National Spirit in all three of his starts, winning Fontwell’s Rank Challenge Cup for a second time and the Milburn Hurdle at Sandown. They then took on Hatton’s Grace again in a mighty 1951 Champion Hurdle and held a slight lead over the reigning champion at the last flight when stumbling and falling on landing. Dennis was adamant that he would have won had National Spirit stood up.
The following season Dennis rode National Spirit in all three of his starts, winning Fontwell’s Rank Challenge Cup for a second time and the Milburn Hurdle at Sandown. They then took on Hatton’s Grace again in a mighty 1951 Champion Hurdle and held a slight lead over the reigning champion at the last flight when stumbling and falling on landing. Dennis was adamant that he would have won had National Spirit stood up.
Once again, Dennis and National Spirit began their 1951/52 campaign in Fontwell’s Rank Challenge Cup but could only finish third. They then won the Bullcroft Hurdle at Doncaster easily by 15 lengths, before finishing third in Sandown’s Oteley Hurdle and second at Windsor and Doncaster.
Once again, Dennis and National Spirit began their 1951/52 campaign in Fontwell’s Rank Challenge Cup but could only finish third. They then won the Bullcroft Hurdle at Doncaster easily by 15 lengths, before finishing third in Sandown’s Oteley Hurdle and second at Windsor and Doncaster.
National Spirit was eleven coming on twelve for the 1952/53 season and his fire of earlier years was on the wane. He campaigned in a mix of handicaps and condition hurdles, with a 7lb claimer being used to reduce his weight in handicaps. Dennis rode him four times that season, managing second and third places at Fontwell and Windsor. He rode National Spirit in what was to be his final race, when finishing third in the Spring Grove Hurdle at Wye on March 9, 1953.
National Spirit was eleven coming on twelve for the 1952/53 season and his fire of earlier years was on the wane. He campaigned in a mix of handicaps and condition hurdles, with a 7lb claimer being used to reduce his weight in handicaps. Dennis rode him four times that season, managing second and third places at Fontwell and Windsor. He rode National Spirit in what was to be his final race, when finishing third in the Spring Grove Hurdle at Wye on March 9, 1953.
During his lengthy career National Spirit not only won 19 hurdle races but also scored 13 times on the Flat.
During his lengthy career National Spirit not only won 19 hurdle races but also scored 13 times on the Flat.
On October 6, 1953, Dennis married Veronica Mallard. They went on to have four daughters, Denise, Sarah, Kerry and Kate.
On October 6, 1953, Dennis married Veronica Mallard. They went on to have four daughters, Denise, Sarah, Kerry and Kate.
In 1957, Dennis won the Triumph Hurdle, which was then run on a Saturday at Hurst Park, aboard the blinkered 20-1 shot Meritorious. Dennis took Meritorious out for a pipe-opener on the morning of the race and, because the ground was steadily drying out, the horse “strode out in champion style”, as Dennis remarked later. In the race, Meritorious was never out of the first four, going away to win by an easy three lengths. It was compensation in a way for Dennis, who had won the same race a year earlier on Square Sance, only to be disqualified for bumping and boring.
In 1957, Dennis won the Triumph Hurdle, which was then run on a Saturday at Hurst Park, aboard the blinkered 20-1 shot Meritorious. Dennis took Meritorious out for a pipe-opener on the morning of the race and, because the ground was steadily drying out, the horse “strode out in champion style”, as Dennis remarked later. In the race, Meritorious was never out of the first four, going away to win by an easy three lengths. It was compensation in a way for Dennis, who had won the same race a year earlier on Square Sance, only to be disqualified for bumping and boring.
The 25 winners he rode in that 1956/57 season was to be his best-ever total. He rode his last winner on 20-1 shot Jenny’s Dot, trained by Harry Thomson Jones, in the Duncote Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Towcester on Easter Monday, April 11, 1966.
The 25 winners he rode in that 1956/57 season was to be his best-ever total. He rode his last winner on 20-1 shot Jenny’s Dot, trained by Harry Thomson Jones, in the Duncote Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Towcester on Easter Monday, April 11, 1966.
Despite his association with National Spirit and his Triumph Hurdle victory on Meritorious, Dennis nominated Approval, on which he won three handicap hurdles with big weights and finished third behind Sir Ken and Noholme in the 1952 Champion Hurdle, as the best horse that he’d ridden.
Despite his association with National Spirit and his Triumph Hurdle victory on Meritorious, Dennis nominated Approval, on which he won three handicap hurdles with big weights and finished third behind Sir Ken and Noholme in the 1952 Champion Hurdle, as the best horse that he’d ridden.
His elder brother, Michael Patrick (Mick) Dillon (born June 15, 1926, died July23, 2006) was also a jump jockey. Following their respective retirements from the saddle, they both became stuntmen. Dennis was a stuntman in the James Bond film ‘You Only Live Twice’.
His elder brother, Michael Patrick (Mick) Dillon (born June 15, 1926, died July23, 2006) was also a jump jockey. Following their respective retirements from the saddle, they both became stuntmen. Dennis was a stuntman in the James Bond film ‘You Only Live Twice’.
Dennis Dillon died from cancer in August 1991, aged 62.
Dennis Dillon died from cancer in August 1991, aged 62.
Biggest wins:
Biggest wins:
1949: Gloucestershire Hurdle – Tough Guy
1949: Gloucestershire Hurdle – Tough Guy
1949: Princess Elizabeth Hurdle – National Spirit
1949: Princess Elizabeth Hurdle – National Spirit
1951: Gloucestershire Hurdle – Red Stranger
1951: Gloucestershire Hurdle – Red Stranger
1957: Triumph Hurdle – Meritorious
1957: Triumph Hurdle – Meritorious
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