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Luke Dace
Luke Dace
Before embarking on a training career, Luke Adam Dace rode six winners over jumps during the first half of the 1990s.
Before embarking on a training career, Luke Adam Dace rode six winners over jumps during the first half of the 1990s.
He started out as a stable lad, then rode as a conditional jockey for Epsom trainer Ron Smyth, recording his first win at Plumpton on January 28, 1991, when the seven-year-old Wishlon led at the last flight and beat Nick The Dreamer by three and a half lengths in the Lane Brothers Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.
He started out as a stable lad, then rode as a conditional jockey for Epsom trainer Ron Smyth, recording his first win at Plumpton on January 28, 1991, when the seven-year-old Wishlon led at the last flight and beat Nick The Dreamer by three and a half lengths in the Lane Brothers Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.
Luke had already finished second twice on Wishlon that season, and they scored again on their next outing when, back at Plumpton, they landed the Coomes Handicap Hurdle on February 27, beating Jimmy Frost on Old Virginia by two and a half lengths.
Luke had already finished second twice on Wishlon that season, and they scored again on their next outing when, back at Plumpton, they landed the Coomes Handicap Hurdle on February 27, beating Jimmy Frost on Old Virginia by two and a half lengths.
They were well beaten on the one remaining start in that campaign and it was not until December 5, 1991 that Luke next visited the winner’s enclosure. By that time he was riding for former jump jockey Richard Rowe, and it was on his Glebelands Girl that he finished strongly to claim the Chard Selling Hurdle at Taunton, in the process providing Rowe with his first success as a trainer.
They were well beaten on the one remaining start in that campaign and it was not until December 5, 1991 that Luke next visited the winner’s enclosure. By that time he was riding for former jump jockey Richard Rowe, and it was on his Glebelands Girl that he finished strongly to claim the Chard Selling Hurdle at Taunton, in the process providing Rowe with his first success as a trainer.
Then it was back to Plumpton for a fourth success when Namaste led approaching the last flight and landed the John Hare Maiden Hurdle on Easter Monday 1992. Richard Rowe, Namaste’s trainer, also got Luke off the mark for the 1992/.93 season when saddling Devil’s Valley to win the Shaddoxhurst Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase at Folkestone on December 15 by six lengths, having led virtually throughout.
Then it was back to Plumpton for a fourth success when Namaste led approaching the last flight and landed the John Hare Maiden Hurdle on Easter Monday 1992. Richard Rowe, Namaste’s trainer, also got Luke off the mark for the 1992/.93 season when saddling Devil’s Valley to win the Shaddoxhurst Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase at Folkestone on December 15 by six lengths, having led virtually throughout.
Quai D’Orsay, trained by Finbarr O’Mahoney, provided Luke with his sixth and final win in the saddle when taking the lead on the run-in and beating Major Inquiry by two lengths at the end of the Don Butchers Challenge Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on March 15, 1993. Five days later they finished a well-beaten fourth at Lingfield Park.
Quai D’Orsay, trained by Finbarr O’Mahoney, provided Luke with his sixth and final win in the saddle when taking the lead on the run-in and beating Major Inquiry by two lengths at the end of the Don Butchers Challenge Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on March 15, 1993. Five days later they finished a well-beaten fourth at Lingfield Park.
When opportunities as a jockey dried up, Luke turned his hand to training, taking out a licence in 1996. With no family fortune or generous benefactor to lean on, he had to look for bargains in racing’s lower echelons.
When opportunities as a jockey dried up, Luke turned his hand to training, taking out a licence in 1996. With no family fortune or generous benefactor to lean on, he had to look for bargains in racing’s lower echelons.
His training operation, based at Copped Hall Farm, Billingshurst, West Sussex became something of a family affair. His father, Peter, who served in the RAF for 27 years, was an aircraft engineer at Gatwick. Following his retirement, he drove the horsebox when required and doubled up as a groom, leading up the stable’s runners. Mother Valerie ran the yard when Luke was at the races.
His training operation, based at Copped Hall Farm, Billingshurst, West Sussex became something of a family affair. His father, Peter, who served in the RAF for 27 years, was an aircraft engineer at Gatwick. Following his retirement, he drove the horsebox when required and doubled up as a groom, leading up the stable’s runners. Mother Valerie ran the yard when Luke was at the races.
Victories, when they came, were highly prized. In September 2021 he saddled his first winner for over two years, when Cieren Fallon guided homebred Youthful King to a 16/1 success in a two-year-old novice stakes at Lingfield Park. It had been 796 days since Luke last graced the winner’s enclosure which also came with a 16/1 shot at Lingfield, Sussex Solo under Kieran O'Neill in July 2019.
Victories, when they came, were highly prized. In September 2021 he saddled his first winner for over two years, when Cieren Fallon guided homebred Youthful King to a 16/1 success in a two-year-old novice stakes at Lingfield Park. It had been 796 days since Luke last graced the winner’s enclosure which also came with a 16/1 shot at Lingfield, Sussex Solo under Kieran O'Neill in July 2019.
Luke, who is also a qualified jockey coach, is the father of Jack Dace, a pony champion rider who is rapidly making a name for himself in the apprentice ranks.
Luke, who is also a qualified jockey coach, is the father of Jack Dace, a pony champion rider who is rapidly making a name for himself in the apprentice ranks.
Luke Dace’s winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
Luke Dace’s winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
1. Wishlon, Plumpton, January 28, 1991
1. Wishlon, Plumpton, January 28, 1991
2. Wishlon, Plumpton, February 27, 1991
2. Wishlon, Plumpton, February 27, 1991
3. Glebelands Girl, Taunton, December 5, 1991
3. Glebelands Girl, Taunton, December 5, 1991
4. Namaste, Plumpton, April 20, 1992
4. Namaste, Plumpton, April 20, 1992
5. Devil’s Valley, Folkestone, December 15, 1992
5. Devil’s Valley, Folkestone, December 15, 1992
6. Quai D’Orsay, Plumpton, March 15, 1993
6. Quai D’Orsay, Plumpton, March 15, 1993
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