Duncan Hughes
1941 - 1979
National Hunt jockey Duncan Robert Edward Hughes was born in Folkestone on November 2, 1941. He began his racing career with royal trainer Peter Cazalet from 1958 to 1961, and was later associated with Chris Nesfield, Colin Davies and Verly Bewicke.
National Hunt jockey Duncan Robert Edward Hughes was born in Folkestone on November 2, 1941. He began his racing career with royal trainer Peter Cazalet from 1958 to 1961, and was later associated with Chris Nesfield, Colin Davies and Verly Bewicke.
He rode his first winner on the Chris Nesfield-trained Bebe Fair in the Sherborne Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle at Warwick on November 25, 1961.
He rode his first winner on the Chris Nesfield-trained Bebe Fair in the Sherborne Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle at Warwick on November 25, 1961.
He considered the best horse he rode was Persian Empire, on whom he won Windsor’s Sir Ken Hurdle in 1968. However, he achieved his biggest success on Jim Joel’s 10-1 shot Balinese, trained by Bob Turnell, in the 1972 Heinz Chase at Ascot.
He considered the best horse he rode was Persian Empire, on whom he won Windsor’s Sir Ken Hurdle in 1968. However, he achieved his biggest success on Jim Joel’s 10-1 shot Balinese, trained by Bob Turnell, in the 1972 Heinz Chase at Ascot.
Duncan also gained great pleasure from riding the pacemakers for Persian War when that fine horse completed a Champion Hurdle hat-trick in 1968-70. He rode Straight Point in 1968 and Bobby Moore in both 1969 and 1970 for Persian War’s trainer Colin Davies, leading to just past halfway on each occasion.
Duncan also gained great pleasure from riding the pacemakers for Persian War when that fine horse completed a Champion Hurdle hat-trick in 1968-70. He rode Straight Point in 1968 and Bobby Moore in both 1969 and 1970 for Persian War’s trainer Colin Davies, leading to just past halfway on each occasion.
While his riding career never really hit the headlines, he was greatly liked and respected among his weighing room colleagues and was for some years a vice-president of the Jockeys’ Association.
While his riding career never really hit the headlines, he was greatly liked and respected among his weighing room colleagues and was for some years a vice-president of the Jockeys’ Association.
He rode over 60 winners, twice recording double-figure scores for a season, with 12 in 1967/68 and a career-best 13 in 1970/71. He retired from race riding in 1974.
He rode over 60 winners, twice recording double-figure scores for a season, with 12 in 1967/68 and a career-best 13 in 1970/71. He retired from race riding in 1974.
After quitting the saddle, Duncan became involved with the sales and promotion of animal foodstuffs, a job which kept him in contact with racing. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash on Friday, September 8, 1979. He was 37 and left a widow and two sons.
After quitting the saddle, Duncan became involved with the sales and promotion of animal foodstuffs, a job which kept him in contact with racing. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash on Friday, September 8, 1979. He was 37 and left a widow and two sons.