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Apprentice Mark Anthony Giles was born in Southend on 24 October 1966, the son of a chemist. His family had no connection whatsoever with racing but Mark had his own pony at the age of eight and at eleven years old he was taken to Newmarket by his father.
Apprentice Mark Anthony Giles was born in Southend on 24 October 1966, the son of a chemist. His family had no connection whatsoever with racing but Mark had his own pony at the age of eight and at eleven years old he was taken to Newmarket by his father.
They drove to the old Jockey Club headquarters (later to become the home of the museum) where his father asked for the name of the best trainer in the town. When Michael Stoute’s name was suggested, they jumped straight back in the car and headed for Stoute’s Freemason Lodge stables.
They drove to the old Jockey Club headquarters (later to become the home of the museum) where his father asked for the name of the best trainer in the town. When Michael Stoute’s name was suggested, they jumped straight back in the car and headed for Stoute’s Freemason Lodge stables.
Mark was fixed up almost immediately. He began spending his school holidays there, Easter and summer, and lived with Dave Allen, one of Stoute’s head lads. As he became older, he moved to Newmarket permanently, rode out first lot each day and then went to school.
Mark was fixed up almost immediately. He began spending his school holidays there, Easter and summer, and lived with Dave Allen, one of Stoute’s head lads. As he became older, he moved to Newmarket permanently, rode out first lot each day and then went to school.
He had his first ride when he was sixteen and rode his first winner on the Stoute-trained nine-year-old Steeple Bell in an Ascot apprentices’ handicap on Friday, 26 July 1985. That was his sole success of the year but he rode three winners from 31 rides in 1986 and also finished third on Steeple Bell in the corresponding Ascot race he had won the year before.
He had his first ride when he was sixteen and rode his first winner on the Stoute-trained nine-year-old Steeple Bell in an Ascot apprentices’ handicap on Friday, 26 July 1985. That was his sole success of the year but he rode three winners from 31 rides in 1986 and also finished third on Steeple Bell in the corresponding Ascot race he had won the year before.
Mark gained plenty of experience riding some of Stoute’s best horses on the Newmarket gallops. He rode three winners in 1987, three more in 1988, four in 1989, then enjoyed by far his most successful year with twelve wins from 147 rides in 1990, the last of which came on Mary Reveley’s Yorkshire Holly in the Brotton Seafoods Handicap at Redcar on 9 October 1990.
Mark gained plenty of experience riding some of Stoute’s best horses on the Newmarket gallops. He rode three winners in 1987, three more in 1988, four in 1989, then enjoyed by far his most successful year with twelve wins from 147 rides in 1990, the last of which came on Mary Reveley’s Yorkshire Holly in the Brotton Seafoods Handicap at Redcar on 9 October 1990.
Despite having that banner year, Mark Giles’ name soon disappeared from the racing pages. It may be that having lost his apprentice claim, he found the going tough, but he never rode another winner and his career as a jockey came to an end.
Despite having that banner year, Mark Giles’ name soon disappeared from the racing pages. It may be that having lost his apprentice claim, he found the going tough, but he never rode another winner and his career as a jockey came to an end.
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