Kevin Darley
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Former champion jockey Kevin Darley brought down the curtain on his 30-year riding career at the end of the 2007 Flat campaign. Besides having been crowned champion jockey in 2000 with 155 wins – the first northern-based rider to clinch the title since Elijah Wheatley in 1905 – the 47-year-old had won 26 Group 1 races, ridden 16 Royal Ascot winners and won Classics in Britain, Ireland, France and Germany. He had topped 100 winners in a season 11 times and had ridden more than 2,500 winners worldwide.
Former champion jockey Kevin Darley brought down the curtain on his 30-year riding career at the end of the 2007 Flat campaign. Besides having been crowned champion jockey in 2000 with 155 wins – the first northern-based rider to clinch the title since Elijah Wheatley in 1905 – the 47-year-old had won 26 Group 1 races, ridden 16 Royal Ascot winners and won Classics in Britain, Ireland, France and Germany. He had topped 100 winners in a season 11 times and had ridden more than 2,500 winners worldwide.
Kevin Paul Darley was born at Tettenhall, Staffordshire, on August 5, 1960, the son of a Wolverhampton butcher. He was a product of the Reg Hollinshead apprentice academy, having served his time with the Upper Longdon trainer from 1976-78. He rode his first winner, Dust Up, on his 17th birthday, in the Matthew Peacock Handicap at Haydock on Friday, August 5, 1977. Seven days later the partnership followed up with victory at Newbury, beating Willie Carson’s mount Apple Peel by a head.
Kevin Paul Darley was born at Tettenhall, Staffordshire, on August 5, 1960, the son of a Wolverhampton butcher. He was a product of the Reg Hollinshead apprentice academy, having served his time with the Upper Longdon trainer from 1976-78. He rode his first winner, Dust Up, on his 17th birthday, in the Matthew Peacock Handicap at Haydock on Friday, August 5, 1977. Seven days later the partnership followed up with victory at Newbury, beating Willie Carson’s mount Apple Peel by a head.
Two months later, he achieved his first big race success on Matt McCourt’s sprinter Van Laser in the five furlong Bovis Handicap at Ascot. He was champion apprentice the following season (1978) with 70 winners.
Two months later, he achieved his first big race success on Matt McCourt’s sprinter Van Laser in the five furlong Bovis Handicap at Ascot. He was champion apprentice the following season (1978) with 70 winners.
His career then nose-dived when, having lost his claim and moved to Newmarket, he suffered a bad fall at Nottingham that sidelined him for six weeks, resulting in a total of just 14 winners in 1979. He endured several years in the wilderness before a fruitful association with Peter Savill’s record-breaking sprint handicapper Chaplins Club led to him becoming Savill’s retained jockey. With a string of 50 horses spread between 18 trainers, Kevin suddenly found a lot of doors had opened for him.
His career then nose-dived when, having lost his claim and moved to Newmarket, he suffered a bad fall at Nottingham that sidelined him for six weeks, resulting in a total of just 14 winners in 1979. He endured several years in the wilderness before a fruitful association with Peter Savill’s record-breaking sprint handicapper Chaplins Club led to him becoming Savill’s retained jockey. With a string of 50 horses spread between 18 trainers, Kevin suddenly found a lot of doors had opened for him.
His association with Savill was to last almost 20 years, highlighted by arguably the best colt with which Kevin was associated, Celtic Swing, winner of the 1994 Racing Post Trophy and the 1995 Prix du Jockey Club. Kevin described Celtic Swing as having “a Ferrari engine with the chassis of a Mini”.
His association with Savill was to last almost 20 years, highlighted by arguably the best colt with which Kevin was associated, Celtic Swing, winner of the 1994 Racing Post Trophy and the 1995 Prix du Jockey Club. Kevin described Celtic Swing as having “a Ferrari engine with the chassis of a Mini”.
In 1999 Kevin won the Deutches Derby on Belenus, his second European Classic success, but he’d yet to ride one on home soil. That changed when the Tim Easterby-trained Bollin Eric gave him his first British Classic victory when winning the 2002 St Leger.
In 1999 Kevin won the Deutches Derby on Belenus, his second European Classic success, but he’d yet to ride one on home soil. That changed when the Tim Easterby-trained Bollin Eric gave him his first British Classic victory when winning the 2002 St Leger.
His only other British Classic winner was Mark Johnston’s filly Attraction, who won the 2004 One Thousand Guineas and then followed up by winning the Irish One Thousand Guineas. He also won that year’s Coronation Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes on her plus the 2005 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
His only other British Classic winner was Mark Johnston’s filly Attraction, who won the 2004 One Thousand Guineas and then followed up by winning the Irish One Thousand Guineas. He also won that year’s Coronation Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes on her plus the 2005 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
In 1997 he put up an extraordinary riding performance in steering David Barron’s Coastal Bluff to a dramatic dead-heat for first place in the Nunthorpe Stakes after the horse’s bridle had snapped soon after leaving the stalls. That race was made equally famous through Alex Greaves becoming the first woman to ride a British Group 1 winner when Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff.
In 1997 he put up an extraordinary riding performance in steering David Barron’s Coastal Bluff to a dramatic dead-heat for first place in the Nunthorpe Stakes after the horse’s bridle had snapped soon after leaving the stalls. That race was made equally famous through Alex Greaves becoming the first woman to ride a British Group 1 winner when Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff.
Kevin was associated two other top-class sprinters in Tim Easterby’s Pipalong, on whom he won the 2000 Haydock Sprint Cup, and Eric Alston’s Reverence, whom he booted to victory in both the Nunthorpe Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup in 2006.
Kevin was associated two other top-class sprinters in Tim Easterby’s Pipalong, on whom he won the 2000 Haydock Sprint Cup, and Eric Alston’s Reverence, whom he booted to victory in both the Nunthorpe Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup in 2006.
In addition to Celtic Swing’s 1994 Racing Post Trophy success, Kevin won that race twice more, with successive renewals on the Coolmore-owned pair High Chaparral (2001) and Brian Boru (2002). He also won Ascot’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes twice, on Observatory (2000) and Where Or When (2002).
In addition to Celtic Swing’s 1994 Racing Post Trophy success, Kevin won that race twice more, with successive renewals on the Coolmore-owned pair High Chaparral (2001) and Brian Boru (2002). He also won Ascot’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes twice, on Observatory (2000) and Where Or When (2002).
His other British and Irish Group 1 winners comprised: Bianca Nera (1996 Moyglare Stud Stakes), Super Tassa (2001 Yorkshire Oaks), Malhub (2002 Golden Jubilee Stakes), Shamardal (2004 Dewhurst Stakes) and Peeress (2005 Sun Chariot Stakes).
His other British and Irish Group 1 winners comprised: Bianca Nera (1996 Moyglare Stud Stakes), Super Tassa (2001 Yorkshire Oaks), Malhub (2002 Golden Jubilee Stakes), Shamardal (2004 Dewhurst Stakes) and Peeress (2005 Sun Chariot Stakes).
His other European Group 1 victories included: River North (1994 Aral Pokal), Port Lucaya (1994 Premio Vittoria di Capua) Flagbird (1995 Premio Presidente della Repubblica) and Kinnaird (2005 Prix de l’Opera).
His other European Group 1 victories included: River North (1994 Aral Pokal), Port Lucaya (1994 Premio Vittoria di Capua) Flagbird (1995 Premio Presidente della Repubblica) and Kinnaird (2005 Prix de l’Opera).
In addition to all his Group race success, he also won several major handicaps, including the Ebor on Vicious Circle (1999), the Lincoln on Roving Minstrel (1995), and back-to-back runnings of both the Northumberland Plate on Far Cry (1999) and Bay Of Islands (2000), and the Portland Handicap on Musical Season (1996) and Dashing Blue (1997).
In addition to all his Group race success, he also won several major handicaps, including the Ebor on Vicious Circle (1999), the Lincoln on Roving Minstrel (1995), and back-to-back runnings of both the Northumberland Plate on Far Cry (1999) and Bay Of Islands (2000), and the Portland Handicap on Musical Season (1996) and Dashing Blue (1997).
Kevin rode five winners in a day on three separate occasions, on July 23, 1993, August 1, 1998, and July 23, 2001. His highest total of winners in a year was 166 in 2001 when finishing second in the jockey’s table, just three behind Kieren Fallon.
Kevin rode five winners in a day on three separate occasions, on July 23, 1993, August 1, 1998, and July 23, 2001. His highest total of winners in a year was 166 in 2001 when finishing second in the jockey’s table, just three behind Kieren Fallon.
The last of Kevin’s 2,451 British winners came on Jeremy Noseda’s Messias Da Silva at Lingfield Park on Monday, October 29, 2007. His final ride was on Akarem, who finished unplaced in the November Handicap at Doncaster on November 10, 2007.
The last of Kevin’s 2,451 British winners came on Jeremy Noseda’s Messias Da Silva at Lingfield Park on Monday, October 29, 2007. His final ride was on Akarem, who finished unplaced in the November Handicap at Doncaster on November 10, 2007.
On his retirement he concluded: “It wasn’t an easy decision to retire, but this is like no other job and it was only me that could make that decision. I had one or two niggling injuries this year that took longer than usual to clear up, which reminded me that I’m no longer 17 or 27, but 47. I just feel now that it’s time to move on.
On his retirement he concluded: “It wasn’t an easy decision to retire, but this is like no other job and it was only me that could make that decision. I had one or two niggling injuries this year that took longer than usual to clear up, which reminded me that I’m no longer 17 or 27, but 47. I just feel now that it’s time to move on.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. Whatever you do in life, it’s important to be the best you can at it, and I feel I’m proof that if you keep working at it, you can get there in the end.”
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. Whatever you do in life, it’s important to be the best you can at it, and I feel I’m proof that if you keep working at it, you can get there in the end.”
He was never going to be one to let the grass grow under his feet and quickly slotted into various roles, including a stint with the BBC’s television coverage. Among his other roles he is now the Northern representative for both the Qatar and Pearl Racing empires.
He was never going to be one to let the grass grow under his feet and quickly slotted into various roles, including a stint with the BBC’s television coverage. Among his other roles he is now the Northern representative for both the Qatar and Pearl Racing empires.
Classic winners
Classic winners
One Thousand Guineas: Attraction (2004)
One Thousand Guineas: Attraction (2004)
St Leger: Bollin Eric (2002)
St Leger: Bollin Eric (2002)
Other big winners
Other big winners
1978: Carlisle Bell – Pam’s Gleam
1978: Carlisle Bell – Pam’s Gleam
1978: Old Newton Cup – Move Off
1978: Old Newton Cup – Move Off
1986: Duke of York Stakes – Grey Desire
1986: Duke of York Stakes – Grey Desire
1986: Gosforth Park Cup – Dublin Lad
1986: Gosforth Park Cup – Dublin Lad
1993: Zetland Gold Cup – River North
1993: Zetland Gold Cup – River North
1993: Cumberland Plate – Northern Graduate
1993: Cumberland Plate – Northern Graduate
1994: Cumberland Plate – Batabanoo
1994: Cumberland Plate – Batabanoo
1994: Gosforth Park Cup – Mistertopogigo
1994: Gosforth Park Cup – Mistertopogigo
1994: Racing Post Trophy – Celtic Swing
1994: Racing Post Trophy – Celtic Swing
1995: Lincoln Handicap – Roving Minstrel
1995: Lincoln Handicap – Roving Minstrel
1995: Zetland Gold Cup – Penny A Day
1995: Zetland Gold Cup – Penny A Day
1995: Cumberland Plate – Batabanoo
1995: Cumberland Plate – Batabanoo
1996: Wokingham Stakes – Emerging Market
1996: Wokingham Stakes – Emerging Market
1996: Portland Handicap – Musical Season
1996: Portland Handicap – Musical Season
1997: Nunthorpe Stakes – Coastal Bluff (dead-heat)
1997: Nunthorpe Stakes – Coastal Bluff (dead-heat)
1997: Portland Handicap – Dashing Blue
1997: Portland Handicap – Dashing Blue
1998: Carlisle Bell – Lucky Archer
1998: Carlisle Bell – Lucky Archer
1999: Northumberland Plate – Far Cry
1999: Northumberland Plate – Far Cry
1999: Ebor Handicap – Vicious Circle
1999: Ebor Handicap – Vicious Circle
2000: Lingfield Derby Trial – Saddler’s Quest
2000: Lingfield Derby Trial – Saddler’s Quest
2000: Queen’s Vase – Shanty Star
2000: Queen’s Vase – Shanty Star
2000: Jersey Stakes – Observatory
2000: Jersey Stakes – Observatory
2000: Queen Mary Stakes – Romantic Myth
2000: Queen Mary Stakes – Romantic Myth
2000: Northumberland Plate – Bay Of Islands
2000: Northumberland Plate – Bay Of Islands
2000: Old Newton Cup – Rada’s Daughter
2000: Old Newton Cup – Rada’s Daughter
2000: Cecil Frail Stakes – Pipalong
2000: Cecil Frail Stakes – Pipalong
2000: Haydock Sprint Cup – Pipalong
2000: Haydock Sprint Cup – Pipalong
2000: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Observatory
2000: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Observatory
2001: Queen’s Vase – And Beyond
2001: Queen’s Vase – And Beyond
2001: Racing Post Trophy – High Chaparral
2001: Racing Post Trophy – High Chaparral
2002: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Malhub
2002: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Malhub
2002: Lingfield Derby Trial – Bandari
2002: Lingfield Derby Trial – Bandari
2002: King George V Handicap – Systematic
2002: King George V Handicap – Systematic
2002: Hardwicke Stakes – Zindabad
2002: Hardwicke Stakes – Zindabad
2002: Racing Post Trophy – Brian Boru
2002: Racing Post Trophy – Brian Boru
2003: Queen’s Vase – Shanty Star
2003: Queen’s Vase – Shanty Star
2003: Queen Mary Stakes – Attraction
2003: Queen Mary Stakes – Attraction
2003: Norfolk Stakes – Russian Valour
2003: Norfolk Stakes – Russian Valour
2004: Coronation Stakes – Attraction
2004: Coronation Stakes – Attraction
2004: Dewhurst Stakes – Shamardal
2004: Dewhurst Stakes – Shamardal
2005: Queen’s Vase – Melrose Avenue
2005: Queen’s Vase – Melrose Avenue
2005: Windsor Castle Stakes – Titus Alone
2005: Windsor Castle Stakes – Titus Alone
2006: Queen’s Vase – Soapy Danger
2006: Queen’s Vase – Soapy Danger
2006: King George V Handicap – Linas Selection
2006: King George V Handicap – Linas Selection
2006: Cecil Frail Stakes – Paradise Isle
2006: Cecil Frail Stakes – Paradise Isle
2006: Nunthorpe Stakes – Reverence
2006: Nunthorpe Stakes – Reverence
2006: Haydock Sprint Cup – Reverence (dead-heat)
2006: Haydock Sprint Cup – Reverence (dead-heat)
In Ireland
In Ireland
Irish One Thousand Guineas: Attraction (2004)
Irish One Thousand Guineas: Attraction (2004)
In France
In France
Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby): Celtic Swing (1995)
Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby): Celtic Swing (1995)
In Germany
In Germany
1994: Aral-Pokal – River North
1994: Aral-Pokal – River North
1999: Deutsches Derby – Belenus
1999: Deutsches Derby – Belenus
In Italy
In Italy
1994: Premio Vittoria di Capua – Port Lucaya
1994: Premio Vittoria di Capua – Port Lucaya
1995: Premio Presidente Della Republica – Flagbird
1995: Premio Presidente Della Republica – Flagbird