Macer Gifford
Macer Charles Gifford, younger brother of champion jockey Josh, was born on July 27, 1944 at Little Stukeley in Huntingdon. He rode 231 winners, the highlight being his victory on Larbawn in the 1968 Whitbread Gold Cup.
Macer Charles Gifford, younger brother of champion jockey Josh, was born on July 27, 1944 at Little Stukeley in Huntingdon. He rode 231 winners, the highlight being his victory on Larbawn in the 1968 Whitbread Gold Cup.
Before turning professional, Macer rode in point-to-points and then as an amateur, based with Findon trainer Ryan Price, for whom Josh was then the stable jockey.
Before turning professional, Macer rode in point-to-points and then as an amateur, based with Findon trainer Ryan Price, for whom Josh was then the stable jockey.
He rode his first winner on King Jasmine in the Beginners’ Handicap Chase at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, March 30, 1964, then completed a double 35 minutes later on Royal Profit in the De Aston Maiden Hurdle. He came within two lengths of making it a hat-trick when his mount, Go Forward, finished second in the Legsby Chase. Both his winners were owned and trained by permit holder Charles Ireland, who was based at Ancaster Heath, Grantham.
He rode his first winner on King Jasmine in the Beginners’ Handicap Chase at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, March 30, 1964, then completed a double 35 minutes later on Royal Profit in the De Aston Maiden Hurdle. He came within two lengths of making it a hat-trick when his mount, Go Forward, finished second in the Legsby Chase. Both his winners were owned and trained by permit holder Charles Ireland, who was based at Ancaster Heath, Grantham.
Macer won the 1964 Horse and Hound Cup Final Champion Hunters’ Chase on Royal Phoebe for Market Drayton trainer Roy Whiston. He was crowned champion amateur for the 1964/65 season with 15 wins, which included another Easter Monday double at Market Rasen in the same two races he’d won 12 months earlier, the Beginners’ Handicap Chase on Bob Shea for Charles Ireland and the De Aston Maiden Hurdle on Brown Silk for Wellingore permit holder Bill Ransom.
Macer won the 1964 Horse and Hound Cup Final Champion Hunters’ Chase on Royal Phoebe for Market Drayton trainer Roy Whiston. He was crowned champion amateur for the 1964/65 season with 15 wins, which included another Easter Monday double at Market Rasen in the same two races he’d won 12 months earlier, the Beginners’ Handicap Chase on Bob Shea for Charles Ireland and the De Aston Maiden Hurdle on Brown Silk for Wellingore permit holder Bill Ransom.
He turned professional the following season and made the perfect start by winning on his first ride in the paid ranks, Nutscleugh, owned and trained by Frank Gilman, in the Dunsford Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on the opening day of the season, July 31, 1965.
He turned professional the following season and made the perfect start by winning on his first ride in the paid ranks, Nutscleugh, owned and trained by Frank Gilman, in the Dunsford Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on the opening day of the season, July 31, 1965.
He rode as first jockey to Ripon trainer Bobby Renton but broke his right leg twice within 18 months. Later he rode for Tom Jones but his longest retainer was with owner-trainer Michael Marsh, who sent out horses from Alveston Pastures in Stratford-on-Avon. It was in Marsh’s violet and white checked colours that Macer gained his greatest victory.
He rode as first jockey to Ripon trainer Bobby Renton but broke his right leg twice within 18 months. Later he rode for Tom Jones but his longest retainer was with owner-trainer Michael Marsh, who sent out horses from Alveston Pastures in Stratford-on-Avon. It was in Marsh’s violet and white checked colours that Macer gained his greatest victory.
Marsh’s best horse was Larbawn, on whom Macer won two editions of the Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase, Cheltenham’s Golden Miller Handicap Chase and, more importantly the 1968 Whitbread Gold Cup, in which he held off the strong late challenge of Pat Taaffe on that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Fort Leney by a neck, despite having lost an iron when Larbawn slipped when going into the back straight.
Marsh’s best horse was Larbawn, on whom Macer won two editions of the Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase, Cheltenham’s Golden Miller Handicap Chase and, more importantly the 1968 Whitbread Gold Cup, in which he held off the strong late challenge of Pat Taaffe on that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Fort Leney by a neck, despite having lost an iron when Larbawn slipped when going into the back straight.
Numerically, his best seasons came in 1965/66 and 1967/68 when he rode 26 winners in each.
Numerically, his best seasons came in 1965/66 and 1967/68 when he rode 26 winners in each.
He won four races at the Cheltenham Festival winners between 1969 and 1972: the George Duller Handicap Hurdle and Lloyds Bank Hurdle on Parlour Moor, the Aldsworth Hurdle on Midsprite, and the Mildmay of Flete Chase on Hound Tor.
He won four races at the Cheltenham Festival winners between 1969 and 1972: the George Duller Handicap Hurdle and Lloyds Bank Hurdle on Parlour Moor, the Aldsworth Hurdle on Midsprite, and the Mildmay of Flete Chase on Hound Tor.
He retired on doctors’ advice after sustaining a head injury when falling on Rathvilly in the 1976 Topham Trophy at Aintree.
He retired on doctors’ advice after sustaining a head injury when falling on Rathvilly in the 1976 Topham Trophy at Aintree.
Following his retirement, he took up the management of his and Josh’s 700-acre farm near Huntingdon.
Following his retirement, he took up the management of his and Josh’s 700-acre farm near Huntingdon.
Sadly, Macer Gifford died of motor neurone disease on May 23, 1985, aged 40. He was buried at Great Stukeley, and left an estate valued at £587,886.
Sadly, Macer Gifford died of motor neurone disease on May 23, 1985, aged 40. He was buried at Great Stukeley, and left an estate valued at £587,886.
He is commemorated each year by the Macer Gifford Handicap Chase, held at Huntingdon, his local course.
He is commemorated each year by the Macer Gifford Handicap Chase, held at Huntingdon, his local course.
In an email to Jockeypedia, Sarah Gifford described Macer as a wonderful husband and father, plus an absolute gentleman.
In an email to Jockeypedia, Sarah Gifford described Macer as a wonderful husband and father, plus an absolute gentleman.
Macer (writes Sarah) was really a country lad/man at heart. His father was Thomas Gifford who was a retired farmer and rode in point-to points in his younger days, and his mother Diana had been a Norland Nanny before she was married. Macer was the youngest of three children, Joshua, Susan and Macer. For one week of the year at the end of July, their ages ran concurrently.
Macer (writes Sarah) was really a country lad/man at heart. His father was Thomas Gifford who was a retired farmer and rode in point-to points in his younger days, and his mother Diana had been a Norland Nanny before she was married. Macer was the youngest of three children, Joshua, Susan and Macer. For one week of the year at the end of July, their ages ran concurrently.
Macer got his name through his great grandmother who was a Naomi Macer.
Macer got his name through his great grandmother who was a Naomi Macer.
He went to the local village school as a child, and when that closed he attended the C of E primary school in Huntingdon. From there he went on to Huntingdon Secondary Modern as it was then (now St Peter's).
He went to the local village school as a child, and when that closed he attended the C of E primary school in Huntingdon. From there he went on to Huntingdon Secondary Modern as it was then (now St Peter's).
He was an average student but was very popular. He enjoyed sport but his ponies at home were his great love. When he left school he went to Moulton Agriculture College which was also attended by many of his local farming friends. While there, he played for the cricket and football teams.
He was an average student but was very popular. He enjoyed sport but his ponies at home were his great love. When he left school he went to Moulton Agriculture College which was also attended by many of his local farming friends. While there, he played for the cricket and football teams.
He left with a National Certificate of Agriculture.
He left with a National Certificate of Agriculture.
He then went on to work on his Uncle George's farm (The Grange) which he later inherited along with his brother Joshua.
He then went on to work on his Uncle George's farm (The Grange) which he later inherited along with his brother Joshua.
Macer loved all things to do with the countryside and farming. He also enjoyed hunting and shooting, though mainly for the social sides of these activities.
Macer loved all things to do with the countryside and farming. He also enjoyed hunting and shooting, though mainly for the social sides of these activities.
He was a people person and a gentleman. He was also a member of the Young Farmers and the Jockeys' cricket teams.
He was a people person and a gentleman. He was also a member of the Young Farmers and the Jockeys' cricket teams.
After starting his racing career, he became quite a local celebrity and was involved with many money-raising functions. He would always enter into the spirit of the occasion, be it a donkey derby or judging a beauty contest.
After starting his racing career, he became quite a local celebrity and was involved with many money-raising functions. He would always enter into the spirit of the occasion, be it a donkey derby or judging a beauty contest.
One of his sayings was ‘No colour like red...no sport like hunting...’ I think it was the colour red he liked, not necessarily the hunting.
One of his sayings was ‘No colour like red...no sport like hunting...’ I think it was the colour red he liked, not necessarily the hunting.
He loved animals ... his dogs Nipper, Tara and Pirate (those were the ones I knew he had) and, of course, his cattle.
He loved animals ... his dogs Nipper, Tara and Pirate (those were the ones I knew he had) and, of course, his cattle.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1964: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Royal Phoebe
1964: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Royal Phoebe
1967: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Larbawn
1967: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Larbawn
1967: Golden Miller Handicap Chase – Larbawn
1967: Golden Miller Handicap Chase – Larbawn
1968: Whitbread Gold Cup – Larbawn
1968: Whitbread Gold Cup – Larbawn
1969: Tom Coulthwaite Handicap Chase – Park Ranger
1969: Tom Coulthwaite Handicap Chase – Park Ranger
1969: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Larbawn
1969: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Larbawn
1969: George Duller Handicap Hurdle (Div 1) – Parlour Moor
1969: George Duller Handicap Hurdle (Div 1) – Parlour Moor
1969: Free Handicap Hurdle – Country Retreat
1969: Free Handicap Hurdle – Country Retreat
1971: Aldsworth Hurdle – Midsprite
1971: Aldsworth Hurdle – Midsprite
1971: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Hound Tor
1971: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Hound Tor
1972: Lloyds Bank Hurdle – Parlour Moor
1972: Lloyds Bank Hurdle – Parlour Moor
1975: Benson and Hedges Trophy Hurdle – Fighting Taffy
1975: Benson and Hedges Trophy Hurdle – Fighting Taffy
