Eric Robert Apter was born in Birkenhead on July 15, 1940. He served his apprenticeship initially with Willie Stephenson at Royston and then with Jack Waugh at Heath House, Newmarket for seven years.
He rode his first winner on Out East in the Coveney Apprentices’ Handicap at Newmarket on May 2, 1958. He won on Out East again at Brighton on June 11, those being his only two winners that year.
He rode a total of eight winners as an apprentice between 1958 and 1962. He then left racing and returned home to Birkenhead, where he worked in a local hospital, before taking out a licence to ride again in 1966, bringing home two winners that year from 27 mounts.
On June 15, 1970, he married Barbara, who would later give birth to a son, James.
Eric rode for a number of trainers including Snowy Gray, Peter Metcalfe and Dennis Leah. He recorded his biggest success in Britain in the 1972 Brown Jack Stakes at Ascot on Kingfisher Blue, whom he rated the best he rode. He also won the Thirsk Hunt Cup on 1977 on Albert Hall.
Eric enjoyed his best season in 1975 with 25 winners.
In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, antiques and playing dominoes.
When in his forties he went to ride in Germany, where he rode over 100 winners in five years. They included the Schwarzgold-Rennen (German 1,000 Guineas) on Well Proved in 1983, that being his sole Classic success.
