Brian Hedley
On Friday, September 24, 1976, Brian Hedley rode 5-2 favourite Supreme Penny, trained by Snowy Wainwright, to a seven-length success in the Scarborough Selling Stakes for two-year-olds at Redcar.
On Friday, September 24, 1976, Brian Hedley rode 5-2 favourite Supreme Penny, trained by Snowy Wainwright, to a seven-length success in the Scarborough Selling Stakes for two-year-olds at Redcar.
What was remarkable about this particular success is that it ended a near 20-year wait for Brian's first victory. The 34-year-old Malon-based jockey brought Supreme Penny up the middle of the course and, taking the lead inside the last quarter-mile, drew clear to beat Parkside Boy, who had been backed down from 25-1 to 10-1 but never looked likely to get to grips with Supreme Penny.
What was remarkable about this particular success is that it ended a near 20-year wait for Brian's first victory. The 34-year-old Malon-based jockey brought Supreme Penny up the middle of the course and, taking the lead inside the last quarter-mile, drew clear to beat Parkside Boy, who had been backed down from 25-1 to 10-1 but never looked likely to get to grips with Supreme Penny.
“That was great,” Brian told the Sporting Life’s reporter. “It’s easy when you’ve got the horses to do it.”
“That was great,” Brian told the Sporting Life’s reporter. “It’s easy when you’ve got the horses to do it.”
Brian was born in Jarrow on July 13, 1942. He went into racing straight from school, heading south from Tyneside to Malton in Yorkshire where he was apprenticed to Cyril Couch. He had his first race-ride as a 15-year-old lad in 1957.
Brian was born in Jarrow on July 13, 1942. He went into racing straight from school, heading south from Tyneside to Malton in Yorkshire where he was apprenticed to Cyril Couch. He had his first race-ride as a 15-year-old lad in 1957.
Following Couch’s untimely death soon afterwards, Brian completed his apprenticeship with fellow Malton trainer Ernie Davey.
Following Couch’s untimely death soon afterwards, Brian completed his apprenticeship with fellow Malton trainer Ernie Davey.
But fortune did not shine on him. He had quite a few rides but always on the second strings; the ones without much chance of winning. When he came out of his time, he still hadn’t managed to ride a winner, so he went freelancing, picking up some spare rides and trying to earn his bread and butter behind the scenes on the gallops.
But fortune did not shine on him. He had quite a few rides but always on the second strings; the ones without much chance of winning. When he came out of his time, he still hadn’t managed to ride a winner, so he went freelancing, picking up some spare rides and trying to earn his bread and butter behind the scenes on the gallops.
There were plenty of trainers wanting him to ride out for them and he had lots of promises of race rides but they rarely materialised. Slowly but surely the inevitable happened. Married with a young family, Brian found it impossible to make ends meet and dropped out of racing in the early 1970s.
There were plenty of trainers wanting him to ride out for them and he had lots of promises of race rides but they rarely materialised. Slowly but surely the inevitable happened. Married with a young family, Brian found it impossible to make ends meet and dropped out of racing in the early 1970s.
Unable to make a living from racing, he became a long-distance lorry driver. For four years he pounded Britain’s motorways, delivering sugar and dreaming of one day getting into the winner’s circle.
Unable to make a living from racing, he became a long-distance lorry driver. For four years he pounded Britain’s motorways, delivering sugar and dreaming of one day getting into the winner’s circle.
For the first two years he used every penny he earned to pay the bills and get the house and family back on an even keel. Then he started saving as much as he could to finance him for one more season in the saddle.
For the first two years he used every penny he earned to pay the bills and get the house and family back on an even keel. Then he started saving as much as he could to finance him for one more season in the saddle.
It took him another two years to save enough to be able to get back into racing. With the support of his wife Jill, who never stopped believing in his ability, Brian set out on what was to be his make-or-break year in 1976,
It took him another two years to save enough to be able to get back into racing. With the support of his wife Jill, who never stopped believing in his ability, Brian set out on what was to be his make-or-break year in 1976,
It many ways he found it was the same old story of empty promises, but then he got a job with Snowy Wainwright and things began to improve.
It many ways he found it was the same old story of empty promises, but then he got a job with Snowy Wainwright and things began to improve.
Besides Wainwright and Ernie Davey, he also rode occasionally for another Malton-based stalwart trainer, Bill Elsey.
Besides Wainwright and Ernie Davey, he also rode occasionally for another Malton-based stalwart trainer, Bill Elsey.
By late September he’d already had almost 40 rides, more than in any other previous season, but no winners until Supreme Penny obliged in that Redcar seller. It made the long wait worthwhile, particularly as Supreme Penny was bought in for 950 guineas and so was available for him to ride again.
By late September he’d already had almost 40 rides, more than in any other previous season, but no winners until Supreme Penny obliged in that Redcar seller. It made the long wait worthwhile, particularly as Supreme Penny was bought in for 950 guineas and so was available for him to ride again.
Brian was quick to express his gratitude to Snowy Wainwright and the owners for persevering in putting him up on the filly.
Brian was quick to express his gratitude to Snowy Wainwright and the owners for persevering in putting him up on the filly.
It would have been good to report that Supreme Penny’s Redcar success was the first of many. Sadly, however, there were to be no further winners for Brian Hedley. He had his final mount in 1982.
It would have been good to report that Supreme Penny’s Redcar success was the first of many. Sadly, however, there were to be no further winners for Brian Hedley. He had his final mount in 1982.
Recalling his career, he said: “'I was always riding bad horses and two-year-olds first time out, teaching them how to race.”
Recalling his career, he said: “'I was always riding bad horses and two-year-olds first time out, teaching them how to race.”