Stan Gordon
For National Hunt jockey Stan Gordon, it was a case of the London bus syndrome. He’d held a licence since 1962 and, having waited five years for a winner, he then rode three, all on the same horse, within a fortnight.
For National Hunt jockey Stan Gordon, it was a case of the London bus syndrome. He’d held a licence since 1962 and, having waited five years for a winner, he then rode three, all on the same horse, within a fortnight.
Those three victories came from a total of 13 mounts during the 1966/67 season. The horse was a chaser named Limetra, owned and trained by Harry Lane at Norton-on-Tees, County Durham. Lane, a wealthy construction magnate from South Shields, had owned Teal, the 1952 Grand National winner and now trained a few under permit.
Those three victories came from a total of 13 mounts during the 1966/67 season. The horse was a chaser named Limetra, owned and trained by Harry Lane at Norton-on-Tees, County Durham. Lane, a wealthy construction magnate from South Shields, had owned Teal, the 1952 Grand National winner and now trained a few under permit.
Stan’s first win on Limetra came in the 2m 4f Kilwinning Handicap Chase at Ayr on April 24, 1967. They followed up over three miles at Newcastle on April 29. The hat-trick was achieved back at the 2m 4f trip at Carlisle on May 8.
Stan’s first win on Limetra came in the 2m 4f Kilwinning Handicap Chase at Ayr on April 24, 1967. They followed up over three miles at Newcastle on April 29. The hat-trick was achieved back at the 2m 4f trip at Carlisle on May 8.
Limetra had run three times that season prior to winning at Ayr. Roy Court had ridden him in the Catterick Grand National Trial and in Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete Chase, while Pat Buckley had steered him safely over the Grand National fences in the Topham Trophy. The switch to less exalted company was evidently a key factor in Limetra registering his hat-trick.
Limetra had run three times that season prior to winning at Ayr. Roy Court had ridden him in the Catterick Grand National Trial and in Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete Chase, while Pat Buckley had steered him safely over the Grand National fences in the Topham Trophy. The switch to less exalted company was evidently a key factor in Limetra registering his hat-trick.
Limetra went on to complete the course under Paddy Broderick in the 1969 Grand National, by which time Stan Gordon had hung up his riding boots and saddle with just those three victories on Limetra to his name.
Limetra went on to complete the course under Paddy Broderick in the 1969 Grand National, by which time Stan Gordon had hung up his riding boots and saddle with just those three victories on Limetra to his name.