Dick Allan
1946-2021
Far better known as a successful Borders-based trainer, Adam Richard Allan, always known as Dick Allan, rode over jumps for three seasons in the late 1960s/early 70s and had two winners from 34 mounts.
Born in Kelso on December 15, 1946, he was associated initially with permit holder Alex Leggatt, who trained at Biggar, in Lanarkshire, and it was on one of the horses trained by him and owned by Mrs Leggatt that Dick had his first winner, when Videmanette came with a strong challenge in the last 100 yards to win the Smallholme Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Kelso on December 16, 1969.
He employed the same tactics on that horse ten days later at Wetherby on Boxing Day to overhaul Miracle Ace, the mount of Johnny Leech, to win the Christmas Juvenile Hurdle (Division 1) by a length. Hopes of a three-timer at Ayr on January 3, 1970, were dashed when Pelham, ridden by Martin Blackshaw, comfortably beat Videmanette by seven lengths in the Trabboch Hurdle (Division 1). Videmanette did not run again that season.
Dick relinquished his jockey’s licence in January 1971 and, having spent time with trainers Bobby Fairbairn, Wilf Crawford and Gordon W. Richards, took out a permit during the 1976/77 season and sent out his first winner at Kelso, the course where he had ridden his first winner, when 16-1 chance Some Hazard, ridden by Jonjo O’Neill, won a handicap hurdle on October 1, 1977.
Graduating to a full trainer's licence, he went on to saddle more than 260 winners, including Pat's Jester to win the 1987 Bula Hurdle and 1988 Scottish Champion Hurdle. Owned by Geoff Adam, Pat’s Jester was also top-class over fences and was second to The Fellow in the 1992 King George VI Chase.
Another high-class chaser he trained was Clay County, who broke the two-mile chase course record at Ayr and landed the Grade 1 Northumberland Gold Cup in 1991 at Newcastle.
He also enjoyed success on the Flat and struck with the likes of Sunbird and Kharif from his Pallisburn Stables, just over the border at Cornhill-on-Tweed and, latterly, at St Boswells near Melrose.
However, he courted controversy in 1991 when, along with jockey Brian Storey, he received a six-month ban over the running and riding of Flowing River at Kelso.
Dick, whose business interests included greyhound racing, last appeared in the Horses in Training list in 2011.
He died in July 2021 at the age of 74 following a long battle with cancer. He was survived by two children, Kevin and Lorna, and his ex-wife Beverley.
