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Bruce Joseph Hellier served his apprenticeship with Newmarket trainer Harry Thomson (Tom) Jones and rode two winners for him as an apprentice, the first of them on November 15, 1957, the penultimate day of the Flat season, on 20-1 outsider Café Complet in a three-year-old handicap at Lingfield Park.
Bruce Joseph Hellier served his apprenticeship with Newmarket trainer Harry Thomson (Tom) Jones and rode two winners for him as an apprentice, the first of them on November 15, 1957, the penultimate day of the Flat season, on 20-1 outsider Café Complet in a three-year-old handicap at Lingfield Park.
His second success came early the next season, aboard 100-6 chance Happy Clacton in a five-furlong handicap at Nottingham on April 5, 1958.
His second success came early the next season, aboard 100-6 chance Happy Clacton in a five-furlong handicap at Nottingham on April 5, 1958.
He took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for one season in 1959/60 and had a few rides but no winners, coming closest when finishing third on Braes Of Rannoch in division one of the St Ivo Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on Boxing Day 1959.
He took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for one season in 1959/60 and had a few rides but no winners, coming closest when finishing third on Braes Of Rannoch in division one of the St Ivo Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on Boxing Day 1959.
In 1960 he left Britain to ride in Norway and made an immediate impression, becoming the first apprentice in the history of Norwegian racing to be crowned champion flat jockey. He enjoyed a successful season not just on the Flat but also in hurdle races and steeplechases. Indeed, if bad weather had not caused the final Oslo meeting to be abandoned, he would most likely have been champion jockey over jumps too. He missed that title by just one winner.
In 1960 he left Britain to ride in Norway and made an immediate impression, becoming the first apprentice in the history of Norwegian racing to be crowned champion flat jockey. He enjoyed a successful season not just on the Flat but also in hurdle races and steeplechases. Indeed, if bad weather had not caused the final Oslo meeting to be abandoned, he would most likely have been champion jockey over jumps too. He missed that title by just one winner.
During his second season in Norway, in 1960, he rode as first jockey to fellow-countryman Ben Goulden, who was by then training successfully in Scandinavia.
During his second season in Norway, in 1960, he rode as first jockey to fellow-countryman Ben Goulden, who was by then training successfully in Scandinavia.
After quitting the saddle, Bruce became a successful trainer in Germany, where his son, Terence Hellier, became an equally successful jockey, his victories including the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden.
After quitting the saddle, Bruce became a successful trainer in Germany, where his son, Terence Hellier, became an equally successful jockey, his victories including the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden.
Bruce saddled his last runner in Germany in 2006 and returned to England. From 2008 to 2010 he trained a small string of horses at Dolphinstones, in Lancashire, then became trainer and a director for Lancashire Racing Stables at Barnacre, Garstang. He trained three winners from 86 runners in 2011 and sent out his last winner for the stable when Garstang won a handicap at Kempton Park in the hands of Joe Fanning on January 22, 2012.
Bruce saddled his last runner in Germany in 2006 and returned to England. From 2008 to 2010 he trained a small string of horses at Dolphinstones, in Lancashire, then became trainer and a director for Lancashire Racing Stables at Barnacre, Garstang. He trained three winners from 86 runners in 2011 and sent out his last winner for the stable when Garstang won a handicap at Kempton Park in the hands of Joe Fanning on January 22, 2012.
Bruce left Lancashire Racing Stables after 18 months and returned to Germany, where he resumed training, aged 71, based at Mulheim/Ruhr. Besides running his horses in Germany, he has also sent several to race in France in search of richer prizes.
Bruce left Lancashire Racing Stables after 18 months and returned to Germany, where he resumed training, aged 71, based at Mulheim/Ruhr. Besides running his horses in Germany, he has also sent several to race in France in search of richer prizes.
On June 6, 2020, the Preis von Rennstall Bruce Hellier, a seven-furlong handicap, was run at his local course, Mulheim, to celebrate his lifetime’s involvement in racing.
On June 6, 2020, the Preis von Rennstall Bruce Hellier, a seven-furlong handicap, was run at his local course, Mulheim, to celebrate his lifetime’s involvement in racing.
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