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The son of trainer and former jockey Frank Dever, Peter Dever (pronounced ‘Devver’, not ‘Deever’), was born in Blackburn on July 10, 1961. He was riding racehorses from the age of four.
The son of trainer and former jockey Frank Dever, Peter Dever (pronounced ‘Devver’, not ‘Deever’), was born in Blackburn on July 10, 1961. He was riding racehorses from the age of four.
It was always his intention to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a jockey, although his father insisted he got a trade behind him as a fallback, so he undertook a four-year apprenticeship as a saddler while riding as an amateur.
It was always his intention to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a jockey, although his father insisted he got a trade behind him as a fallback, so he undertook a four-year apprenticeship as a saddler while riding as an amateur.
His first ride was on a horse named Madam Four in an amateur riders’ hurdle at Aintree in 1978, the day that Lucius won the Grand National. However, it was not until May 11, 1982, that he rode his first winner was the Michael Chapman-trained Quistador, the 5-2 favourite, in the two-mile Bradmore Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham. That was a good month because, after waiting four years for a winner, he rode three more in little over a fortnight: No Retreat at Hereford, Quistador again at Stratford, and Bushy Bay at Cartmel.
His first ride was on a horse named Madam Four in an amateur riders’ hurdle at Aintree in 1978, the day that Lucius won the Grand National. However, it was not until May 11, 1982, that he rode his first winner was the Michael Chapman-trained Quistador, the 5-2 favourite, in the two-mile Bradmore Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham. That was a good month because, after waiting four years for a winner, he rode three more in little over a fortnight: No Retreat at Hereford, Quistador again at Stratford, and Bushy Bay at Cartmel.
Having turned professional, Peter finished second in the junior riders’ table with a career-best 22 winners in the 1983/84 season, despite having been sidelined for the last two months with a fractured skull, incurred in a novices’ selling hurdle at Southwell when his mount, Spring Cottage, went to run out through the wing of the third flight, changed his mind, tried to jump the hurdle off balance and fell. The damage was caused before Peter hit the ground, for, as he was being ejected from the saddle, another horse caught the back of his head.
Having turned professional, Peter finished second in the junior riders’ table with a career-best 22 winners in the 1983/84 season, despite having been sidelined for the last two months with a fractured skull, incurred in a novices’ selling hurdle at Southwell when his mount, Spring Cottage, went to run out through the wing of the third flight, changed his mind, tried to jump the hurdle off balance and fell. The damage was caused before Peter hit the ground, for, as he was being ejected from the saddle, another horse caught the back of his head.
Having been out of the limelight for five months, he made a slow start to the 1984/85 season. However, his luck changed with a BBC-televised win on 13-year-old Artifice in the Manicou Handicap Chase at Ascot on November 17, 1984. Peter rated that win on Artifice as the highlight of his career.
Having been out of the limelight for five months, he made a slow start to the 1984/85 season. However, his luck changed with a BBC-televised win on 13-year-old Artifice in the Manicou Handicap Chase at Ascot on November 17, 1984. Peter rated that win on Artifice as the highlight of his career.
It was also Artifice’s swan song, for his owner Paul Barber and Bridgwater trainer John Thorne decided to retire their gallant old warrior on a winning note. In his prime, Artifice had been one of the best two-mile chasers in the country.
It was also Artifice’s swan song, for his owner Paul Barber and Bridgwater trainer John Thorne decided to retire their gallant old warrior on a winning note. In his prime, Artifice had been one of the best two-mile chasers in the country.
Peter also won good races at Cheltenham on Arctic Beau (also trained by John Thorne) and Reg Hollinshead’s high-class staying hurdler Bluff Cove.
Peter also won good races at Cheltenham on Arctic Beau (also trained by John Thorne) and Reg Hollinshead’s high-class staying hurdler Bluff Cove.
As a freelance, he rode for a variety of trainers including Peter Pritchard, Paul Felgate, Bryan McMahon, John Spearing, John Chugg and Ian Wardle.
As a freelance, he rode for a variety of trainers including Peter Pritchard, Paul Felgate, Bryan McMahon, John Spearing, John Chugg and Ian Wardle.
Standing 5ft 8ins and needing to weigh 9st 8lb stripped in order to ride at 10 stone, Peter fought a battle with the scales throughout his career. Breakfast consisted of a digestive biscuit, just to get the metabolism going, no lunch, then meat and veg ad fresh fruit at night.
Standing 5ft 8ins and needing to weigh 9st 8lb stripped in order to ride at 10 stone, Peter fought a battle with the scales throughout his career. Breakfast consisted of a digestive biscuit, just to get the metabolism going, no lunch, then meat and veg ad fresh fruit at night.
He achieved another big race success on Gembridge Jupiter, trained by Christopher Trietline, in Newbury’s Geoffrey Gilbey Memorial Chase on March 3, 1990.
He achieved another big race success on Gembridge Jupiter, trained by Christopher Trietline, in Newbury’s Geoffrey Gilbey Memorial Chase on March 3, 1990.
His last win came on Good Tonic, trained by Tim Etherington, in the Fitzwilliam Handicap Chase at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 1, 1991. He retired later that year, having ridden 79 winners, and became a saddler, based near Cheltenham.
His last win came on Good Tonic, trained by Tim Etherington, in the Fitzwilliam Handicap Chase at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 1, 1991. He retired later that year, having ridden 79 winners, and became a saddler, based near Cheltenham.
Peter Dever died in April 2023, aged 61, following a short illness.
Peter Dever died in April 2023, aged 61, following a short illness.
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