Ron Griffiths
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
For some years it was a matter of speculation as to how many winners National Hunt jockey Ron Griffiths rode during his career, However, thanks primarily to the diligent research of racing historian/librarian Tim Cox, the conundrum has now been resolved.
For some years it was a matter of speculation as to how many winners National Hunt jockey Ron Griffiths rode during his career, However, thanks primarily to the diligent research of racing historian/librarian Tim Cox, the conundrum has now been resolved.
Born in Doncaster in 1932, Ronald Dawson Griffiths first took out a jump jockey’s licence in 1959. He was based with permit holder Frank Gilman, who trained at Morcott, Rutland, and who was later to achieve fame as the owner-trainer of 1982 Grand National hero Grittar.
Born in Doncaster in 1932, Ronald Dawson Griffiths first took out a jump jockey’s licence in 1959. He was based with permit holder Frank Gilman, who trained at Morcott, Rutland, and who was later to achieve fame as the owner-trainer of 1982 Grand National hero Grittar.
Ron rode his first winner on Gilman’s handicap hurdler Silver Tara at Southwell on Maundy Thursday, March 30, 1961. Later that season, on Whit Monday, he won again on Silver Tara, this time dead-heating for first place with Gay Kindersley’s mount Kabale at Huntingdon.
Ron rode his first winner on Gilman’s handicap hurdler Silver Tara at Southwell on Maundy Thursday, March 30, 1961. Later that season, on Whit Monday, he won again on Silver Tara, this time dead-heating for first place with Gay Kindersley’s mount Kabale at Huntingdon.
He continued until 1962 but sustained a back injury which prevented him from riding. Soon after that he went to work for Ron Mason at Guilsborough, Northamptonshire, as travelling head lad. Mason trained predominately on the Flat and usually employed Josh Gifford on his few National Hunt horses. However, in 1964, Mason asked Ron if he would ride his jumpers when Gifford was not available. As his back was no longer troubling him, Ron agreed and took out a licence for the 1964/65 season.
He continued until 1962 but sustained a back injury which prevented him from riding. Soon after that he went to work for Ron Mason at Guilsborough, Northamptonshire, as travelling head lad. Mason trained predominately on the Flat and usually employed Josh Gifford on his few National Hunt horses. However, in 1964, Mason asked Ron if he would ride his jumpers when Gifford was not available. As his back was no longer troubling him, Ron agreed and took out a licence for the 1964/65 season.
On December 1, 1964, 32-year-old Ron Griffiths rode his first winner since 1961 when bringing home Mason’s juvenile hurdler Stevie Boy six lengths clear on his racecourse debut at Nottingham. This was just his third mount since he resumed in the saddle. A photo of Stevie Boy and Ron jumping the final flight appeared on the front page of the following day’s Sporting Life.
On December 1, 1964, 32-year-old Ron Griffiths rode his first winner since 1961 when bringing home Mason’s juvenile hurdler Stevie Boy six lengths clear on his racecourse debut at Nottingham. This was just his third mount since he resumed in the saddle. A photo of Stevie Boy and Ron jumping the final flight appeared on the front page of the following day’s Sporting Life.
Strangely, the next time Ron’s photo appeared in the papers was not on the racing pages but in an advert for a well-known brand of cigarettes!
Strangely, the next time Ron’s photo appeared in the papers was not on the racing pages but in an advert for a well-known brand of cigarettes!
Ron renewed his licence for the 1965/66 campaign, and that is where the confusion arose, because as well as Ronald Dawson Griffiths there was also a Richard David Griffiths (born April 7, 1940), who had taken out a jump jockey’s licence for the first time. The latter was based with Leominster permit holder Frank Dale, a busy man who combined his passion for training horses with being Alderman of Leominster Borough Council, an agricultural constructional engineer, breeding Hereford cattle and running a horticulture business.
Ron renewed his licence for the 1965/66 campaign, and that is where the confusion arose, because as well as Ronald Dawson Griffiths there was also a Richard David Griffiths (born April 7, 1940), who had taken out a jump jockey’s licence for the first time. The latter was based with Leominster permit holder Frank Dale, a busy man who combined his passion for training horses with being Alderman of Leominster Borough Council, an agricultural constructional engineer, breeding Hereford cattle and running a horticulture business.
Dale had first taken out a permit in 1962. He’d ridden in point-to-points in his younger days but given up for 20 years while building up his businesses. He subsequently rode a few point-to-point winners but then had a serious accident in which he broke his neck. Nonetheless, he was still able to ride his horses in all their work.
Dale had first taken out a permit in 1962. He’d ridden in point-to-points in his younger days but given up for 20 years while building up his businesses. He subsequently rode a few point-to-point winners but then had a serious accident in which he broke his neck. Nonetheless, he was still able to ride his horses in all their work.
Unfortunately, Ron Mason’s R. D. Griffiths and Frank Dale’s R. D. Griffiths were indistinguishable in the newspapers and in the form books, for they were both listed as ‘R. Griffiths’ or ‘R. D. Griffiths’, which was of no help whatsoever to statisticians. However, it transpires that Ron Griffiths relinquished his licence during the 1965/66 campaign, thus eliminating further confusion and leaving Richard Griffiths as the sole ‘R D Griffiths’ riding from thereon, and it was he who went on to ride four winners.
Unfortunately, Ron Mason’s R. D. Griffiths and Frank Dale’s R. D. Griffiths were indistinguishable in the newspapers and in the form books, for they were both listed as ‘R. Griffiths’ or ‘R. D. Griffiths’, which was of no help whatsoever to statisticians. However, it transpires that Ron Griffiths relinquished his licence during the 1965/66 campaign, thus eliminating further confusion and leaving Richard Griffiths as the sole ‘R D Griffiths’ riding from thereon, and it was he who went on to ride four winners.
The first of these was on Vuljinks at Uttoxeter on March 18, 1967. Appropriately, given the owner-trainer’s status as Alderman of Leominster, the name of the race was the Urban Council Handicap Hurdle.
The first of these was on Vuljinks at Uttoxeter on March 18, 1967. Appropriately, given the owner-trainer’s status as Alderman of Leominster, the name of the race was the Urban Council Handicap Hurdle.
Uttoxeter was also the venue for Richard Griffiths’ second winner, again for Frank Dale, this being novice hurdler Mileciptic on Whit Monday, June 3, 1968.
Uttoxeter was also the venue for Richard Griffiths’ second winner, again for Frank Dale, this being novice hurdler Mileciptic on Whit Monday, June 3, 1968.
Buster, also owner-trained by Dale, gave Richard his third success when landing the Nailsworth Handicap Hurdle for professional novice riders at Cheltenham on October 16, 1968.
Buster, also owner-trained by Dale, gave Richard his third success when landing the Nailsworth Handicap Hurdle for professional novice riders at Cheltenham on October 16, 1968.
Later that season, Mileciptic won again over course and distance at Uttoxeter on May 3, 1969, to give Richard the fourth and final winner of his career. That may also have been his last ride for he did not renew his licence the following season or thereafter.
Later that season, Mileciptic won again over course and distance at Uttoxeter on May 3, 1969, to give Richard the fourth and final winner of his career. That may also have been his last ride for he did not renew his licence the following season or thereafter.
Neither Ronald D. Griffiths nor Richard D. Griffiths, whose careers had overlapped for just that one season in 1965/66, were still riding come the start of the 1970s. While their combined score of seven winners made little impression on racing’s annals, at least there is no longer any doubt as to who was who and which was which.
Neither Ronald D. Griffiths nor Richard D. Griffiths, whose careers had overlapped for just that one season in 1965/66, were still riding come the start of the 1970s. While their combined score of seven winners made little impression on racing’s annals, at least there is no longer any doubt as to who was who and which was which.
For the record, Ron Griffiths’ winners were:
For the record, Ron Griffiths’ winners were:
1. Silver Tara, Southwell, March 30, 1961
1. Silver Tara, Southwell, March 30, 1961
2. Silver Tara, Huntingdon, May 22, 1961 (dead-heat)
2. Silver Tara, Huntingdon, May 22, 1961 (dead-heat)
3. Stevie Boy, Nottingham, December 1, 1964
3. Stevie Boy, Nottingham, December 1, 1964
Richard Griffiths' winners were:
Richard Griffiths' winners were:
1. Vuljinks, Uttoxeter, March 18, 1967
1. Vuljinks, Uttoxeter, March 18, 1967
2. Mileciptic, Uttoxeter, June 3, 1968
2. Mileciptic, Uttoxeter, June 3, 1968
3. Buster, Cheltenham, October 16, 1968
3. Buster, Cheltenham, October 16, 1968
4. Mileciptic, Uttoxeter, May 3, 1969
4. Mileciptic, Uttoxeter, May 3, 1969