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Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Midlands-based jump jockey Ken Dodds was born in Nottingham on 27 August 1931 and served his apprenticeship with J. F. Hilliard. He’d reached the age of 25 before riding his first winner, Game Gambler at Warwick in February 1958 for Stourbridge trainer Luther Bridge. Two more winners, both trained by Bridge, followed within a fortnight but he then had to wait over a year for his next, Penny Feather at Leicester in April 1959 for Burton-on-Trent owner-trainer Neville Hall.
Midlands-based jump jockey Ken Dodds was born in Nottingham on 27 August 1931 and served his apprenticeship with J. F. Hilliard. He’d reached the age of 25 before riding his first winner, Game Gambler at Warwick in February 1958 for Stourbridge trainer Luther Bridge. Two more winners, both trained by Bridge, followed within a fortnight but he then had to wait over a year for his next, Penny Feather at Leicester in April 1959 for Burton-on-Trent owner-trainer Neville Hall.
The 1959/60 season looked to be heading much the same way. By the end of February he still hadn’t ridden a winner, but then, just like buses, two came at once, landing a double at Worcester on 7 March. Five more winners followed by the end of the season, including one on the Stan Wright-trained 1958 Champion Hurdle winner Bandalore. Ken rode Bandalore to an eight lengths victory in the Painswick Hurdle at Cheltenham in April 1960 and rated him the best he rode during his career.
The 1959/60 season looked to be heading much the same way. By the end of February he still hadn’t ridden a winner, but then, just like buses, two came at once, landing a double at Worcester on 7 March. Five more winners followed by the end of the season, including one on the Stan Wright-trained 1958 Champion Hurdle winner Bandalore. Ken rode Bandalore to an eight lengths victory in the Painswick Hurdle at Cheltenham in April 1960 and rated him the best he rode during his career.
In June 1960 Ken married Sheila Evans and they moved into a house at 239 Broad Street, Bromsgrove. They had a son, named Mark Steven. Ken enjoyed playing lots of sports including swimming, table tennis, snooker, golf and fishing, and was a keen dancer too.
In June 1960 Ken married Sheila Evans and they moved into a house at 239 Broad Street, Bromsgrove. They had a son, named Mark Steven. Ken enjoyed playing lots of sports including swimming, table tennis, snooker, golf and fishing, and was a keen dancer too.
The 1960/61 campaign was numerically Ken’s best with nine successes to his name. It started brightly with two winners in the opening month of August for Cheshire trainer Colin Laidler and ended in April with two for Shropshire handler Jack Peacock. The first of those Peacock-trained winners, Kaingaroa in the opening race at Hereford on Easter Monday 1961, prefaced what might have been a great day for Ken, who had six rides and came close to landing a hat-trick in the first three races. But after winning on Kaingaroa, his second ride was beaten a neck and his third was beaten a head.
The 1960/61 campaign was numerically Ken’s best with nine successes to his name. It started brightly with two winners in the opening month of August for Cheshire trainer Colin Laidler and ended in April with two for Shropshire handler Jack Peacock. The first of those Peacock-trained winners, Kaingaroa in the opening race at Hereford on Easter Monday 1961, prefaced what might have been a great day for Ken, who had six rides and came close to landing a hat-trick in the first three races. But after winning on Kaingaroa, his second ride was beaten a neck and his third was beaten a head.
Ken’s five winners in the 1961/62 season culminated in him riding out his claim when achieving his 25th success aboard King’s Star on 10 March 1962. But no sooner had he lost his claim than the rides began to dry up. The following season he was given a retainer to ride for Kenilworth trainer Tom Bates but no winners emerged.
Ken’s five winners in the 1961/62 season culminated in him riding out his claim when achieving his 25th success aboard King’s Star on 10 March 1962. But no sooner had he lost his claim than the rides began to dry up. The following season he was given a retainer to ride for Kenilworth trainer Tom Bates but no winners emerged.
The 1963/64 season was almost at an end when Ken rode The Fossa to victory in a Whit Monday Uttoxeter novices’ chase for Alrewas trainer Don Charlesworth, his first winner for more than two years. I was there that day – my first visit to Uttoxeter, when Stephen Davenport rode four winners to effectively clinch the amateur riders’ title – and I can still remember someone going up to Dodds, patting him on the back with the words “The Fossa, eh Ken. Well done mate.”
The 1963/64 season was almost at an end when Ken rode The Fossa to victory in a Whit Monday Uttoxeter novices’ chase for Alrewas trainer Don Charlesworth, his first winner for more than two years. I was there that day – my first visit to Uttoxeter, when Stephen Davenport rode four winners to effectively clinch the amateur riders’ title – and I can still remember someone going up to Dodds, patting him on the back with the words “The Fossa, eh Ken. Well done mate.”
The Fossa duly joined Kinnersley trainer Fred Rimell and had a long career, running in five successive Grand Nationals between 1966 and 1970, finishing fourth once and fifth once. But in stark contrast to The Fossa’s career, Ken Dodds’ went into freefall.
The Fossa duly joined Kinnersley trainer Fred Rimell and had a long career, running in five successive Grand Nationals between 1966 and 1970, finishing fourth once and fifth once. But in stark contrast to The Fossa’s career, Ken Dodds’ went into freefall.
Seven days after The Fossa’s Uttoxeter victory, Charlesworth provided Ken with what was to be his final success, on a horse called Arizona at Southwell on 25 May 1964. He carried on for two more seasons but had very few rides and no more winners.
Seven days after The Fossa’s Uttoxeter victory, Charlesworth provided Ken with what was to be his final success, on a horse called Arizona at Southwell on 25 May 1964. He carried on for two more seasons but had very few rides and no more winners.
He rated Cheltenham as his favourite racecourse and his victory there on Bandalore was certainly a career highlight. He also got “a great kick” out of riding at Liverpool, his sole experience of the Grand National fences having come on Waitoma in the 1962 Molyneux Chase. They were brought down at the eighth fence.
He rated Cheltenham as his favourite racecourse and his victory there on Bandalore was certainly a career highlight. He also got “a great kick” out of riding at Liverpool, his sole experience of the Grand National fences having come on Waitoma in the 1962 Molyneux Chase. They were brought down at the eighth fence.
Ken Dodds died at Redditch on 15 March 2003, aged 71. He rode a total of 27 winners during his career, these being in chronological order:
Ken Dodds died at Redditch on 15 March 2003, aged 71. He rode a total of 27 winners during his career, these being in chronological order:
1. Game Gambler, Warwick, 22 February 1958
1. Game Gambler, Warwick, 22 February 1958
2. Hybeam, Ludlow, 6 March 1958
2. Hybeam, Ludlow, 6 March 1958
3. King’s Cottage, Haydock, 7 March 1958
3. King’s Cottage, Haydock, 7 March 1958
4. Penny Feather, Leicester, 6 April 1959
4. Penny Feather, Leicester, 6 April 1959
5. Tonnerre De Brest, Worcester, 7 March 1960
5. Tonnerre De Brest, Worcester, 7 March 1960
6. Cement City, Worcester, 7 March 1960
6. Cement City, Worcester, 7 March 1960
7. Chemos, Stratford, 17 March 1960
7. Chemos, Stratford, 17 March 1960
8. Bandalore, Cheltenham, 13 April 1960
8. Bandalore, Cheltenham, 13 April 1960
9. Chemos, Towcester, 18 April 1960
9. Chemos, Towcester, 18 April 1960
10. Scarlet Raider, Ludlow, 27 April 1960
10. Scarlet Raider, Ludlow, 27 April 1960
11. Gypsy Warning, Uttoxeter, 7 June 1960
11. Gypsy Warning, Uttoxeter, 7 June 1960
12. Eyelet Bay, Buckfastleigh, 6 August 1960
12. Eyelet Bay, Buckfastleigh, 6 August 1960
13. Stenquill, Devon & Exeter, 18 August 1960
13. Stenquill, Devon & Exeter, 18 August 1960
14. King’s Star, Ludlow, 27 October 1960
14. King’s Star, Ludlow, 27 October 1960
15. King’s Star, Wolverhampton, 21 November 1960
15. King’s Star, Wolverhampton, 21 November 1960
16. Penny Feather, Market Rasen, 26 December 1960
16. Penny Feather, Market Rasen, 26 December 1960
17. Hard Bargain, Liverpool, 4 January 1961
17. Hard Bargain, Liverpool, 4 January 1961
18. Big Chief, Wolverhampton, 23 January 1961
18. Big Chief, Wolverhampton, 23 January 1961
19. Kaingaroa, Hereford, 3 April 1961
19. Kaingaroa, Hereford, 3 April 1961
20. Day Boy, Bangor-on-Dee, 7 April 1961
20. Day Boy, Bangor-on-Dee, 7 April 1961
21. Realdara, Wolverhampton, 21 November 1961
21. Realdara, Wolverhampton, 21 November 1961
22. Jeanne Rose, Leicester, 29 November 1961
22. Jeanne Rose, Leicester, 29 November 1961
23. Motel, Wincanton, 30 November 1961
23. Motel, Wincanton, 30 November 1961
24. Waitoma, Warwick, 5 March 1962
24. Waitoma, Warwick, 5 March 1962
25. King’s Star, Stratford, 10 March 1962
25. King’s Star, Stratford, 10 March 1962
26. The Fossa, Uttoxeter, 18 May 1964
26. The Fossa, Uttoxeter, 18 May 1964
27. Arizona, Southwell, 25 May 1964
27. Arizona, Southwell, 25 May 1964
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