Gary Carter was born in West Ham on October 6, 1965, and followed his year-older brother Roy into racing.
He had spells at Newmarket with Gerry Blum, Paul Kellaway and Chuck Spares before joining Geoff Huffer in 1983.
His first winner was Another Hit at Ripon in 1983.
By 1985, his career was soaring: he had set himself a target of 20 wins for the season - in reality, he rode 37, including Shellman in the £15,000 Mail On Sunday Autumn Handicap. That year he also shared the apprentice championship with the more experienced Willie Ryan.
On Thursday 20 September, 1990, he was banned for four days for striking John Lowe on the back with his whip after passing the winning post in the Bogside Cup.
September proved to be a jinxed month for the jockey when, on Monday 2, 1991, he lost his retainer with Newmarket trainer Geoff Wragg. Gary had ridden 24 of Wragg's 34 winners that season, so the split was surprising. Wragg
denied suggestions that there was any animosity between them.
Gary had his first Derby ride in 1997 when finishing unplaced on the Ian Balding-trained Papua.
A horseshoe once brought Gary bad luck. Riding Pip's Addition at Leicester in July, 1997, a loose horseshoe came off the runner in front and struck Gary on the knee. At first he was thought to have sustained a broken knee but later discovered only severe bruising.
Gary won the 1998 group three Solario Stakes on Raise A Grand.
His September curse struck again in 2003 when he was banned for 10 days for failing to make sufficient effort on Lill Marlane.
In July, 2004, Gary Carter was served with a series of corruption charges which he claimed came as a real shock and which he categorically denied.
In September 2005, Gary was disqualified for five years for passing information for reward and aiding the corrupt betting practices of a known miscreant in eight races.
Gary did not attend the hearing, nor was he represented at it. Pre-empting the wrath of the Jockey Club, he quit riding in midsummer and fled to Spain.
Gary Carter
1986: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Catherines Well
1987: Old Newton Cup – Pipsted
1987: King George V Handicap – Pipsted
1987: Beeswing Stakes – Farajullah
1987: Cesarewitch – Private Audition
1989: Old Newton Cup – Nickle Plated
1989: Sun Chariot Stakes – Braiswick
1990: Jersey Stakes – Sally Rous
1990: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Fascination Waltz
1990: Challenge Stakes – Sally Rous
1991: Queen Mary Stakes – Marling
1991: Lancashire Oaks – Patricia
1992: Wokingham Stakes – Red Rosein
1999: Wokingham Stakes – Deep Space
2000: Cesarewitch – Hero's Fatal
2001: Cumberland Plate – Admiral’s Place
In France
1999: Grand Criterium – Night Style
In Canada
1989: E. P. Taylor Stakes – Braiswick
