Peter Clarke

Peter Clarke 

Peter Clarke was based with Basingstoke trainer Jack Holt and had his one win for him when successful on the 12-year-old Clever Cobbler in the Alconbury Selling Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on August Bank Holiday Monday, August 28, 1967. 

Clever Cobbler had not shown much form for a while but, in a tight three-way finish, he prevailed by a head from Clydes Romance, on whom young Frank Byrne was having just his second ride in public, with the odds-on favourite Speedwell a neck further away in third.  

There was no bid for the veteran at the post-race auction and that proved to be the last race of his career. As for Peter Clarke, he had a total of 19 rides during the campaign but, other than that solitary win, one third place was all he could muster. He did not renew his licence the following season.  

He rode in Ireland thereafter and recorded by far his biggest win on Autumn Wonder in the £1,540 Carroll Handicap Hurdle at Dundalk on August 30, 1975, eight years after his sole success in England.