James Docherty
James Docherty was apprenticed to Ron Smyth at Epsom and made a perfect start to his riding career. He won on his first ride in public, the Smyth-trained 4-1 favourite Harrowful in the Apprentices’ Handicap over the straight mile at Lincoln on March 24, 1952.
James Docherty was apprenticed to Ron Smyth at Epsom and made a perfect start to his riding career. He won on his first ride in public, the Smyth-trained 4-1 favourite Harrowful in the Apprentices’ Handicap over the straight mile at Lincoln on March 24, 1952.
He was thus leading jockey for half an hour as that race was the first of the new Flat season. His lead didn’t last long. Doug Smith equalled it when winning the next race, then Gordon Richards won the next two to take the lead, which he duly retained to the end of the season, riding a total of 231 winners, way ahead of Doug Smith in second place on 99, which gives some indication of Gordon’s dominance in the jockey standings.
He was thus leading jockey for half an hour as that race was the first of the new Flat season. His lead didn’t last long. Doug Smith equalled it when winning the next race, then Gordon Richards won the next two to take the lead, which he duly retained to the end of the season, riding a total of 231 winners, way ahead of Doug Smith in second place on 99, which gives some indication of Gordon’s dominance in the jockey standings.
James Docherty rode 230 winners less than Richards that year. His opening race victory on Harrowful was his sole success from just seven rides during the season.
James Docherty rode 230 winners less than Richards that year. His opening race victory on Harrowful was his sole success from just seven rides during the season.
Indeed, he only rode one more winner, 100-6 chance Fair Clippie, again trained by Ron Smyth, in the Lion Gate Handicap at Hurst Park on March 28, 1953, one of a dozen mounts he had during the season. The jockey who finished second that day, beaten a length, was none other than Gordon Richards, riding the 6-1 third favourite Barnacle.
Indeed, he only rode one more winner, 100-6 chance Fair Clippie, again trained by Ron Smyth, in the Lion Gate Handicap at Hurst Park on March 28, 1953, one of a dozen mounts he had during the season. The jockey who finished second that day, beaten a length, was none other than Gordon Richards, riding the 6-1 third favourite Barnacle.
Gordon, who was knighted that year, finished the season as champion jockey for the 26th and final time, with a winning tally of 191. As for James Docherty, he soon faded from the scene, but he could forever treasure the memory of those two occasions, when he was leading jockey for half an hour and when he beat Gordon Richards by a length at Hurst Park.
Gordon, who was knighted that year, finished the season as champion jockey for the 26th and final time, with a winning tally of 191. As for James Docherty, he soon faded from the scene, but he could forever treasure the memory of those two occasions, when he was leading jockey for half an hour and when he beat Gordon Richards by a length at Hurst Park.