Dennis Beeforth

Dennis Beeforth

Article by Chris Pitt

Dennis Arthur Beeforth was a northern-based National Hunt jockey of the 1930s. He rode a total of 19 winners which, in those days, was enough to ride out his claim. 

He was attached to J. T. C. Burn’s stable at Thirsk and rode his first winner on Law Without Justice in the Ainsty Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby on October 26, 1932. 

Another juvenile hurdler he rode to success was one named Bedale Hunt, also at Wetherby, on October 25, 1934. But an even better one was waiting just around the corner, named Freezy, on whom he won three in a row at Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Haydock in November 1934.

The following year produced yet another juvenile hurdler, Border Lass, also trained by Burn, on whom Dennis won twice, at Southwell in September and Birmingham in November 1935. 

He won three times on another Burn-trained hurdler called Middleton Hunt during the 1936/37 campaign, at Perth in September, Kelso in October and Leicester in January. That was probably the best horse he rode during his career.

In the autumn of 1938 he won twice on selling hurdler Willowmead, at Market Rasen on September 17 and at the United Border Hunt (Kelso) meeting on October 8, before finishing second at Cardiff on October 20.

World War II looks to have spelt the end of Dennis Beeforth’s career as a jockey, as he does not appear to have renewed his licence once National Hunt racing resumed.