Tony Bowker

Tony Bowker

Article by Alan Trout

Anthony Bowker, known as Tony, rode with some success over jumps throughout the 1970s and had 35 winners. 

Born on July 14, 1953, he was associated initially with the stable of Tony Dickinson. His first ride was on Hy-Image, finishing fifth of six runners in the Dee Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Bangor-on Dee on April 10, 1970. Tony kept the ride and following an unplaced effort at Sedgefield and a fourth place at Uttoxeter, they finally scored in the Shire Selling Handicap Hurdle at Hexham on May 23, the winning distance being four lengths.

Just three days later, Tony won again when Vulenco won a similar contest at Uttoxeter, holding off the challenge of Jimmy Uttley on Northern Sprite. However, after a third success at Newcastle in November, Tony went without a winner for over 15 months. 

He then joined up with trainer Alf Watson and had the occasional success but at one stage was winless for nearly two years. But his luck changed for the better when teaming up with Jack Hanson, who was just starting his training career. Tony enjoyed his best season with 11 wins in the 1975/76 season, including three doubles as well as three wins on the novice Winter Melody, one of which was the valuable Panama Cigar Hurdle Final at Chepstow. The five-year-old took the lead at halfway and ran on to beat David Goulding’s mount Wotdyknow by a comfortable four lengths. 

Another recent recruit to the training ranks, Richard Whitaker, supplied Tony with his last nine wins, six of them gained on the chaser Caravino, and his last victory may have been the best, for at Market Rasen on May 16, 1980, the combination stayed on strongly to land the Theodore West Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase by ten lengths. 

Tony had his final ride at Uttoxeter on April 12, 1982, when Bobbie Gordon was pulled up in after early prominence in the Chesterfield Selling Handicap Chase. 

Tony Bowker’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Hy-Image, Hexham, May 23, 1970

2. Vulenco, Uttoxeter, May 26, 1970

3. Stars Monty, Newcastle, November 28, 1970

4. Kronge, Sedgefield, March 11, 1972

5. Blonde Viking, Wetherby, February 3, 1973

6. Crossacres, Catterick Bridge, February 21, 1973

7. Three Fred’s, Catterick Bridge, November 3, 1973

8. Rednot, Teesside Park, November 12, 1973

9. Kronge, Wetherby, November 27, 1973

10. Bar Rock, Newcastle, October 29, 1975

11. Bar Rock, Haydock Park, November 27, 1975

12. Winter Melody, Wetherby, December 26, 1975

13. Bar Rock, Wetherby, December 26, 1975

14. Knaresboro, Wetherby, February 7, 1976

15. Winter Melody, Wetherby, February 7, 1976

16. Winter Melody, Chepstow, March 13, 1976

17. Young Thomas, Wetherby, April 20, 1976

18. Young Thomas, Newcastle, May 1, 1976

19, Saucy Talker, Newcastle, May 1, 1976

20. Ingham, Wetherby, May 5, 1976

21. Prince Vision, Leicester, November 16, 1976

22. Winter Melody, Haydock Park, March 5, 1977

23. Toughie, Huntingdon, March 8, 1977

24. Bar Rock, Wetherby, June 6, 1977

25. Opium Queen, Sedgefield, September 27, 1977

26. Bar Rock, Wetherby, October 12, 1977

27. Biscuit, Teesside Park, January 22, 1979

28. Caravino, Plumpton, February 5, 1979

29. Biscuity, Catterick Bridge, April 19, 1979

30. Caravino, Kelso, May 22, 1979

31. Harvest Day, Carlisle, October 26, 1979

32. Caravino, Kelso, January 16, 1980

33. Caravino, Kelso, Wetherby, May 7, 1980

34. Caravino, Kelso, December 15, 1980

35. Caravino, Market Rasen, May 16, 1981