Graham Burrows 

Graham Jonathan ‘Darkie’ Burrows was the brother-in-law of Derek Searle, whose autobiography is included in Jockeypedia.

Graham rode as a conditional jockey for top trainer Michael Dickinson in the early eighties and looked after such horses as Silver Buck, Badsworth Boy and Bregawn. Dickinson had only recently taken over from his mother, Monica, who had in turn inherited the licence following the death of her husband Tony.   

Graham had his first ride on Blackhills Boy at Market Rasen on September 27, 1980, finishing seventh of eight runners in the Peter Marsh National Hunt Flat Race. Sixteen days later came his initial winner when the five-year-old Hareshaw Linn led all the way and came home 15 lengths in front in the Grunwick Stakes National Hunt Flat Race at Ayr.

He enjoyed his second success on October 14, 1981, when Jimmy Martin, making his debut, took the lead after six furlongs and was pushed out to beat Jimmy The Pip by two lengths in the Amateur Riders Association National Hunt Flat Race at Wetherby. Despite the race’s title, the race was open to conditional jockeys as well as amateurs. 

Graham returned to Wetherby for the corresponding meeting on October 13, 1982. This time his mount was The Welder, also making his racecourse debut. Taking the lead half a mile from home, they beat the subsequently disqualified Carpenters Way by a length and a half. That third success, all in bumpers, was also Graham’s final ride.

Sadly, Graham Burrows was killed in a car crash, aged 25, at Swindon on January 17, 1987.