John Goldsmith
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Few racing fans will remember the name of John Goldsmith but for a few brief months in the summer and autumn of 1965, during which he rode six winners, all in apprentice races, he was regarded as something of a rising star.
Few racing fans will remember the name of John Goldsmith but for a few brief months in the summer and autumn of 1965, during which he rode six winners, all in apprentice races, he was regarded as something of a rising star.
John Goldsmith was born on October 23, 1946, in the village of Great Livermere, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and became apprenticed to Ryan Jarvis at Newmarket in 1962. He rode his first winner on Flame Dancer in the Burgesses Apprentice Maiden at Yarmouth on June 24, 1965, following up at Beverley on July 9. He rode his third winner on Pretty Story at Warwick later that month.
John Goldsmith was born on October 23, 1946, in the village of Great Livermere, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and became apprenticed to Ryan Jarvis at Newmarket in 1962. He rode his first winner on Flame Dancer in the Burgesses Apprentice Maiden at Yarmouth on June 24, 1965, following up at Beverley on July 9. He rode his third winner on Pretty Story at Warwick later that month.
His fourth winner was Glencar in Granby Apprentice Stakes at Leicester on September 20; his fifth – from only eight rides so far – came on Pretty Story at Nottingham on October 4. Two days later he won on Glencar again, this time at Lingfield. He finished the season with six winners, all for Ryan Jarvis, from just 13 rides, giving him an impressive strike rate of almost 50 per cent.
His fourth winner was Glencar in Granby Apprentice Stakes at Leicester on September 20; his fifth – from only eight rides so far – came on Pretty Story at Nottingham on October 4. Two days later he won on Glencar again, this time at Lingfield. He finished the season with six winners, all for Ryan Jarvis, from just 13 rides, giving him an impressive strike rate of almost 50 per cent.
His first winner of 1966 was also his first against senior jockeys, gaining a comfortable success on the two-year-old filly Lady Clare at Alexandra Park on May 11. But disaster struck in an apprentice race at Bath eight days later when his mount stumbled and unseated him, fracturing his left forearm.
His first winner of 1966 was also his first against senior jockeys, gaining a comfortable success on the two-year-old filly Lady Clare at Alexandra Park on May 11. But disaster struck in an apprentice race at Bath eight days later when his mount stumbled and unseated him, fracturing his left forearm.
The injury ruled him out for most of the year. He returned at the back end of the season and rode one more winner, on Ryan Jarvis’s Brave Pat in the Cold Ash Handicap for three-year-olds at Newbury on November 2.
The injury ruled him out for most of the year. He returned at the back end of the season and rode one more winner, on Ryan Jarvis’s Brave Pat in the Cold Ash Handicap for three-year-olds at Newbury on November 2.
Sadly, his career never really recovered following his accident at Bath. He rode just a solitary winner from 26 rides in 1967 – Roman Dawn for Wetherby trainer William Newton in a three-horse apprentice race at Chester in September – and two from only 13 rides in 1968, in apprentice races at Ascot and Newmarket for his boss Ryan Jarvis.
Sadly, his career never really recovered following his accident at Bath. He rode just a solitary winner from 26 rides in 1967 – Roman Dawn for Wetherby trainer William Newton in a three-horse apprentice race at Chester in September – and two from only 13 rides in 1968, in apprentice races at Ascot and Newmarket for his boss Ryan Jarvis.
Possibly disillusioned by his lack of opportunities, in 1970 John went to ride in Scandinavia and made an immediate impression there when winning the Listed Skoviska Faltrittklubbens Jubileumslopning on Earl of Roland for trainer Vinzenz Vogel.
Possibly disillusioned by his lack of opportunities, in 1970 John went to ride in Scandinavia and made an immediate impression there when winning the Listed Skoviska Faltrittklubbens Jubileumslopning on Earl of Roland for trainer Vinzenz Vogel.
Then, in 1971, John decided to try his luck in Germany.
Then, in 1971, John decided to try his luck in Germany.
He spent six months riding for Micky Berman before becoming stable jockey to Adolf Wohler (father of Germany's then champion trainer, Andreas).
He spent six months riding for Micky Berman before becoming stable jockey to Adolf Wohler (father of Germany's then champion trainer, Andreas).
John rode Adolf's first winner as a trainer, Freibauer for Stal Dorethee.
John rode Adolf's first winner as a trainer, Freibauer for Stal Dorethee.
In 1974, John moved on to Dortmund, and rode for trainer Norbert Sayer. He stayed for four seasons winning, in that time, the Benizet Rennen in Baden Baden on Tarik, owned by Osterman.
In 1974, John moved on to Dortmund, and rode for trainer Norbert Sayer. He stayed for four seasons winning, in that time, the Benizet Rennen in Baden Baden on Tarik, owned by Osterman.
Numerically, his best day came when riding at Mulheim when he won on five of his six mounts.
Numerically, his best day came when riding at Mulheim when he won on five of his six mounts.
Before moving back to England in 1980, John had ridden 150 winners in his time abroad.
Before moving back to England in 1980, John had ridden 150 winners in his time abroad.
Then, while working for Clive Brittain, he met with a terrible accident.
Then, while working for Clive Brittain, he met with a terrible accident.
The horse he was exercising reared up: John, with his foot trapped in the stirrup, was thrown to the ground. He was dragged along the road, sustaining many broken ribs. Somehow Clive Brittain, fortunately on hand, managed to stop the horse. Without his intervention, there is little doubt that John would not have survived.
The horse he was exercising reared up: John, with his foot trapped in the stirrup, was thrown to the ground. He was dragged along the road, sustaining many broken ribs. Somehow Clive Brittain, fortunately on hand, managed to stop the horse. Without his intervention, there is little doubt that John would not have survived.
He was forced to retire and spent the rest of his working life at Great Barton Stud.
He was forced to retire and spent the rest of his working life at Great Barton Stud.
John Goldsmith’s British winners were, in chronological order:
John Goldsmith’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Flame Dancer, Yarmouth, June 24, 1965
1. Flame Dancer, Yarmouth, June 24, 1965
2. Flame Dancer, Beverley, July 9, 1965
2. Flame Dancer, Beverley, July 9, 1965
3. Pretty Story, Warwick, July 24, 1965
3. Pretty Story, Warwick, July 24, 1965
4. Glencar, Leicester, September 20, 1965
4. Glencar, Leicester, September 20, 1965
5. Pretty Story, Nottingham, October 4, 1965
5. Pretty Story, Nottingham, October 4, 1965
6. Glencar, Lingfield Park, October 6, 1965
6. Glencar, Lingfield Park, October 6, 1965
7. Lady Clare, Alexandra Park, May 11, 1966
7. Lady Clare, Alexandra Park, May 11, 1966
8. Brave Pat, Newbury, November 2, 1966
8. Brave Pat, Newbury, November 2, 1966
9. Roman Dawn, Chester, September 2, 1967
9. Roman Dawn, Chester, September 2, 1967
10. Brave Pat, Ascot, May 3, 1968
10. Brave Pat, Ascot, May 3, 1968
11. Ancarjen, Newmarket, July 10, 1968
11. Ancarjen, Newmarket, July 10, 1968