Reg Crank

Reg Crank, born July 16, 1954, was 35 when he rode his last winner, Sally's Dove, at Bangor on Wednesday March 7, 1990.

He began his racing career with Colin Crossley and had ridden his first, Sovereign's Parade, on the flat at Carlisle when just 15 years old. This was his only winner on the flat. He then rode 21 winners over jumps before turning professional in 1973.

He rode his 100th winner when partnering Toussaint to victory in the Onibury Handicap Chase at Ludlow on Wednesday October 4. 1978

Reg had about 250 winners in all, the highlights being his two Cheltenham winners, Cross Master and Roaring Wind.

He began training from a livery yard with about a dozen horses, including five point-to-pointers.

As a 13-year-old, then living in Chester, Reg won the National Junior Foxhunter championship on the six-year-old chestnut Irish mare, Miss Gail.

Lester Piggott came across a grey horse in a field belonging to Reg and wanted to buy it. Reg asked for, and got, £5,000.

Lester named it Iri's Gift after his recently deceased mother and every time the horse ran, Lester made a pilgrimage to put flowers on her grave.

Iri's Gift turned out to be an exceptional racehorse; Lester was offered, and turned down, one million pounds for it.

Reg Crank had made a bad bargain.

Reg Crank

Big winners:

1976: Arkle Trophy – Roaring Wind 

1978: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Master H  

1986: Sun Alliance Chase – Cross Master