Roy Ernest Arnold was born in Croydon in 1933. He was apprenticed to George Todd and rode his first winner on Cotton Wool at Newbury on August 18, 1950. He enjoyed his best season numerically in 1951 with 14 winners but scored his biggest success in the 1952 Goodwood Stakes on French Design.
He also won the 1955 Carlisle Bell on Sari.
His winning tallies dropped once he finished his apprenticeship. He rode only one in 1956 – King of Pippins for Matt Feakes at Pontefract on July 11 – and one in 1957 – Fleeteau for Charles Elsey at Redcar on August 9 – but managed four in 1958.
Having ridden a total of 37 winners in Britain, Roy moved to Kenya in 1959 and went on to ride a record 13 Classic winners there. He started training and achieved much success before moving to South Africa where he was less successful.
A former champion jockey and trainer in Kenya, Roy Arnold died in November 1999, aged 66. His son Craig also became a jockey.
