Stan Clayton

The son of a farmer, Stanley Thomas Clayton, born at Belton, near Doncaster, on March 3, 1926, was apprenticed to Billy Smallwood in his native South Yorkshire and rode his first winner, Yorkist, at Pontefract on Monday, April 26, 1943.

His greatest success came on the Geoffrey Brooke-trained Neasham Belle in the 1951 Oaks. 

In 1965, Stan replaced Harry Carr as royal jockey, and rode the Queen's Cannisbay to victory in the Eclipse.

Another special victory came when winning the Portland Handicap on Welsh Abbott for Sir Winston Churchill, whose Golden Wedding Anniversary it was that day.

To these wins Clayton added two Goodwood Cups, three City & Suburbans, Ribblesdale Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and the Yorkshire Cup.

He retired in 1969 and had some success as a trainer in Scandinavia. He returned to England and became assistant trainer to Jack Clayton (no relation).

Because of ill-health, he finally retired in 1979.

Stan, an ex-miner and budgerigar fancier, returned to his home town of Doncaster, where he died of kidney disease in August, 1985.

Classic winner

Oaks: Neasham Belle (1951)

Other big wins:

1954:  Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Whitebrigg 

1956:  Windsor Castle Stakes – Fuller

1958:  City & Suburban Handicap – Setting Star

1958:  Dee Stakes – Pandour 

1858:  Midland Breeders’ Foal Stakes – Trimmer 

1958:  Lingfield Oaks Trial – None Nicer 

1958:  Ribblesdale Stakes – None Nicer

1958:  Yorkshire Oaks – None Nicer

1958:  Lowther Stakes – Fortune’s Darling 

1958:  Portland Handicap – Welsh Abbot

1958:  Diadem Stakes – Jack & Jill 

1959:  Chester Vase – Fidalgo

1859:  Midland Breeders’ Foal Stakes – Dickens 

1959:  King George V Handicap – Suki Desu

1960:  Imperial Stakes – The Axe 

1963:  City & Suburban Handicap – Tahiri

1963:  Princess Margaret Stakes – High Powered

1964:  Vaux Gold Tankard – I Titan

1964:  Goodwood Cup – Raise You Ten

1965:  Eclipse Stakes – Canisbay

1965:  Goodwood Stakes – Gold Aura 

1965:  Goodwood Cup – Apprentice

1965:  Yorkshire Cup – Apprentice

1965: Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Court Gift 

1966:  Lingfield Oaks Trial – Varinia