Roy Dowse
1940 - 2012
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Roy William Dowse was born on March 22, 1940 and was attached to Ian Lomax’s stable at Baydon, near Marlborough. It was an open secret that the horses were actually trained by Mrs Rosemary Lomax but, due to a draconian rule in force at the time whereby women were not permitted to hold a trainer’s licence, it was her husband’s name that appeared on the licence and in the newspapers.
National Hunt jockey Roy William Dowse was born on March 22, 1940 and was attached to Ian Lomax’s stable at Baydon, near Marlborough. It was an open secret that the horses were actually trained by Mrs Rosemary Lomax but, due to a draconian rule in force at the time whereby women were not permitted to hold a trainer’s licence, it was her husband’s name that appeared on the licence and in the newspapers.
Roy rode his first winner on Lomax’s Winter Wanton in the Beginners’ Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on December 14, 1960, a race confined to novice riders. His second came on a horse named Sport in the Beeches Farm Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on February 1, 1961.
Roy rode his first winner on Lomax’s Winter Wanton in the Beginners’ Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on December 14, 1960, a race confined to novice riders. His second came on a horse named Sport in the Beeches Farm Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on February 1, 1961.
Roy handed in his licence at the end of the 1961/62 season and became head lad to Ian Lomax. He had one or two rides in maiden races on the Flat for Lomax on horses that needed racing experience.
Roy handed in his licence at the end of the 1961/62 season and became head lad to Ian Lomax. He had one or two rides in maiden races on the Flat for Lomax on horses that needed racing experience.
He renewed his jump jockey’s licence in 1964/65 and rode one more winner from just ten rides that season, this being on Twist One in division one of the Spring Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on April 2, 1965. Roy was due to be married shortly after that and told the Sporting Life’s reporter that he planned to go out of racing in search of a better paid job.
He renewed his jump jockey’s licence in 1964/65 and rode one more winner from just ten rides that season, this being on Twist One in division one of the Spring Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on April 2, 1965. Roy was due to be married shortly after that and told the Sporting Life’s reporter that he planned to go out of racing in search of a better paid job.
In retirement, Roy and his wife moved to Strete, near Dartmouth. He was a beneficiary of the Injured Jockeys Fund for many years. He had fond memories of his years in racing, coming up with a fund of stories from the “old days”, such as when he “had to take horses for Mrs Lomax to Buckfastleigh. The horses were put up on farms by the course, and we had to stay at a pub in the town.”
In retirement, Roy and his wife moved to Strete, near Dartmouth. He was a beneficiary of the Injured Jockeys Fund for many years. He had fond memories of his years in racing, coming up with a fund of stories from the “old days”, such as when he “had to take horses for Mrs Lomax to Buckfastleigh. The horses were put up on farms by the course, and we had to stay at a pub in the town.”
A likeable and friendly man, Roy Dowse died on August 25, 2012, aged 72.
A likeable and friendly man, Roy Dowse died on August 25, 2012, aged 72.
