Peter Chisman

Peter Chisman

Born in Epsom on February 26, 1926, Peter Chisman rode as an amateur between 1948 and 1952 before turning professional. He was the leading amateur in the 1950-51 season.

Peter served in H.M. Forces between 1941 and 1945. He had his first ride at Birmingham on February 16, 1948, when Mister Marco was one of ten fallers in the Warwickshire Foxhunters’ Chase (Division 2). It was more than two years later that he had his first success when Over Land, trained by Fred Rimell, made all to beat Hal’s Venture, ridden by Tim Molony, by five lengths to land the City of Exeter Challenger Cup, a handicap chase, at Devon & Exeter on September 13, 1950. They won again at Ludlow two weeks later.

A further eleven winners followed that season, all but two trained by Fred Rimell, ensuring that he finished one ahead of Tommy Robson in the amateur jockeys’ championship, and two in front of Michael Scudamore. Peter’s victories included two at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting: Mighty Fine in the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup, and Mrs Lurline Brotherton’s Cushendun, trained by Bobby Renton, in the National Hunt Chase. The latter victory was achieved in April because the second and third days of the National Hunt meeting in March had been postponed due to a waterlogged course.  

Peter won the Kim Muir for a second time on Menzies in 1952. He rode Mighty Fine in the 1953 Cheltenham Gold Cup, although they never featured in the race won by Tim Molony on Knock Hard.

Peter rode as a professional between 1952 and 1956. In 1953 he won the Becher Chase on Larry Finn. He also rode Astara to seven consecutive wins in novice chases.

On March 1, 1954, he married Pat Vasey, daughter of trainer Melton Avril Vasey. They had one son, Mark Simon. 

Peter had his final win when Big Bess scored by two lengths on the Aldborough Novices’ Chase at Sedgefield on September 15, 1956. He bowed out with a final ride at Wetherby on February 9, 1957, finishing unplaced on Solstice in the Acomb Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2). 

Having retired from the saddle he initially started a haulage company. However, having studied training under Fred Rimell and Epsom-based John Reardon, Peter took out a trainer’s licence in 1962, based at Glasgow House, Middleham, Leyburn, in North Yorkshire. Early good horse he trained included Randfontein, Chiron, Ebony Prince and Dark Sultan. He relinquished his licence in the mid-1970s.

Peter Chisman died at Worthing on August 19, 1984, aged 58.

Big winners:

1951: National Hunt Chase – Cushendun 

1951: Kim Muir Chase – Mighty Fine 

1952: Kim Muir Chase – Menzies 

1952: Becher Chase – Larry Finn  

Peter Chisman’s record over the Grand National course

1. Topham, Trophy, April 4, 1951: Over Land, ran out

2. Foxhunters’ Chase, April 4, 1951: Lucky Purchase, finished 2nd 

3. Valentine Chase, November 7, 1951: Over Land, finished 2nd 

4. Foxhunters’ Chase, April 2, 1952: Lucky Purchase, fell

5. Becher Chase, November 6, 1952: Larry Finn, won

6. Topham Trophy, March 26, 1953: Tudor Line, pulled up

7. Topham Trophy, March 25, 1954: Larry Finn, fell

8. Topham Trophy, March 24, 1955: Bourdon House, pulled up