Ray Carter

Article by Chris Pitt

Raymond Allacys Carter was a southern-based National Hunt jockey of the 1950s. He was attached to Dorking, Surrey trainer Alec Kerr and rode all bar two of his total of 25 winners for him.  

His first winner came on Knight’s Gambit in the Burlington Long Distance Hurdle at Hurst Park on November 20, 1952. He won again on Knight’s Gambit at Windsor in January 1953, a race named the Long Walk Hurdle – the forerunner of the Group 1 race now run at Ascot but, in those days, no more than a three-mile handicap worth £170 to the winner. Ray’s other winner that season came over fences on Silver Bow at Plumpton.

He rode four winners the next season, one on Silver Bow and three on staying hurdler Star Inn. His score rose to five in 1954/55, comprising one on Star Inn and two apiece on juvenile hurdler Bachelor’s Spur and novice hurdler Bronzmazon.

Ray’s best season was 1955/56, which began with a double at Plumpton on September 26 aboard Bachelor’s Spur

and three-mile handicap chaser Red House. He won again on Red House at Fontwell the following week. Later that season he rode handicap hurdler Spumante to win at Lingfield on March 13 and followed up two days later at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting, his seventh winner of the campaign.  

Having not ridden a winner during the 1956/57 season, both of Ray’s successes for 57/58 were gained on juvenile hurdler Robertson within the space of eight days in the autumn.

Ray began the following season in good form, riding a winner on both days of Folkestone’s September meeting, firstly on Frank Muggeridge’s Pelican’s Pay – Ray’s first ‘outside’ winning ride – and then on Alec Kerr’s handicap hurdler Candelabra. He won again on Pelican’s Pay at Wye later that month, and scored once more on Candelabra on October 7, 1958, his 25th winner and thus losing his 3lb allowance.

Perhaps it was the loss of that allowance that made all the difference because Ray Carter failed to ride another winner. He relinquished his licence the following season.

Ray Carter’s winners were:

1. Knight’s Gambit, Hurst Park, November 20, 1952

2. Knight’s Gambit, Windsor, January 9, 1953

3. Silver Bow, Plumpton, February 25, 1953

4. Silver Bow, Fontwell Park, September 28, 1953

5. Star Inn, Plumpton, January 6, 1954

6. Star Inn, Fontwell Park, February 16, 1954

7. Star Inn, Hurst Park, March 6, 1954

8. Bachelor’s Spur, Wye, October 18, 1954

9. Bachelor’s Spur, Plumpton, November 17, 1954

10. Star Inn, Plumpton, February 2, 1955

11. Bronzmazon, Kempton Park, February 26, 1955

12. Bronzmazon, Hurst Park, March 11, 1955

13. Bachelor’s Spur, Plumpton, September 26, 1955

14. Red House, Plumpton, September 26, 1955

15. Red House, Fontwell Park, October 3, 1955

16. Alencon, Lingfield Park, November 25, 1955

17. Mischievous Mac, Hurst Park, March 10, 1956

18. Spumante, Lingfield Park, March 15, 1956

19. Spumante, Sandown Park, March 17, 1956

20. Robertson, Wye, September 30, 1957

21. Robertson, Fontwell Park, October 8, 1957

22. Pelican’s Pay, Folkestone, September 8, 1958

23. Candelabra, Folkestone, September 9, 1958

24. Pelican’s Pay, Wye, September 29, 1958

25. Candelabra, Fontwell Park, October 7, 1958