Having ridden six winners as an amateur, Edward Ross Darke, known by his second name, turned professional and added another dozen.
Fair Plume gave him his first victory when taking the Grunwick Stakes N.H. Flat Race at Hereford on September 27, 1991 by two lengths. The five-year-old, originally from New Zealand, as were many of trainer David Baron’s winners, may have been slightly fortunate as the clear leader Bright Bounce ran very wide on the final bend.
Ross was back in the winner’s enclosure at Newton Abbot on Boxing Day and rode four more winners that season. All of his six wins as an amateur were gained against professional jockeys. He turned conditional at the start of the 1992/93 season.
It did not take him long to record his first success in the paid ranks, that coming at Worcester on September 19, when Bill Quill was a comfortable winner of the Stour Handicap Chase, scoring by six lengths.
Ross rode as a conditional for Buckfastleigh-based Richard Frost, who trained Bill Quill and six more of his winners. He had his best season in 1993/94 with eight wins, but only managed a couple the following season, the last coming at Taunton on April 21, 1995, when the five-year-old Owens Delight led all the way and beat Mountain Leader by four lengths in the Orchard Restaurant N.H. Novices’ Hurdle.
Ross Darke’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Fair Plume, Hereford, September 27, 1991
2. Top Javelin, Newton Abbot, December 26, 1991
3. Bold Choice, Wincanton, February 6, 1992
4. Top Javelin, Newton Abbot, February 11, 1992
5. Martin’s Friend, Worcester, April 25, 1992
6. Ricmar, Uttoxeter, May 25, 1992
7. Bill Quill, Worcester, September 19, 1992
8. Cleeveland Lady, Plumpton, March 1, 1993
9. Salar’s Spirit, Hereford, August 18, 1993
10. Bill Quill, Southwell, November 26, 1993
11. Hold Your Ranks, Newton Abbot, December 27, 1993
12. Lansdowne, Taunton, February 17, 1994
13. Star Mover, Taunton, March 3, 1994
14. Needs Must, Newton Abbot, March 16, 1994
15. Dancing Dancer, Newton Abbot, April 29, 1994
16. Miss Souter, Ludlow, May 2, 1994
17. Pennymoor Prince, Newton Abbot, December 26, 1994
18. Owens Delight, Taunton, April 21, 1995