Dale Gibson
Photo courtesy Mary Pitt
Photo courtesy Mary Pitt
Hailing from a racing family, Dale Richard Gibson was born in Newmarket on April 25, 1968 and, aged 16, was apprenticed to Lord Huntingdon. He rode his first winner on Granny's Bank at Pontefract on October 14, 1985.
Hailing from a racing family, Dale Richard Gibson was born in Newmarket on April 25, 1968 and, aged 16, was apprenticed to Lord Huntingdon. He rode his first winner on Granny's Bank at Pontefract on October 14, 1985.
Dale finished joint-third with Jimmy Fortune in the 1989 apprentice championship behind Frankie Dettori and Alan Munro. He rode a whole host of big winners, including the Newbury Spring Cup (El Rey), the 1989 Stewards’ Cup (Very Adjacent), the Mail On Sunday Handicap Final (Indian Queen, the subsequent Ascot Gold Cup winner), Irish November Handicap (Athy Spirit) and the City and Suburban and Rosebery Handicap double at Epsom on Starlet, owned and bred by the Queen
Dale finished joint-third with Jimmy Fortune in the 1989 apprentice championship behind Frankie Dettori and Alan Munro. He rode a whole host of big winners, including the Newbury Spring Cup (El Rey), the 1989 Stewards’ Cup (Very Adjacent), the Mail On Sunday Handicap Final (Indian Queen, the subsequent Ascot Gold Cup winner), Irish November Handicap (Athy Spirit) and the City and Suburban and Rosebery Handicap double at Epsom on Starlet, owned and bred by the Queen
Dale married his wife Julie and moved to Boston Spa, North Yorkshire in March 1994. Two years later he suffered a bad fall at Beverley, fracturing four ribs and losing his spleen, which kept him in hospital for 24 days and which put him on the sidelines for five months.
Dale married his wife Julie and moved to Boston Spa, North Yorkshire in March 1994. Two years later he suffered a bad fall at Beverley, fracturing four ribs and losing his spleen, which kept him in hospital for 24 days and which put him on the sidelines for five months.
He found the going tough when he returned to the saddle, enduring three “quiet years” before bouncing back to prominence when winning the 2000 Great St Wilfrid Handicap on William’s Well, trained at Sheriff Hutton by Mick Easterby.
He found the going tough when he returned to the saddle, enduring three “quiet years” before bouncing back to prominence when winning the 2000 Great St Wilfrid Handicap on William’s Well, trained at Sheriff Hutton by Mick Easterby.
Another member of that famous Yorkshire training family, Tim Easterby, supplied Dale with a notable victory in 2002, when he won the prestigious William Hill Sprint Trophy aboard Artie. In so doing, Dale created a small slice history, in that Artie was the last winner of a heritage handicap in Europe to carry 7st 10lb, because within a couple of weeks, a rule was passed raising the lowest permissible weight to 7st 12lb.
Another member of that famous Yorkshire training family, Tim Easterby, supplied Dale with a notable victory in 2002, when he won the prestigious William Hill Sprint Trophy aboard Artie. In so doing, Dale created a small slice history, in that Artie was the last winner of a heritage handicap in Europe to carry 7st 10lb, because within a couple of weeks, a rule was passed raising the lowest permissible weight to 7st 12lb.
In May 2005 he won the Listed Marygate Stakes at York on Mick Easterby’s filly Bow Bridge. In May 2009 Dale won another York Listed race on Nicky Henderson’s Caracciola.
In May 2005 he won the Listed Marygate Stakes at York on Mick Easterby’s filly Bow Bridge. In May 2009 Dale won another York Listed race on Nicky Henderson’s Caracciola.
He retired in October 2009, appropriately at York, where he had enjoyed so much success during a career which in which he had ridden more than 500 winners.
He retired in October 2009, appropriately at York, where he had enjoyed so much success during a career which in which he had ridden more than 500 winners.
Dale is still very much involved in the racing industry, both as a TV pundit and, more importantly, as executive director of the Professional Jockeys Association.
Dale is still very much involved in the racing industry, both as a TV pundit and, more importantly, as executive director of the Professional Jockeys Association.
Big winners
Big winners
1989: Newbury Spring Cup – El Rey
1989: Newbury Spring Cup – El Rey
1989: Stewards Cup – Very Adjacent
1989: Stewards Cup – Very Adjacent
1990: Rosebery Handicap – Starlet
1990: Rosebery Handicap – Starlet
1990: City and Suburban Handicap – Starlet
1990: City and Suburban Handicap – Starlet
1995: Goodwood Stakes – Imad
1995: Goodwood Stakes – Imad
2000: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – William’s Well
2000: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – William’s Well
2002: William Hull Sprint Trophy – Artie
2002: William Hull Sprint Trophy – Artie
2003: Carlisle Bell – Top Dirham
2003: Carlisle Bell – Top Dirham
2009: Grand Cup (York) –Caracciola
2009: Grand Cup (York) –Caracciola