Martin Blackshaw

Born on January 19, 1951, Martin Fawcus Blackshaw was the son of Northern trainer Harry Blackshaw and godson of Market Deeping trainer George Vergette. He lived at King's Mill, Malton, Yorkshire.

He spent a three-year apprenticeship with his father and won his first race on Nut Case, owned by Clive Graham, at Ripon on April 27, 1966.

He recorded his first big race success on Spring Cabbage in the 1968 Gosforth Park Cup.

He was occasionally in trouble as an apprentice for his excessive use of the whip and, in October 1967, was stood down for two days, losing six booked rides.

By December 1974, freelance Martin had ridden almost 300 winners, a figure which would have been much larger if his riding weight had been under nine stone.

His best season in Britain was 1975-76 when he rode 41 winners.

He was, at this time, a seriously busy jockey, flying to Cagnes-sur-Mer in France, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium and there was no jockey in England who mixed to greater effect racing under both rules. His mileage by air was greater than that of Lester Piggott, and, back in Britain, he partnered horses trained by Frank Carr, Sam Hall and Walter Wharton.

Martin was three times the champion jockey over the jumps in Norway, and twice in Belgium. Such was his reputation for integrity and skill that one Swedish owner, millionaire Mr. Martinson, would not run his horses in Sweden or the south of France if he could not get Martin to ride them.

Speaking of his time in Canes-sur-Mer, Martin said: "There is no hearty handshake. For the first year or two you are not a welcome visitor and they will 'look after' you in a race. And you will come off worst. Then the thaw sets in, and you are accepted, but it takes a long time. You have to prove yourself and win your spurs."

(Sir Gordon Richards, once having been given a rough time in a particular race at Longchamp, turned to Harry Carr and said; "Harry, I will never ride in France again." And he never did.)

On June 19, 1977, Martin was transported to hospital with suspected damage to his cervical vertebrae after a particularly rough Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil and was out of action for two months.

This was the year, however, in which he rode the big race winner on Christmas Day at Cagnes-sur-Mer and marked the occasion by announcing his engagement to Cherry Dwyer, of Cheshire.

Martin was on the six-year-old Gay Future when that horse suddenly toppled over and died four from home in the Tockwith Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby on January 20, 1976. Gay Future had been the horse involved in the notorious Cartmel betting coup of August 1974.

Gay Future had stood too far back from the hurdle and had broken its neck.

On Sunday November 12, 1978, Martin landed one of his biggest ever wins when Green Mist took the £33,333 Prix la Haye Jousselin Steeplechase at Auteuil.

After a brilliant riding career in France, Martin turned to training and took over the 80-strong string previously trained by Aage Paus who had lost his licence for doping offences.

Without doubt, Martin was the 'peacock' of the dressing room, always dressing more smartly for racing than many would dress for dinner at a high-class restaurant. One day he walked in wearing a three-piece white suit and accepted with good grace the customary wolf-whistles from his colleagues. 

Then fellow jockey Ian Watkinson stepped up, holding a pot of invisible ink which he had purchased from Cheltenham's infamous joke shop. This he threw over the new suit.

Martin's reaction was instant and violent and the incorrigible Ian, hard man though he was, had to run for it. Martin took a lot of persuading that the ink would vanish, which indeed it eventually did.

Martin had ridden some great horses in his time as a jockey including the legendary Persian War. He also rode Churchtown Boy (winner of the 1977 Topham Trophy under Chris Read) when that horse finished second to the legendary Red Rum in the 1977 Grand National.

On Monday evening, 23 January, 1989, Martin Blackshaw, on his way to the dentist from his Chantilly home, was killed when his car crashed and somersaulted several times. Not wearing a seat belt, Martin was thrown out. He was taken to Senlis hospital where he succumbed from head injuries. (Amazingly, his labrador, 'Mac', travelling in the boot, survived.)

Martin left a widow, Cherry Anne and two children: daughter Melanie and son, Michael.

Martin & Cherry had married on July 17, 1978.

The funeral service took place on Thursday, January 26, at 2.30, St Peter's Church, Chantilly.

Stuart Cargeeg, the former West Country jockey took over Martin's Chantilly Stable. He also kept Martin's labrador for the rest of its life.

Martin's Grand National record was; Swan Shot, 1973 (refused 7th), Princess Camilla, 1974 (17th & last), Glandford Brig, 1975 (8th), Glandford Brig, 1976 (fell 6th), Churchtown Boy 1977 (2nd), Churchtown Boy, 1978 (fell 15th) and Oskard, 1979 (unseated rider).

Martin was a decent squash player.