Flat jockey David Ian Beattie was born on September 1, 1940. He served his apprenticeship initially with Nevil Henesy at Streatley, in Berkshire from 1956 to 1958 and then with Walter Easterby at Tadcaster, Yorkshire.
He rode his first winner on Cap Spartel in a three-runner apprentice handicap at Catterick on April 17, 1963. His second came four months later, on Grimston Gold in a Thirsk apprentice handicap on August 2. Both horses were trained by Mick Easterby, son of Walter.
Unfortunately, David completed his apprenticeship soon after that second win and was thus obliged to ride on level terms with fully-fledged professional jockeys.
He held a licence for 1964 and 1965 but rode just one winner during that time: Grave Danger, also trained by Mick Easterby, in a one-mile three-year-old handicap at Lanark on May 3, 1965, beating Parcel Post, the mount of 5lb claimer Willie Carson, by a neck.
From thereon, the careers of David Beattie and Willie Carson took very different paths. David relinquished his licence at the end of 1965, whereas Willie went on to become a multiple champion jockey and Derby-winning rider. But at least David could claim that he once beat Willie in a photo-finish.
