Jump jockey Mark Caswell was born on August 16, 1959. He joined Cheltenham trainer Owen O’Neill as an 18-year-old and stayed with him throughout, riding about 40 winners in a ten-year career.
He began as an amateur and rode his first winner, Dr. Hines, at Southwell on 11 October 1976. He turned professional soon after and went on to enjoy his best season in 1983/84 with ten winners. However, from thereon his opportunities steadily dwindled. He rode no winners at all in 1985/86.
Early in 1987 he won a brace of four-year-old novice hurdles on O’Neill’s Stormy Prospect, at Wetherby on January 6 and Wolverhampton on February 9. He rated that horse as the best he rode.
He announced his retirement on a winning note, aged 28, after Highfire had been awarded the ICCG Sterling Novices’ Hurdle in the Cheltenham stewards’ room on October 7, 1987, having finished second. The first past the post, Atig, had veered left on the run-in and chopped off the third-placed horse Xhai, leading to Atig being relegated to third place behind Xhai.
Mark explained that he did not want to quit but felt he had no option, as he was not getting enough rides to make it pay. He intended to get married the following year and said he was unable to obtain a mortgage on his current earnings.
As the Sporting Life’s reporter commented: “It’s always sad to see anyone leave the game but what better place to finish than Cheltenham – especially on a winner.”
Mark made a one-race comeback on October 16, 1996, taking part in the William Hill ‘Golden Oldies’ Invitation flat race for retired jump jockeys. He finished second on Dai Burchell’s Bright Sapphire, beaten by Peter Scudamore on Shahrani, but finishing ahead of some other former weighing room colleagues including Colin Brown, Gordon Holmes, Simon Earle and Bryan Smart.
From a local paper - 21 October 2012
A retired National Hunt jockey from Gloucestershire has said his first win in 25 years was "a dream of a ride".
Mark Caswell, who now works as a pest controller, last raced in 1987 but came out of retirement for a charity ride at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday.
"It's a dream come true," said Mr Caswell, who won aboard Martin Keighley's Sky Calling in the one mile five furlong Greatwood Charity Race.
It was run on day two of The Showcase, an October meeting at the racecourse.
The Greatwood Charity Race is an all-out flat race that features up to 12 jockeys raising funds for the charity's work with retired racehorses.
Trainer Mr Keighley, from Condicote, said it was clear to see the retired jockey had "not lost it".
Mr Caswell took the prize just ahead of Paul Nicholls' wife Georgie, who was riding Saint Roque which is trained by her husband.
Before the race, Mr Caswell said he underwent a "serious fitness programme" to get in condition for the race.
Mark Caswell retired from horse racing in 1987
