Graham Gibbons
Graham Thomas Gibbons was born in Galway on July 1, 1981, the son of a psychiatric nurse. He was virtually brought up on the back of a pony, hunting with the West Galway and then graduating to pony racing circuit where he rode 150 winners in three years, which put him at a considerable advantage over other 7lb claimers when he joined Reg Hollinshead as an apprentice.
Graham Thomas Gibbons was born in Galway on July 1, 1981, the son of a psychiatric nurse. He was virtually brought up on the back of a pony, hunting with the West Galway and then graduating to pony racing circuit where he rode 150 winners in three years, which put him at a considerable advantage over other 7lb claimers when he joined Reg Hollinshead as an apprentice.
A successful graduate of that famous apprentice academy, Gibbons rode out his claim while with Hollinshead. But bigger rides came his way when he joined Bryan McMahon, for whom he rode Look Here’s Carol in Russian Rhythm’s 1,000 Guineas.
A successful graduate of that famous apprentice academy, Gibbons rode out his claim while with Hollinshead. But bigger rides came his way when he joined Bryan McMahon, for whom he rode Look Here’s Carol in Russian Rhythm’s 1,000 Guineas.
He achieved his first Group race success when winning the 2005 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood on John Fretwell’s Always Hopeful. The pair then finished third in the Prix Morny.
He achieved his first Group race success when winning the 2005 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood on John Fretwell’s Always Hopeful. The pair then finished third in the Prix Morny.
He then had a four-year stint with John Quinn, whose Pevensey gave him a first Royal Ascot victory in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in 2007. He was also the regular partner of Quinn’s grand servant Blythe Knight, on whom he won the 2006 Lincoln (run that year at Redcar with Doncaster under reconstruction), the Listed Hambleton Handicap at York in 2007, and back-to-back renewals of Epsom’s Group 3 Diomed Stakes in 2007 and 2008.
He then had a four-year stint with John Quinn, whose Pevensey gave him a first Royal Ascot victory in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in 2007. He was also the regular partner of Quinn’s grand servant Blythe Knight, on whom he won the 2006 Lincoln (run that year at Redcar with Doncaster under reconstruction), the Listed Hambleton Handicap at York in 2007, and back-to-back renewals of Epsom’s Group 3 Diomed Stakes in 2007 and 2008.
In May 2010 he won three in a row on Mick Easterby’s sprinter Hoof It. By then he was regarded by many as just about the best freelance jockey operating in the north. Horses ran for him and he had a coterie of Yorkshire trainers who used him regularly. He recorded a career-high year tally of 98 winners in Britain in 2013. He achieved another high-profile victory in the 2015 Gimcrack Stakes aboard the William Haggas-trained Ajaya.
In May 2010 he won three in a row on Mick Easterby’s sprinter Hoof It. By then he was regarded by many as just about the best freelance jockey operating in the north. Horses ran for him and he had a coterie of Yorkshire trainers who used him regularly. He recorded a career-high year tally of 98 winners in Britain in 2013. He achieved another high-profile victory in the 2015 Gimcrack Stakes aboard the William Haggas-trained Ajaya.
However, he was by his own admission an enfant terrible and although he tried to put that behind him, he often found himself in trouble with the authorities. He was banned for five weeks in November 2007 after falling foul of the BHA’s drink-ride limit when failing a breath test at Hamilton two months earlier.
However, he was by his own admission an enfant terrible and although he tried to put that behind him, he often found himself in trouble with the authorities. He was banned for five weeks in November 2007 after falling foul of the BHA’s drink-ride limit when failing a breath test at Hamilton two months earlier.
He had a history of drink-related problems and admitted that he had “struggled with drink”. Graham was banned three times for drink-driving, culminating in a four-year driving ban in 2011, after pleading guilty to driving while nearly three times over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance.
He had a history of drink-related problems and admitted that he had “struggled with drink”. Graham was banned three times for drink-driving, culminating in a four-year driving ban in 2011, after pleading guilty to driving while nearly three times over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance.
In 2013, he was arrested by police during racing at Wolverhampton by West Midlands Police on behalf of their Yorkshire counterparts for an incident in which he was alleged to have been drunk and disorderly.
In 2013, he was arrested by police during racing at Wolverhampton by West Midlands Police on behalf of their Yorkshire counterparts for an incident in which he was alleged to have been drunk and disorderly.
Worse was to follow three years later. He had ridden over 1,050 winners in Britain since 2000, the most recent of which had come on Sir Michael Stoute’s Our Yangtze at Haydock on September 23, 2016, his 94th of the year. Just under three months later, on Wednesday, December 7, he journeyed to Kempton for one ride, finishing sixth on Button Up for Sir Michael Stoute in the mile maiden. It was to be his last.
Worse was to follow three years later. He had ridden over 1,050 winners in Britain since 2000, the most recent of which had come on Sir Michael Stoute’s Our Yangtze at Haydock on September 23, 2016, his 94th of the year. Just under three months later, on Wednesday, December 7, he journeyed to Kempton for one ride, finishing sixth on Button Up for Sir Michael Stoute in the mile maiden. It was to be his last.
It was alleged that he had switched urine samples with apprentice jockey Callum Shepherd after he was asked to provide a routine dope and alcohol test by BHA officials on the night. The stewards interviewed Gibbons, Shepherd and a valet. Gibbons admitted the offence and stood himself down indefinitely following the twilight meeting. A genuine sample was subsequently given by Gibbons and was sent for testing. Meanwhile, given the seriousness of the matter, it was referred by the Kempton stewards to the British Horseracing Authority.
It was alleged that he had switched urine samples with apprentice jockey Callum Shepherd after he was asked to provide a routine dope and alcohol test by BHA officials on the night. The stewards interviewed Gibbons, Shepherd and a valet. Gibbons admitted the offence and stood himself down indefinitely following the twilight meeting. A genuine sample was subsequently given by Gibbons and was sent for testing. Meanwhile, given the seriousness of the matter, it was referred by the Kempton stewards to the British Horseracing Authority.
Gibbons handed in his licence the following week, relinquishing it with immediate effect when the BHA launched an investigation into the Kempton allegations. When the results of the urine sample came back, it was found that he had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. He was also accused of conduct prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and/or good reputation of horseracing over his actions in attempting to use another jockey’s sample.
Gibbons handed in his licence the following week, relinquishing it with immediate effect when the BHA launched an investigation into the Kempton allegations. When the results of the urine sample came back, it was found that he had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. He was also accused of conduct prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and/or good reputation of horseracing over his actions in attempting to use another jockey’s sample.
In October 2017 he was suspended for a combined total of two and a half years, backdated to December 2016, after pleading guilty to swapping urine tests and providing a sample with a metabolite of cocaine at Kempton on December 7, 2016. He was given a six-month suspension for the failed drugs test and a further two-year ban – starting when the first sanction ended – for swapping samples. He will be eligible to reapply for his licence in June 2019.
In October 2017 he was suspended for a combined total of two and a half years, backdated to December 2016, after pleading guilty to swapping urine tests and providing a sample with a metabolite of cocaine at Kempton on December 7, 2016. He was given a six-month suspension for the failed drugs test and a further two-year ban – starting when the first sanction ended – for swapping samples. He will be eligible to reapply for his licence in June 2019.
Big winners
Big winners
2005: Richmond Stakes – Always Hopeful
2005: Richmond Stakes – Always Hopeful
2006: Lincoln Handicap – Blythe Knight
2006: Lincoln Handicap – Blythe Knight
2007: Hambleton Handicap – Blythe Knight
2007: Hambleton Handicap – Blythe Knight
2007: Diomed Stakes – Blythe Knight
2007: Diomed Stakes – Blythe Knight
2007: Duke of Edinburgh (Bessborough) Stakes – Pevensey
2007: Duke of Edinburgh (Bessborough) Stakes – Pevensey
2007: Cecil Frail Stakes – Cartimandua
2007: Cecil Frail Stakes – Cartimandua
2008: Diomed Stakes – Blythe Knight
2008: Diomed Stakes – Blythe Knight
2013: Zetland Gold Cup – Clon Brulee
2013: Zetland Gold Cup – Clon Brulee
2013: Cumberland Plate – Warlu Way
2013: Cumberland Plate – Warlu Way
2015: Gimcrack Stakes – Ajaya
2015: Gimcrack Stakes – Ajaya