Gerald Dartnall

Article by Chris Pitt

National Hunt jockey Gerald Adair Dartnall was born on April 8, 1946 and began his racing career in point-to-points and as an amateur under rules. He rode his first winner on selling hurdler Western Man, trained by Swindon permit holder Godfrey Burr, at Worcester on October 28, 1964.

He turned professional in 1968 but rode only one winner that year, Royal Whisper over fences at Uttoxeter on Whit Monday. It was almost twelve months before he rode another but it was worth the wait because he won a pair of late season novice chases on a horse named On The Move. Trained by Desmond Dartnall at Condicote, near Stow-on-the-Wold, On The Move turned out to be the best horse he rode during his career.

The following season, 1969/70, was Gerald’s best with seven winners, two of those being On The Move in handicap chases at Windsor and Newbury. He also rode On The Move in the 1970 Grand National but failed to get beyond the third fence.

He made a bright start to the 1970/71 season with four early winners, including what he subsequently rated the highlight of his career, a double at Newton Abbot on October 13 on Lord Myth and Prince Babu, both trained by the eccentric John ‘Mad’ Manners. However, there were no more winners that season and none the next.

After more than two years without a winner, Gerald finally got back in the groove when Clever One landed a Newton Abbot novices’ hurdle in February 1973. Royal Whisper won a Lingfield selling chase the following month and there was an Easter Monday victory on Tom Cobra at Fakenham.

Novice hurdler Big Top was Gerald’s sole success of 1973/74 and there were just two more the following term, the last being on another ‘Big’ novice hurdler, Big Henry, at Chepstow on December 21, 1974.

Gerald Dartnall rode a total of 21 winners. These were, in chronological order:

1. Western Man, Worcester, October 28, 1964

2. Royal Whisper, Uttoxeter, June 3, 1968

3. On The Move, Wolverhampton, May 22, 1969

4. On The Move, Uttoxeter, June 12, 1969

5. Weather Smile, Plumpton, September 1, 1969

6. Fighting Legend, Stratford-on-Avon, September 8, 1969

7. Livermead Lad, Worcester, September 15, 1969

8. On The Move Windsor, November 15, 1969

9. On The Move, Newbury, November 28, 1969

10. Kingdom, Sandown Park, March 13, 1970

11. Daddy’s Boy, Southwell, May 23, 1970

12. Lord Myth, Fontwell Park, September 29, 1970

13. Royal Whisper Chepstow, October 3, 1970

14. Lord Myth, Newton Abbot, October 13, 1970

15. Prince Babu, Newton Abbot, October 13, 1970

16. Clever One, Newton Abbot, February 20, 1973

17. Royal Whisper, Lingfield Park, March 16, 1973

18. Tom Cobra, Fakenham, April 23, 1973

19. Big Top, Hereford, October 9, 1973

20. La Chica, Newton Abbot, August 5, 1974

21. Big Henry, Chepstow, December 21, 1974