Peter Ashworth

When young Peter Ashworth won the Apprentice Handicap at Salisbury on Friday, 9 May 1941, he was riding in public for only the second time. The winning horse, Blue White, started at 20-1 and was trained by Epsom-based Harold Wallington.

Peter Henry Ashworth was born on 26 April 1924 in Brussels where his father, Harry Ashworth, was employed as a jockey. At the age of 12 Peter began an apprenticeship with legendary Epsom trainer Stanley Wootton.   

With the arrival of the Second World War, Wootton sold his horses. Because Peter was then too young for active service, Wooton transferred the apprentice’s indentures to fellow trainer Wallington, for whom he rode his first winner on Blue White. 

With racing operating on a highly restricted scale, Wallington subsequently moved his string north to Malton, by which time Peter had been called up for military service in 1942. He served with the Black Watch, seeing active combat in Sicily and Italy, but was returned home following an injury to his left shoulder.

His riding opportunities had been limited due to the war. When hostilities ended, he resumed his career in the saddle, riding in Belgium, Italy and India before returning to pick up his career in England. 

Having ridden two winners in both 1949 and 1950, he rode just one more – the last of his career – on 10-1 shot Quick Return in the Downs Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate at Brighton on 20 September 1951. He continued to ride until taking his last mount in 1954. 

In November 1955 he married Janet Packham, daughter of Epsom jockey Bert Packham. The same year, on Wootton’s advice, he took out a trainer’s licence, based at The Grove Stables, in Epsom.

In 1961 he moved to Treadwell House Stables, again in Epsom, from where he sent out Lady Senator to win that year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas, ridden by Tommy Gosling. His winners the following year included Lost Property in Ascot’s Brown Jack Stakes.

Noted as a trainer of fast early two-year-olds, Peter saddled Lady’s View to win Newcastle’s Seaton Delaval Stakes in 1968. Pattern race success came in 1975 when Rory’s Rockey won the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

He also trained a few hurdlers, the best of which was Kas, who won the 1977 Philip Cornes Saddle of Gold Hurdle Final. 

He retired from training in 1984.

Peter Ashworth died in December 2002, aged 78.