Brian Charley

Brian Charley

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden three winners as an amateur, Brian Eric Charley turned professional in March 1974 and had another six successes before injury cut his career short.

His first victory was at Newton Abbot on August 11, 1972, when Misdevina took the lead on the flat and ran on to beat Spoilt Boy by a length and a half and land the Taw Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle.

Despite having some three dozen rides that season, Brian had to wait just over a year for his second win, but at Southwell on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27, he beat two much more experienced jockeys, Pat Buckley and Ron Hyett, when Great Haste landed the three-runner Holiday Novices’ Chase. Five days later, the pair followed up at Stratford, but Brian could not add to his total in the amateur ranks before turning professional.

However, he made an excellent start to his professional career when his first ride, Our Arthur, led all the way to take the Welford Opportunity Handicap Chase at Stratford on March 7, 1974, scoring by 30 lengths. He had plenty of rides during the rest of the season, resulting in three more wins. 

There were two more victories in the 1974/75 campaign, the last coming at Newton Abbot on January 17, 1975, when Bucks Head had a comfortable victory by 12 lengths in the Babbacombe Handicap Chase. 

Sadly, his career was ended later that year when he smashed his right leg while schooling a horse for trainer John Spearing. He underwent two major operations but was unable to ride in races again. 

Brian Charley’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Misdevina, Newton Abbot, August 11, 1972

2. Great Haste, Southwell, August 27, 1973

3. Great Haste, Stratford-on-Avon, September 1, 1973

4. Our Arthur, Stratford-on-Avon, March 7, 1974

5. Dancing Samba, Southwell, April 11, 1974

6. Some Surprise, Hereford, April 15, 1974

7. Rabra, Hexham, May 17, 1974

8. Our Arthur, Taunton, October 3, 1974

9. Bucks Head, Newton Abbot, January 17, 1975