Derrick Holmes
Derrick Holmes
Derrick Holmes
1930-1996
1930-1996
Born on January 8, 1930, Derrick Howard Holmes was apprenticed to Billy Bellerby at Hambleton, in Yorkshire. He had his first ride in public when aged 14 on Speeder, who finished sixth of nine in the Cotherstone Apprentice Handicap at Stockton on Saturday, June 10, 1944.
Born on January 8, 1930, Derrick Howard Holmes was apprenticed to Billy Bellerby at Hambleton, in Yorkshire. He had his first ride in public when aged 14 on Speeder, who finished sixth of nine in the Cotherstone Apprentice Handicap at Stockton on Saturday, June 10, 1944.
He failed to ride a winner as an apprentice but took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1946/47 season, and at Market Rasen on September 21, 1946, won the Juvenile Hurdle on Equipped. It was the colt’s first run over hurdles and Derrick rode him again when finishing third at Hexham the following month. That Market Rasen success would turn out to be his only one as a jockey.
He failed to ride a winner as an apprentice but took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1946/47 season, and at Market Rasen on September 21, 1946, won the Juvenile Hurdle on Equipped. It was the colt’s first run over hurdles and Derrick rode him again when finishing third at Hexham the following month. That Market Rasen success would turn out to be his only one as a jockey.
He did not hold a licence for the next two seasons but resumed in 1949/50, having his comeback ride aboard 33-1 outsider Southwood in division two of the Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby on Boxing Day 1949, finishing unplaced. He had around half a dozen more rides that season, mostly in large-field novice hurdles, but never got closer than when coming home in tenth place on Pride Of The Prairie at Sedgefield. His one attempt over fences ended in a fall from a horse named Far Beyond in a Market Rasen novices’ chase in March.
He did not hold a licence for the next two seasons but resumed in 1949/50, having his comeback ride aboard 33-1 outsider Southwood in division two of the Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby on Boxing Day 1949, finishing unplaced. He had around half a dozen more rides that season, mostly in large-field novice hurdles, but never got closer than when coming home in tenth place on Pride Of The Prairie at Sedgefield. His one attempt over fences ended in a fall from a horse named Far Beyond in a Market Rasen novices’ chase in March.
Derrick did not ride again in public until the 1961/62 season. Again, he had just a handful of rides, among them Lonely Sound for trainer Hugh Sumner, finishing out of the first nine in a 17-runner Worcester novices’ hurdle on March 12, 1962. He did not renew his licence the following season.
Derrick did not ride again in public until the 1961/62 season. Again, he had just a handful of rides, among them Lonely Sound for trainer Hugh Sumner, finishing out of the first nine in a 17-runner Worcester novices’ hurdle on March 12, 1962. He did not renew his licence the following season.
More than a decade passed before his name reappeared, this time in the 1974 edition of ‘Horses in Training’ as a trainer, based at Spring Cottage Stables, Malton, with a string of 18 horses, all of them owned by a lady from Sheffield named Mrs R. Hodges, whose colours were ‘gold, maroon striped sleeves, maroon cap, gold spots’. Derrick trained his first winner for her when Crown Hotel won a two-mile handicap at Beverley on June 12, 1974.
More than a decade passed before his name reappeared, this time in the 1974 edition of ‘Horses in Training’ as a trainer, based at Spring Cottage Stables, Malton, with a string of 18 horses, all of them owned by a lady from Sheffield named Mrs R. Hodges, whose colours were ‘gold, maroon striped sleeves, maroon cap, gold spots’. Derrick trained his first winner for her when Crown Hotel won a two-mile handicap at Beverley on June 12, 1974.
The 1975 edition of ‘Horses in Training’ shows him still as private trainer to Mrs Hodges but with an increased stable of 21 horses. However, by 1976 he was down to ten and included three other owners. The 1977 edition revealed that he was now based at Highfield Farm, Norton, Malton, with a dozen horses and various owners. Evidently things did not work out well, that being his final entry in ‘Horses in Training’.
The 1975 edition of ‘Horses in Training’ shows him still as private trainer to Mrs Hodges but with an increased stable of 21 horses. However, by 1976 he was down to ten and included three other owners. The 1977 edition revealed that he was now based at Highfield Farm, Norton, Malton, with a dozen horses and various owners. Evidently things did not work out well, that being his final entry in ‘Horses in Training’.
Derrick Holmes died on December 26, 1996, aged 66.
Derrick Holmes died on December 26, 1996, aged 66.
Derrick's first ride: Speeder at Stockton. June 10, 1944.
Derrick's first ride: Speeder at Stockton. June 10, 1944.