Michael Stewart Salvin Bowlby, born at Dundas Castle, South Queensferry, on March 14, 1964, and, during the 1986-87 NH season, was apprenticed to Nicky Henderson.
The all-important first win came at Bangor on Emperor Napoleon at Bangor in 1983: he won again on the same horse later that season at Ludlow.
Michael never hit the highest rung of the jockey's table: nevertheless, he remained an excellent rider.
He rode a total of 132 winners in a ten-year career, retiring in 1992.
Michael rode in the National on six occasions, just once failing to get round.
He won the 1989 Whitbread Gold Cup on Brown Windsor and, in the same year, the Waterford Crystal Hurdle on Rustle. Two other good wins came on Prideaux Boy in the 1986 Swinton Insurance Trophy Hurdle and Willsfordin the 1989 County Handicap Hurdle.
He came from a wealthy family.
Michael Bowlby
Big winners:
1986: Swinton Insurance Trophy Hurdle – Prideaux Boy
1989: Waterford Crystal Stayers’ Hurdle – Rustle
1989: County Hurdle – Willsford
1989: Whitbread Gold Cup – Brown Windsor
