Lewis Gordon
Lewis's first visit to the winner's enclosure
Lewis's first visit to the winner's enclosure
When, on 5 December, 2014, Islandmagee strolled home the 14 length winner at Chepstow in the hands of ten-pound claimer Lewis Gordon, it was not the manner of its win which had people talking.
When, on 5 December, 2014, Islandmagee strolled home the 14 length winner at Chepstow in the hands of ten-pound claimer Lewis Gordon, it was not the manner of its win which had people talking.
The after-race conversation was centred squarely on its jockey.
The after-race conversation was centred squarely on its jockey.
Lewis, winning his first ever race, was 20 years old, weighed 9st 10lb and stood at five feet ten.
Lewis, winning his first ever race, was 20 years old, weighed 9st 10lb and stood at five feet ten.
He was also black.
He was also black.
It is fair and accurate to say that jump racing in Britain reflects other closely related occupations: there are very few black trainers or farmers. They are few black huntsmen or owners.
It is fair and accurate to say that jump racing in Britain reflects other closely related occupations: there are very few black trainers or farmers. They are few black huntsmen or owners.
Few black kids grow up wanting to be jump jockeys – so it’s all the more credit to Lewis for his achievement.
Few black kids grow up wanting to be jump jockeys – so it’s all the more credit to Lewis for his achievement.
So how did he get into racing?
So how did he get into racing?
'Newbury was my local course,’ he said, ‘and my family used to go there. I was about ten, and I was hooked on racing straight away. The Hennessy was the big race for me – for about eight years I never missed a Hennessy.
'Newbury was my local course,’ he said, ‘and my family used to go there. I was about ten, and I was hooked on racing straight away. The Hennessy was the big race for me – for about eight years I never missed a Hennessy.
‘Tony McCoy was my hero. He made me want to be a jockey. I saw him on horses like Deano’s Beano, Barracuda and Iris’s Gift. I was thinking ‘Jesus Christ! He would have a fall and just walk away.’
‘Tony McCoy was my hero. He made me want to be a jockey. I saw him on horses like Deano’s Beano, Barracuda and Iris’s Gift. I was thinking ‘Jesus Christ! He would have a fall and just walk away.’
‘I was at the British Racing School for a nine-week course. Jennifer and Peter Mason were brilliant to me in the point-to-pointing world and got me going.
‘I was at the British Racing School for a nine-week course. Jennifer and Peter Mason were brilliant to me in the point-to-pointing world and got me going.
‘Since then I have been at the Tizzards and with Mr Henderson. Now I’m with Evan Williams (trainer of Islandmagee).
‘Since then I have been at the Tizzards and with Mr Henderson. Now I’m with Evan Williams (trainer of Islandmagee).
‘It’s just amazing when you think about it. My father is 16 stone and my brother 14 stone five.’
‘It’s just amazing when you think about it. My father is 16 stone and my brother 14 stone five.’
Evan Williams is full of praise for the young jockey.
Evan Williams is full of praise for the young jockey.
‘He’s a hard-working lad with a good attitude and deserves a bit of luck. He’s been with us since the summer and it was great to give him his first winner.’
‘He’s a hard-working lad with a good attitude and deserves a bit of luck. He’s been with us since the summer and it was great to give him his first winner.’
Lewis, summing up, added: ‘I have spent ten years watching racing on the TV and dreaming of winning a race myself. I wanted to do what the top jockeys were doing, and then I was! It was such a great feeling. Whether what I do inspires others black kids to try jump racing I’ve no idea, but if it did – well, it can do no harm.’
Lewis, summing up, added: ‘I have spent ten years watching racing on the TV and dreaming of winning a race myself. I wanted to do what the top jockeys were doing, and then I was! It was such a great feeling. Whether what I do inspires others black kids to try jump racing I’ve no idea, but if it did – well, it can do no harm.’
Amazingly, Lewis then went out and won on his very next two mounts – Nansaroy at Ffos Las and Armchair Theatre at Ludlow.
Amazingly, Lewis then went out and won on his very next two mounts – Nansaroy at Ffos Las and Armchair Theatre at Ludlow.
He has continued this success with victories on, among others, Bonobo (Newton Abbot), Positively Dylan (Chepstow), Dark Spirit (Cheltenham) and Roadie Joe (Worcester). These were all for trainer Evan Williams: he struggles to find rides from outside his stable.
He has continued this success with victories on, among others, Bonobo (Newton Abbot), Positively Dylan (Chepstow), Dark Spirit (Cheltenham) and Roadie Joe (Worcester). These were all for trainer Evan Williams: he struggles to find rides from outside his stable.
Jennifer Mason has fond recollections of the time Lewis spent at her yard, which combines her National Hunt horses with her husband’s point-to-pointers. She says: “Lewis became like a part of our family when he was with us and living with us, and will always remain so. He is a very special person and we are very proud of where he is now. We gave him a great start but only someone like Lewis, with the commitment, can go on and make it as a jockey.”
Jennifer Mason has fond recollections of the time Lewis spent at her yard, which combines her National Hunt horses with her husband’s point-to-pointers. She says: “Lewis became like a part of our family when he was with us and living with us, and will always remain so. He is a very special person and we are very proud of where he is now. We gave him a great start but only someone like Lewis, with the commitment, can go on and make it as a jockey.”