Pat Caldwell

Pat Caldwell

Article by Alan Trout

Patrick Andrew Caldwell rode six winners over jumps riding as a conditional for his father Terry Caldwell, who trained at Appleton, near Warrington. His elder brother Peter enjoyed a greater measure of success under National Hunt rules, also on horses trained by his father.

Pat finished third on his first ride, one place behind his brother, when contesting the Halbrighton Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee on September 19, 1987. Peter was only beaten two lengths by the winner but there was then a gap of 30 lengths before Pat arrived on Quite A Quest. 

It was not until March 17, 1990 that Pat finally rode his first winner, and it was only in the last few strides that he forced Rodchenko up to beat Strike A Point and land the Marston’s Brewery Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter, scoring by a head. 

Three years elapsed before Pat won again. This time it was on Sandstone Arch, trained like Rodchenko by his father, making all to take the Teal Novices’ Chase at Catterick on March 15, 1993. The pair won again at Kelso on April 5, finishing ten lengths clear in the Glengoyne Highland Malt Tamerosia Series Novices’ Chase (Qualifier). 

There was only one success for Pat the following season when Playful Juliet beat Martell Boy by eight lengths in the Orbital Centre Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter in December.

He made a bright start to the 1994/95 campaign when Out Of Favour scored by 20 lengths in the Federation Brewery Sporting Club Hurdle at Hexham on August 22, followed by a narrow victory on Emerald Venture in the Kelder Marketing Group Selling Hurdle at the same course on September 30. However, they turned out to be the last wins of his career. Emerald Venture showed nothing in six subsequent outings, with Pat aboard for five of them. 

Pat Caldwell’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Rodchenko, Uttoxeter, March 17, 1990

2. Sandstone Arch, Catterick Bridge, March 15, 1993

3. Sandstone Arch, Kelso, April 5, 1993

4. Playful Juliet, Uttoxeter, December 17, 1993

5. Out Of Favour, Hexham, August 22, 1994

6. Emerald Venture, September 30, 1994