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Peter Dun
Peter Dun
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Before a bad fall at Hexham ended his career, Peter John Dun had been one of the country’s leading amateur riders. There were less than 18 months between his first win and his last but in that time he had 41 victories.
Before a bad fall at Hexham ended his career, Peter John Dun had been one of the country’s leading amateur riders. There were less than 18 months between his first win and his last but in that time he had 41 victories.
The son of trainer Tommy Dun and the brother of leading northern jockey Geordie Dun, Peter finished third on his first ride when the seven-year-old Cornkist was beaten 16 lengths in the John Mitchell for Oils Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on October 16, 1982. He was not an overnight success, having about 30 rides before finally getting off the mark when Corker had an easy win in the Gin Handicap Chase at Carlisle on January 2, 1984, beating Ram The Thor, the only other finisher, by 15 lengths. Corker was trained by the legendary Arthur Stephenson, who would supply all bar eight of Peter’s wins.
The son of trainer Tommy Dun and the brother of leading northern jockey Geordie Dun, Peter finished third on his first ride when the seven-year-old Cornkist was beaten 16 lengths in the John Mitchell for Oils Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on October 16, 1982. He was not an overnight success, having about 30 rides before finally getting off the mark when Corker had an easy win in the Gin Handicap Chase at Carlisle on January 2, 1984, beating Ram The Thor, the only other finisher, by 15 lengths. Corker was trained by the legendary Arthur Stephenson, who would supply all bar eight of Peter’s wins.
By the end of the season there were 15 winners for the young jockey, including one on Brefni Boy, beating his 3/1 on rival Bedlam Hill in a two-horse race at Wetherby. In 1984/85 there were 25 wins, placing him second in the amateur riders’ championship, just five behind Simon Sherwood. He finished a close third in the Scottish Grand National on Why Forget, one place ahead of his brother Geordie on A Kinsman.
By the end of the season there were 15 winners for the young jockey, including one on Brefni Boy, beating his 3/1 on rival Bedlam Hill in a two-horse race at Wetherby. In 1984/85 there were 25 wins, placing him second in the amateur riders’ championship, just five behind Simon Sherwood. He finished a close third in the Scottish Grand National on Why Forget, one place ahead of his brother Geordie on A Kinsman.
Peter had what would prove to be his last two victories at Newcastle on May 6, 1985, aboard Unscrupulous Judge by three-quarters of a length in the Longstone Handicap Chase, followed by a much easier success when Newlife Connection beat two rivals in the Farne Handicap Chase, with runner-up Swift Albany ten lengths adrift.
Peter had what would prove to be his last two victories at Newcastle on May 6, 1985, aboard Unscrupulous Judge by three-quarters of a length in the Longstone Handicap Chase, followed by a much easier success when Newlife Connection beat two rivals in the Farne Handicap Chase, with runner-up Swift Albany ten lengths adrift.
Just five days later came the fall at Hexham when Unscrupulous Judge came down two out when holding every chance in the Tant Pis Handicap Chase. The 20-year-old amateur suffered serious head injuries, a fractured leg and a dislocated shoulder.
Just five days later came the fall at Hexham when Unscrupulous Judge came down two out when holding every chance in the Tant Pis Handicap Chase. The 20-year-old amateur suffered serious head injuries, a fractured leg and a dislocated shoulder.
He spent several days on a life-support machine and was in a coma for five weeks. Weighing room colleague Ridley Lamb provided video tapes of races involving horses they had both ridden, such as Why Forget, Tudor Folly, Fortina’s Express and Sea Merchant, which doctors believed helped Peter eventually emerge from his coma, although he remained in a critical condition for some time. Remarkably, he went on to make a full recovery, but his race-riding days were over.
He spent several days on a life-support machine and was in a coma for five weeks. Weighing room colleague Ridley Lamb provided video tapes of races involving horses they had both ridden, such as Why Forget, Tudor Folly, Fortina’s Express and Sea Merchant, which doctors believed helped Peter eventually emerge from his coma, although he remained in a critical condition for some time. Remarkably, he went on to make a full recovery, but his race-riding days were over.
Peter Dun’s wins were, in chronological order:
Peter Dun’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Corker, Carlisle, January 2, 1984
1. Corker, Carlisle, January 2, 1984
2. Don’t Wait, Haydock Park, January 7, 1984
2. Don’t Wait, Haydock Park, January 7, 1984
3. Don’t Wait, Uttoxeter, February 10, 1984
3. Don’t Wait, Uttoxeter, February 10, 1984
4. Mr Denetop, Sedgefield, February 21, 1984
4. Mr Denetop, Sedgefield, February 21, 1984
5. Succeeded, Newcastle, March 19, 1984
5. Succeeded, Newcastle, March 19, 1984
6. Mr Denetop, Sedgefield, April 3, 1984
6. Mr Denetop, Sedgefield, April 3, 1984
7. Mr Coggy, Kelso, April 6, 1984
7. Mr Coggy, Kelso, April 6, 1984
8. Mr Coggy, Perth, April 19, 1984
8. Mr Coggy, Perth, April 19, 1984
9. Run Over, Wetherby, April 23, 1984
9. Run Over, Wetherby, April 23, 1984
10. Pilton, Kelso, May 2, 1984
10. Pilton, Kelso, May 2, 1984
11. Don’t Fall, Wetherby, May 9, 1984
11. Don’t Fall, Wetherby, May 9, 1984
12. Don’t Fall, Hexham, May 14, 1984
12. Don’t Fall, Hexham, May 14, 1984
13. Wimsey, Perth, May 23, 1984
13. Wimsey, Perth, May 23, 1984
14. Breffni Boy, Wetherby, May 28, 1984
14. Breffni Boy, Wetherby, May 28, 1984
15. Mossy Cones, Market Rasen, June 2, 1984
15. Mossy Cones, Market Rasen, June 2, 1984
16. Castle Official, Cartmel, September 15, 1984
16. Castle Official, Cartmel, September 15, 1984
17. Spring Chancellor, Market Rasen, September 29, 1984
17. Spring Chancellor, Market Rasen, September 29, 1984
18. Brefni Boy, Carlisle, October 1, 1984
18. Brefni Boy, Carlisle, October 1, 1984
19. Stand Back, Uttoxeter, October 13, 1984
19. Stand Back, Uttoxeter, October 13, 1984
20. Fox-U-More, Kelso, October 20, 1984
20. Fox-U-More, Kelso, October 20, 1984
21. Blue Reef, Catterick Bridge, November 10, 1984
21. Blue Reef, Catterick Bridge, November 10, 1984
22. Why Forget, Kelso, November 14, 1984
22. Why Forget, Kelso, November 14, 1984
23. Jockmabel, Newcastle, November 16, 1984
23. Jockmabel, Newcastle, November 16, 1984
24. Succeeded, Sedgefield, November 20, 1984
24. Succeeded, Sedgefield, November 20, 1984
25. Blue Reef, Catterick bridge, November 24, 1984
25. Blue Reef, Catterick bridge, November 24, 1984
26. Tieranee, Wetherby, November 27, 1984
26. Tieranee, Wetherby, November 27, 1984
27. Blue Reef, Catterick Bridge, December 10, 1984
27. Blue Reef, Catterick Bridge, December 10, 1984
28. Unscrupulous Judge, Kelso, December 17, 1984
28. Unscrupulous Judge, Kelso, December 17, 1984
29. Blue Reef, Catterick Bridge, December 19, 1984
29. Blue Reef, Catterick Bridge, December 19, 1984
30. Succeeded, Ayr, December 29, 1984
30. Succeeded, Ayr, December 29, 1984
31. Tweeter, Ayr, January 2, 1985
31. Tweeter, Ayr, January 2, 1985
32. Fox-U-More, Kelso, January 9, 1985
32. Fox-U-More, Kelso, January 9, 1985
33. Modtech, Kelso, January 9, 1985
33. Modtech, Kelso, January 9, 1985
34. Modtech, Ayr, January 26, 1985
34. Modtech, Ayr, January 26, 1985
35. Modtech, Haydock Park, March 2, 1985
35. Modtech, Haydock Park, March 2, 1985
36. Day Of Wishes, Carlisle, April 8, 1985
36. Day Of Wishes, Carlisle, April 8, 1985
37. Fergy Foster, Market Rasen, April 19, 1985
37. Fergy Foster, Market Rasen, April 19, 1985
38. Fergy Foster, Sedgefield, April 30, 1985
38. Fergy Foster, Sedgefield, April 30, 1985
39. Stand Back, Market Rasen, May 4, 1985
39. Stand Back, Market Rasen, May 4, 1985
40. Unscrupulous Judge, Newcastle, May 6, 1985
40. Unscrupulous Judge, Newcastle, May 6, 1985
41. Newlife Connection, Newcastle, May 6, 1985
41. Newlife Connection, Newcastle, May 6, 1985
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