Robin Griffin
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Robin Neville Griffin was a Boxing Day baby, born on December 26, 1947. He served a five-year apprenticeship on the Flat with Major Dick Hern at West Ilsley and rode his first winner on an odds-on favourite named Dashing in a five-runner mile-and-a-half apprentices’ race at Doncaster on Friday, June 30, 1967.
National Hunt jockey Robin Neville Griffin was a Boxing Day baby, born on December 26, 1947. He served a five-year apprenticeship on the Flat with Major Dick Hern at West Ilsley and rode his first winner on an odds-on favourite named Dashing in a five-runner mile-and-a-half apprentices’ race at Doncaster on Friday, June 30, 1967.
The Dick Hern-trained Dashing was Robin’s only winner on the Flat before rising weight determined he would graduate to riding over jumps. But both Dashing and his owner Jakie Astor would continue to have a major influence on his career.
The Dick Hern-trained Dashing was Robin’s only winner on the Flat before rising weight determined he would graduate to riding over jumps. But both Dashing and his owner Jakie Astor would continue to have a major influence on his career.
Besides being a successful owner, John Jacob ‘Jakie’ Astor was also a permit holder and trained at Hatley Park, near Sandy, in Bedfordshire, and he duly added Dashing to his small string. When Robin completed his apprenticeship and found himself too heavy for the Flat, he was retained by Jakie Astor, and Dashing, his only winner on the Flat, duly became his first winner over hurdles when landing the Cromer Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on October 11, 1969. Dashing also gave Robin his second hurdling success when following up at Stratford a fortnight later. He rode two more winners later that season, making a total of four in his first year riding over jumps.
Besides being a successful owner, John Jacob ‘Jakie’ Astor was also a permit holder and trained at Hatley Park, near Sandy, in Bedfordshire, and he duly added Dashing to his small string. When Robin completed his apprenticeship and found himself too heavy for the Flat, he was retained by Jakie Astor, and Dashing, his only winner on the Flat, duly became his first winner over hurdles when landing the Cromer Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on October 11, 1969. Dashing also gave Robin his second hurdling success when following up at Stratford a fortnight later. He rode two more winners later that season, making a total of four in his first year riding over jumps.
He doubled that score to eight in 1970/71, starting off with his old friend Dashing at Towcester in October. He rode his first winner over fences on Tokyo Melody at Market Rasen in December, had his claim reduced to 5lb when landing the tenth win of his career on Jakie Astor’s novice hurdler Stocking at Wye in April, and rode two winners for another Sandy-based permit holder, Sidney Banks, over the Easter period on Double Clip and Irish Lad.
He doubled that score to eight in 1970/71, starting off with his old friend Dashing at Towcester in October. He rode his first winner over fences on Tokyo Melody at Market Rasen in December, had his claim reduced to 5lb when landing the tenth win of his career on Jakie Astor’s novice hurdler Stocking at Wye in April, and rode two winners for another Sandy-based permit holder, Sidney Banks, over the Easter period on Double Clip and Irish Lad.
Top amateur rider John Lawrence, who later became Lord Oaksey, rode many of Jakie Astor’s horses as the pair were long-standing friends, but Robin still had his fair share of opportunities. It was January before he opened his account for the 1971/72 season, winning a Southwell novice chase on Astor’s Harper’s Ferry and following up with victories at Huntingdon and Leicester. He then enjoyed his biggest success when winning Doncaster’s Rossington Main Hurdle on Astor’s The Bugler, whom he later considered was the best he rode during his years in the saddle.
Top amateur rider John Lawrence, who later became Lord Oaksey, rode many of Jakie Astor’s horses as the pair were long-standing friends, but Robin still had his fair share of opportunities. It was January before he opened his account for the 1971/72 season, winning a Southwell novice chase on Astor’s Harper’s Ferry and following up with victories at Huntingdon and Leicester. He then enjoyed his biggest success when winning Doncaster’s Rossington Main Hurdle on Astor’s The Bugler, whom he later considered was the best he rode during his years in the saddle.
At Huntingdon on Easter Monday 1972, Robin had rides in all six races for which he was eligible (the other was a hunter chase), a feat which he ranked among the highlights of his career. Things looked set fair for another busy campaign in 1972/73 but it came to a painful and early end before he’d got any winners on the board when his mount, Arrow Trout, ran out and crashed through the wing of the eighth fence at Towcester on October 14, resulting in a broken thigh that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
At Huntingdon on Easter Monday 1972, Robin had rides in all six races for which he was eligible (the other was a hunter chase), a feat which he ranked among the highlights of his career. Things looked set fair for another busy campaign in 1972/73 but it came to a painful and early end before he’d got any winners on the board when his mount, Arrow Trout, ran out and crashed through the wing of the eighth fence at Towcester on October 14, resulting in a broken thigh that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Jakie Astor’s hurdler Harsh Note, who’d been Robin’s last winner before his injury, was also his comeback winner when scoring at Market Rasen on October 19, 1973. This was followed by Astor’s novice chaser Ashwell Street at Huntingdon later that month. In November he tasted success on two of the bigger stages, coming in for a winning ‘spare’ on Roddy Armytage’s Tuscan Prince at Kempton, and landing The Rip Handicap Chase at Ascot on Sidney Banks’ Irish Lad.
Jakie Astor’s hurdler Harsh Note, who’d been Robin’s last winner before his injury, was also his comeback winner when scoring at Market Rasen on October 19, 1973. This was followed by Astor’s novice chaser Ashwell Street at Huntingdon later that month. In November he tasted success on two of the bigger stages, coming in for a winning ‘spare’ on Roddy Armytage’s Tuscan Prince at Kempton, and landing The Rip Handicap Chase at Ascot on Sidney Banks’ Irish Lad.
Banks’ son Michael inherited the training licence from his father at the start of the 1974/75 season, and he supplied four of Robin’s six winners that term, culminating in a Huntingdon Whit Monday double on selling chaser Crimson Clip and handicap hurdler Sinner Man.
Banks’ son Michael inherited the training licence from his father at the start of the 1974/75 season, and he supplied four of Robin’s six winners that term, culminating in a Huntingdon Whit Monday double on selling chaser Crimson Clip and handicap hurdler Sinner Man.
Those two bank holiday winners proved to be the final ones of Robin’s career. For a man who’d been born on a bank holiday and had his career-highlight six rides on a bank holiday, it was perhaps an appropriate way to finish.
Those two bank holiday winners proved to be the final ones of Robin’s career. For a man who’d been born on a bank holiday and had his career-highlight six rides on a bank holiday, it was perhaps an appropriate way to finish.
Robin Griffin, who listed hunting and shooting amongst his recreations, rode a total of 28 winners. These were, in chronological order:
Robin Griffin, who listed hunting and shooting amongst his recreations, rode a total of 28 winners. These were, in chronological order:
1. Dashing, Doncaster, June 30, 1967
1. Dashing, Doncaster, June 30, 1967
2. Dashing, Fakenham, October 11, 1969
2. Dashing, Fakenham, October 11, 1969
3. Dashing, Stratford-on-Avon, October 25, 1969
3. Dashing, Stratford-on-Avon, October 25, 1969
4. Lex Brown, Huntingdon, March 30, 1970
4. Lex Brown, Huntingdon, March 30, 1970
5. Kings Cup, Stratford-on-Avon, May 15, 1970
5. Kings Cup, Stratford-on-Avon, May 15, 1970
6. Dashing, Towcester, October 31, 1970
6. Dashing, Towcester, October 31, 1970
7. Tokyo Melody, Market Rasen, December 10, 1970
7. Tokyo Melody, Market Rasen, December 10, 1970
8. Raglan, Huntingdon, December 19, 1970
8. Raglan, Huntingdon, December 19, 1970
9. Tokyo Melody, Market Rasen, January 26, 1971
9. Tokyo Melody, Market Rasen, January 26, 1971
10. Stocking, Wye, April 5, 1971
10. Stocking, Wye, April 5, 1971
11. Double Clip, Southwell, April 8, 1971
11. Double Clip, Southwell, April 8, 1971
12. Irish Lad, Huntingdon, April 12, 1971
12. Irish Lad, Huntingdon, April 12, 1971
13. Cloudy Boy, Fakenham, May 31, 1971
13. Cloudy Boy, Fakenham, May 31, 1971
14. Harper’s Ferry, Southwell, January 14, 1972
14. Harper’s Ferry, Southwell, January 14, 1972
15. Harper’s Ferry, Huntingdon, January 27, 1972
15. Harper’s Ferry, Huntingdon, January 27, 1972
16. Harper’s Ferry, Leicester, February 7, 1972
16. Harper’s Ferry, Leicester, February 7, 1972
17. Harsh Note, Nottingham, May 1, 1972
17. Harsh Note, Nottingham, May 1, 1972
18. Harsh Note, Market Rasen, October 19, 1973
18. Harsh Note, Market Rasen, October 19, 1973
19. Ashwell Street, Huntingdon, October 27, 1973
19. Ashwell Street, Huntingdon, October 27, 1973
20. Tuscan Prince, Kempton Park, November 14, 1973
20. Tuscan Prince, Kempton Park, November 14, 1973
21. Irish Lad, Ascot, November 17, 1973
21. Irish Lad, Ascot, November 17, 1973
22. Stocking, Towcester, January 10, 1974
22. Stocking, Towcester, January 10, 1974
23. Cloudy Boy, Catterick, December 14, 1974
23. Cloudy Boy, Catterick, December 14, 1974
24. Cloudy Boy, Fakenham, December 21, 1974
24. Cloudy Boy, Fakenham, December 21, 1974
25. Sinner Man, Doncaster, January 24, 1975
25. Sinner Man, Doncaster, January 24, 1975
26. Crimson Clip, Huntingdon, March 4, 1975
26. Crimson Clip, Huntingdon, March 4, 1975
27. Crimson Clip, Huntingdon, May 28, 1975
27. Crimson Clip, Huntingdon, May 28, 1975
28. Sinner Man, Huntingdon, May 28, 1975
28. Sinner Man, Huntingdon, May 28, 1975