John Carr

Flat jockey John Michael Carr was born in 1965, the son of Malton trainer Frank Carr, He began his racing career at Bishop Auckland with Denys Smith, then spent a year with Ted Carter before transferring his indentures to his father. He rode his first winner on Jolly Burglar for trainer Geoff Toft at Leicester on June 12, 1982. 

John’s career progressed slowly with a total of just ten more winners over the next three years. He spent the winter of 1986/87 in Queensland, lodging with Russ Maddock, among the best of the many Australian jockeys who plied their trade in Britain during the 1960s. John was in Australia primarily as a work rider but, with the help of Maddock, a few race rides did come his way. He had eleven rides altogether, including one at Eagle Farm, Queensland’s most prestigious track. Though the nearest he came to riding a winner was a couple of fourth places, it was valuable experience.

He rode four winners in 1987, the highlight being his victory on Abc Superstar at Ayr on June 20, which resulted in his claim being cut to 5lb. Three days later he rode a good race to win on the Alan Bailey-trained Stage Lark at Pontefract, thwarting a gamble on the Kevin Darley-ridden Bay Hero by a head. Back at Pontefract the following month, won on Spigot Shaft, a notoriously difficult ride, earning praise from the gelding’s trainer David Wintle. 

Just four winners, though disappointing, did not reflect the eleven second places that John had to be content with in that 1987 season. Had a few of those gone his way his score would have had a far more respectable look. 

In 1988 John took up the post of second jockey for Mary Reveley and enjoyed his most successful season with eight winners from 157 mounts, Mrs Reveley being responsible for six of those. 

That was last John’s last year as an apprentice. He took out a professional jockey’s licence in 1989 and had five wins from 108 rides, four of them trained by Mrs Reveley. 

He relinquished his licence during 1991 and set up as a trainer the following year, based at Whitewall Stables, near Malton. Although he saddled a few winners, the venture was only moderately successful, and he gave up training in 1997.