Martin Gibson
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Martin Gibson was born on February 28, 1948 and began his racing career as an amateur before riding as a professional jockey for 11 years.
Martin Gibson was born on February 28, 1948 and began his racing career as an amateur before riding as a professional jockey for 11 years.
His father, Jack Gibson, had little doubt that his son would become involved with horses. Such was his confidence that he bought his son a pony even before he’d been born. Sure enough, Martin did end up riding the pony, named Coco, being taken out on a leading rein when aged four.
His father, Jack Gibson, had little doubt that his son would become involved with horses. Such was his confidence that he bought his son a pony even before he’d been born. Sure enough, Martin did end up riding the pony, named Coco, being taken out on a leading rein when aged four.
He spent his boyhood in East Africa, where his father worked at that time for Unilever. Martin learned to ride properly on bush ponies and rode in his first race at the age of 12, at an up-country amateur meeting.
He spent his boyhood in East Africa, where his father worked at that time for Unilever. Martin learned to ride properly on bush ponies and rode in his first race at the age of 12, at an up-country amateur meeting.
He’d set his heart on becoming a Flat jockey. While living in Africa he was still small enough to do that, but when he got back to England he began to shoot up in size and put on weight. He went to a public school in Taunton but left at 16, as soon as he could. He still yearned to be a Flat jockey, so his father duly took him to Lambourn trainer Bryan Marshall, who took one look at the size of Martin’s hands and feet and said ‘no’.
He’d set his heart on becoming a Flat jockey. While living in Africa he was still small enough to do that, but when he got back to England he began to shoot up in size and put on weight. He went to a public school in Taunton but left at 16, as soon as he could. He still yearned to be a Flat jockey, so his father duly took him to Lambourn trainer Bryan Marshall, who took one look at the size of Martin’s hands and feet and said ‘no’.
Instead, Michael started riding for his father, who had taken out a trainer’s licence, based near Stroud, in Gloucestershire and rode his first winner on a mare named Chini, Swahili for ‘down’, on his 18th birthday, in a selling hurdle at Warwick on February 28, 1966. That was his only winner of the season and he rode just one more the next, Sheer Bravado in an amateur riders’ handicap hurdle at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day 1966.
Instead, Michael started riding for his father, who had taken out a trainer’s licence, based near Stroud, in Gloucestershire and rode his first winner on a mare named Chini, Swahili for ‘down’, on his 18th birthday, in a selling hurdle at Warwick on February 28, 1966. That was his only winner of the season and he rode just one more the next, Sheer Bravado in an amateur riders’ handicap hurdle at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day 1966.
He eventually achieved his ambition to ride as a Flat jockey by taking part in a few races in Belgium, and managed to ride a winner there, on Coolateggart.
He eventually achieved his ambition to ride as a Flat jockey by taking part in a few races in Belgium, and managed to ride a winner there, on Coolateggart.
That same horse gave him his first winner as a professional National Hunt jockey when winning a novices’ hurdle at Folkestone on September 22, 1969. Coolateggart was also Martin’s only other winner that season, when beating Josh Gifford’s mount Sable Tang in an Ascot handicap hurdle on February 19, 1970.
That same horse gave him his first winner as a professional National Hunt jockey when winning a novices’ hurdle at Folkestone on September 22, 1969. Coolateggart was also Martin’s only other winner that season, when beating Josh Gifford’s mount Sable Tang in an Ascot handicap hurdle on February 19, 1970.
Martin’s eight winners in the 1970/71 campaign included two on Walmer Tower on both days of Towcester’s 1971 Easter fixture, landing a selling hurdle on the Saturday and following up in the Penrhyn Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle on Easter Monday. Just the previous week he’d ridden 100/1 outsider Copperless in that year’s Grand National, falling at Becher’s first time.
Martin’s eight winners in the 1970/71 campaign included two on Walmer Tower on both days of Towcester’s 1971 Easter fixture, landing a selling hurdle on the Saturday and following up in the Penrhyn Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle on Easter Monday. Just the previous week he’d ridden 100/1 outsider Copperless in that year’s Grand National, falling at Becher’s first time.
Besides riding for his father, Martin also rode for John Long and for Chris Barker, who trained at Upper Beeding, in Sussex. He won twice on Barker’s chaser Utah during the 1971/72 season, including the ‘Certain Justice’ Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Fontwell Park on February 29, 1972. Certain Justice was a real Fontwell ‘specialist’ and was trained by Albert Neaves. It was somewhat appropriate that Martin was the winning rider, as Neaves also trained Copperless, the horse he’d ridden in the 1971 Grand National.
Besides riding for his father, Martin also rode for John Long and for Chris Barker, who trained at Upper Beeding, in Sussex. He won twice on Barker’s chaser Utah during the 1971/72 season, including the ‘Certain Justice’ Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Fontwell Park on February 29, 1972. Certain Justice was a real Fontwell ‘specialist’ and was trained by Albert Neaves. It was somewhat appropriate that Martin was the winning rider, as Neaves also trained Copperless, the horse he’d ridden in the 1971 Grand National.
Probably the best horse with which Martin was associated was The Songwriter, trained by his father. Martin won a novice hurdle on him at Stratford on April 25, 1974, the E.C. Burton Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on him on October 23, 1974, and they landed the Fred Withington Pattern Chase, also at Cheltenham, on December 6, 1975. The Songwriter was transferred to Jenny Pitman’s stable the following season and Martin never had the opportunity to ride the horse again.
Probably the best horse with which Martin was associated was The Songwriter, trained by his father. Martin won a novice hurdle on him at Stratford on April 25, 1974, the E.C. Burton Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on him on October 23, 1974, and they landed the Fred Withington Pattern Chase, also at Cheltenham, on December 6, 1975. The Songwriter was transferred to Jenny Pitman’s stable the following season and Martin never had the opportunity to ride the horse again.
Jack Gibson, incidentally, had been the first trainer in England to build and use an equine swimming pool, while based in Gloucestershire. When he moved to Newmarket in the mid-1970s, he built another swimming pool. Martin, meanwhile, began working for some Newmarket trainers, riding out for Michael Stoute and William Hastings-Bass (later Lord Huntingdon). He had his last winning ride on one of Hastings-Bass’s jumpers, Better Blessed, in the Lincolnshire Poacher Pattern Hurdle at Market Rasen on December 1, 1979.
Jack Gibson, incidentally, had been the first trainer in England to build and use an equine swimming pool, while based in Gloucestershire. When he moved to Newmarket in the mid-1970s, he built another swimming pool. Martin, meanwhile, began working for some Newmarket trainers, riding out for Michael Stoute and William Hastings-Bass (later Lord Huntingdon). He had his last winning ride on one of Hastings-Bass’s jumpers, Better Blessed, in the Lincolnshire Poacher Pattern Hurdle at Market Rasen on December 1, 1979.
Martin rode more than 50 winners before quitting the saddle in 1980. He worked as an assistant to Paul Cole for three years and then returned to Gloucestershire in 1984. He dropped out of racing but kept his hand in by riding out occasionally for local amateur rider and permit holder Graeme Roe while looking for a job.
Martin rode more than 50 winners before quitting the saddle in 1980. He worked as an assistant to Paul Cole for three years and then returned to Gloucestershire in 1984. He dropped out of racing but kept his hand in by riding out occasionally for local amateur rider and permit holder Graeme Roe while looking for a job.
Soon afterwards, Roe relinquished his permit and handed over the reins of his Hyde Park Farm stables, near Chalford, to Martin, who took out a full trainer’s licence with the aim of providing a specialist service for the smaller owner. Alas, the enterprise never really got off the ground.
Soon afterwards, Roe relinquished his permit and handed over the reins of his Hyde Park Farm stables, near Chalford, to Martin, who took out a full trainer’s licence with the aim of providing a specialist service for the smaller owner. Alas, the enterprise never really got off the ground.