Keith Barnfield

Keith Barnfield was born in Dowdeswell, a village some six miles from Cheltenham, on 3 March 1940.

When the family moved to 4, Longville Caravan, Station Road, Andoversford, Cheltenham, Keith, on leaving school, wasted no time in joining the local stables of former champion jockey Gerry Wilson, the frequent rider of Golden Miller.

Although he had his first ride on Whit Monday, 1958 (Towcester), Keith had to wait a full seven years for his first winner. This came at Cheltenham on 7 January on Scarron, trained by Jack Perret.

Keith was never destined to set the racing world alight, indeed - the ten winners he rode in during the 1967/68 season proved to be a personal best.

John's Nephew provided Keith with his biggest win. Having already won two races on him, Keith then made it a hat-trick when taking the Col. R. Thompson Memorial Hurdle at Market Rasen. Worth £1,000, it was to be the richest race Keith ever won.

His only ride in the Grand National came on Ormonde Tudor in the 1974 race won by Rag Trade. He came down at the first and said afterwards: 'I was disappointed. It would have been nice to have jumped Becher's.'

Keith was still claiming his three-pound allowance when riding his last two winners.

These both came on Vale Royale for Bishop Cleeve permit holder George Hackling.

On 19 November 1974, Keith won on her by ten lengths (9/4 fav) at Devon & Exeter, then again at Wolverhampton on 27 December when taking the Albrighton Hurdle (4-1 fav).

Keith never entered the Winners' Enclosure again.

Aged 39, the game was almost up: Keith continued to accept rides but, at Perth, having pulled Dad's Image up, he decided that enough was enough.

That was his last ride.

He even quit his Saturday job, riding out for Nigel-Twiston Davies.

Keith retired and became a painter and decorator.

In his spare time, he enjoyed trout fishing and shooting.