Simon Crook

Simon Crook

Article by Alan Trout

Born in 1962, Simon John Crook did not have that many rides under National Hunt rules but won on three of them. He had the great advantage of being a conditional jockey for the incomparable Martin Pipe. 

Simon’s first ride was at Market Rasen on March 7, 1986, when Kilcha Girl finished second to Buck Up in the Swinderby Novices’ Hurdle, although beaten ten lengths by the winner. 

He gained his first success in the E.B.F. Stakes National Hunt Flat Race at Fontwell Park on April 15, 1986, when Penny Rose led for the last ten furlongs to score by 15 lengths. 

His second win came at Ludlow on December 16, 1986, when forcing Careen up near the line to beat Wedding Talk by a length and a half in the Amontillado Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle.

It was Simon’s first start on the five-year-old, and just ten days later they scored again when taking the lead on the flat and running on to score by three lengths in the Christmas Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot. Their two subsequent starts together proved disappointing. 

Simon had less than 20 rides in those two seasons and did not renew his licence thereafter.