John Goodgame
National Hunt jockey Johnie Goodgame came closest to achieving a big race victory when finishing third in the 1946 Champion Hurdle on Robin O’Chantry.
National Hunt jockey Johnie Goodgame came closest to achieving a big race victory when finishing third in the 1946 Champion Hurdle on Robin O’Chantry.
John Alfred William Goodgame was born in Essex on March 19, 1915. He had his first ride in public on Vic Fitzroi in the Harville Handicap Hurdle at Wye on September 9, 1936, finishing unplaced. He rode his first winner on Where’s George in the Cookham Selling Handicap Hurdle at another long defunct venue, Hawthorn Hill, on November 8, 1938.
John Alfred William Goodgame was born in Essex on March 19, 1915. He had his first ride in public on Vic Fitzroi in the Harville Handicap Hurdle at Wye on September 9, 1936, finishing unplaced. He rode his first winner on Where’s George in the Cookham Selling Handicap Hurdle at another long defunct venue, Hawthorn Hill, on November 8, 1938.
Johnie had barely got going when war with Germany was declared in September 1939. Although National Hunt racing continued for a while in abbreviated form, it wasn’t until hostilities had ended that Johnie began to carve out a career in the saddle.
Johnie had barely got going when war with Germany was declared in September 1939. Although National Hunt racing continued for a while in abbreviated form, it wasn’t until hostilities had ended that Johnie began to carve out a career in the saddle.
He became stable jockey to Len Holt, who trained a small string at Parndon, near Harlow, in Essex. Holt had provided John with that pre-war winner at Hawthorn Hill. The stable star was Robin O’Chantry, on which Johnie won first time out at Worcester on December 14, 1945 and followed up at Cheltenham eight days later. They won a pair of handicap hurdles at Fontwell Park and Plumpton in February 1946 but then capsized two out at Windsor when holding every chance.
He became stable jockey to Len Holt, who trained a small string at Parndon, near Harlow, in Essex. Holt had provided John with that pre-war winner at Hawthorn Hill. The stable star was Robin O’Chantry, on which Johnie won first time out at Worcester on December 14, 1945 and followed up at Cheltenham eight days later. They won a pair of handicap hurdles at Fontwell Park and Plumpton in February 1946 but then capsized two out at Windsor when holding every chance.
Sent off at 100/6 shots for that year’s Champion Hurdle on March 12, Johnie and Robin O’Chantry made steady progress in the closing stages to snatch third place in the final strides, half a length behind the runner-up Carnival Boy, who was, in turn, a further four lengths behind the Irish-trained winner Distel. Next time out in the Liverpool Hurdle they again finished third, beaten a total of six lengths.
Sent off at 100/6 shots for that year’s Champion Hurdle on March 12, Johnie and Robin O’Chantry made steady progress in the closing stages to snatch third place in the final strides, half a length behind the runner-up Carnival Boy, who was, in turn, a further four lengths behind the Irish-trained winner Distel. Next time out in the Liverpool Hurdle they again finished third, beaten a total of six lengths.
Johnie rode nine winners during that 1945/46 season. By 1947, Len Holt had moved his training operation to Hertford, while Johnie had taken out his own trainer’s licence, based near Potters Bar, while continuing to ride for other local trainers. He saddled and rode Broken Hearted to win a Wye selling hurdle on October 6, 1947 but his best horse was a chaser named Stockton, which he trained and rode to win at Plumpton, Fontwell and Wye in the 1947/48 campaign, during which he again registered nine winners.
Johnie rode nine winners during that 1945/46 season. By 1947, Len Holt had moved his training operation to Hertford, while Johnie had taken out his own trainer’s licence, based near Potters Bar, while continuing to ride for other local trainers. He saddled and rode Broken Hearted to win a Wye selling hurdle on October 6, 1947 but his best horse was a chaser named Stockton, which he trained and rode to win at Plumpton, Fontwell and Wye in the 1947/48 campaign, during which he again registered nine winners.
The highlight of his 1948/49 season was an Easter Monday hat-trick at Plumpton, initiated by Stockton and completed by St Lo in the Easter Cup Handicap Hurdle and Julius in division two of the novices’ hurdle.
The highlight of his 1948/49 season was an Easter Monday hat-trick at Plumpton, initiated by Stockton and completed by St Lo in the Easter Cup Handicap Hurdle and Julius in division two of the novices’ hurdle.
A Boxing Day win on Roll Call at Kempton got him off the mark as a trainer and jockey for the 1949/50 season, but he then had to wait until early March before four-year-old The Twister landed a Hurst Park handicap hurdle to give him his next success in the saddle. The Twister then won again for him at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting. There were two more trainer-ridden victories that season, chaser Prince Paramount at Wincanton in March and novice hurdler Felteric at Towcester’s Whitsun fixture.
A Boxing Day win on Roll Call at Kempton got him off the mark as a trainer and jockey for the 1949/50 season, but he then had to wait until early March before four-year-old The Twister landed a Hurst Park handicap hurdle to give him his next success in the saddle. The Twister then won again for him at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting. There were two more trainer-ridden victories that season, chaser Prince Paramount at Wincanton in March and novice hurdler Felteric at Towcester’s Whitsun fixture.
Although he saddled several winners during the 1950/51 season, Moutiers, in a Kempton Park chase at the end of January, and Prince Paramount, at Hurst Park in March, were the only two he rode himself. He rode four winners in 1951/52, including back-to-back victories on Donate at Towcester in April and Southwell in May.
Although he saddled several winners during the 1950/51 season, Moutiers, in a Kempton Park chase at the end of January, and Prince Paramount, at Hurst Park in March, were the only two he rode himself. He rode four winners in 1951/52, including back-to-back victories on Donate at Towcester in April and Southwell in May.
He gave up training at the end of that season and rode five winners in 1952/53, four of them for Jack Holt, the other for Cliff Beechener.
He gave up training at the end of that season and rode five winners in 1952/53, four of them for Jack Holt, the other for Cliff Beechener.
His six wins in 1953/54 were all for Jack Holt, including a double on Donate and Demonstrate at Fontwell on September 15, 1953. His last winner that season – the 49th and final one of his career in the saddle – was on Rolling Stone in the Novices’ Hurdle at Wye on April 12, 1954.
His six wins in 1953/54 were all for Jack Holt, including a double on Donate and Demonstrate at Fontwell on September 15, 1953. His last winner that season – the 49th and final one of his career in the saddle – was on Rolling Stone in the Novices’ Hurdle at Wye on April 12, 1954.
He made a brief return to training in 1956, based at Westlands Farm, Charlwood in Surrey, with a string of five moderate horses who weren’t really good enough to win a race. He had his final ride on one of them, finishing eighth on Fair Tender at Fontwell Park on April 10, 1957. He relinquished both his jockey’s licence and his trainer’s licence at the end of that season.
He made a brief return to training in 1956, based at Westlands Farm, Charlwood in Surrey, with a string of five moderate horses who weren’t really good enough to win a race. He had his final ride on one of them, finishing eighth on Fair Tender at Fontwell Park on April 10, 1957. He relinquished both his jockey’s licence and his trainer’s licence at the end of that season.
Together with John Lawrence (later Lord Oaksey), he was the race reader for the BBC when the corporation produced its first outside broadcast of a point to point from Holytree Farm, Enfield, where Johnie was then living. For that, he was paid a fee of 10 guineas.
Together with John Lawrence (later Lord Oaksey), he was the race reader for the BBC when the corporation produced its first outside broadcast of a point to point from Holytree Farm, Enfield, where Johnie was then living. For that, he was paid a fee of 10 guineas.
John Goodgame died on October 13, 1996, aged 81.
John Goodgame died on October 13, 1996, aged 81.
Licence & racing photos below courtesy of Peter Goodgame
Licence & racing photos below courtesy of Peter Goodgame
Johnie's first win: Where's George, Hawthorn Hill, November 7, 1938