Geoff Harker
Geoffrey Alan Harker was born on January 20, 1966. A northern-based journeyman jump jockey, his career lasted from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
Geoffrey Alan Harker was born on January 20, 1966. A northern-based journeyman jump jockey, his career lasted from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1987/88 with 16 winners. They included Catterick’s Dick Brewitt Memorial Challenge Cup and Peter Vaux Memorial Trophy chases on Bobby Brewis’s Candy Cone, the Tennent’s Novices’ Chase at Edinburgh on Beau Derek (below), and an Ayr double on January 30.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1987/88 with 16 winners. They included Catterick’s Dick Brewitt Memorial Challenge Cup and Peter Vaux Memorial Trophy chases on Bobby Brewis’s Candy Cone, the Tennent’s Novices’ Chase at Edinburgh on Beau Derek (below), and an Ayr double on January 30.
In contrast, he struggled the following season. Among the few winners he rode were Oriental Express in a Hexham selling hurdle in April and Raven Venture in a maiden chase at Wetherby on Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday.
In contrast, he struggled the following season. Among the few winners he rode were Oriental Express in a Hexham selling hurdle in April and Raven Venture in a maiden chase at Wetherby on Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday.
He landed a pair of Catterick novice chases on Jumbo Wilkinson’s Knock Thrice in the 1989/90 campaign, during which he rode seven winners. His other victories that season included the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup Chase at Ayr on Bluff Knoll (right), and the Pintail Sherry Handicap Chase at Perth on Raven Venture.
He landed a pair of Catterick novice chases on Jumbo Wilkinson’s Knock Thrice in the 1989/90 campaign, during which he rode seven winners. His other victories that season included the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup Chase at Ayr on Bluff Knoll (right), and the Pintail Sherry Handicap Chase at Perth on Raven Venture.
His score fell to just three winners in the 1992/93 season, two of which came on William Barker’s Roxy Boy, the first in the splendidly-titled Skegness Jolly Fisherman Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen in September, followed by the Levy Board Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Edinburgh in December. He rode a further five winners in 1994-95 and three in 1995-96, ending with a victory on Broad Outlook in the Streetlam Novices Hurdle at Catterick on 29 November 1995.
His score fell to just three winners in the 1992/93 season, two of which came on William Barker’s Roxy Boy, the first in the splendidly-titled Skegness Jolly Fisherman Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen in September, followed by the Levy Board Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Edinburgh in December. He rode a further five winners in 1994-95 and three in 1995-96, ending with a victory on Broad Outlook in the Streetlam Novices Hurdle at Catterick on 29 November 1995.
He later began training over jumps and saddled first winner in 2003. His totals from 2003 to 2006 were 11, 9 and 13 but the emphasis changed in 2007 when he moved to Thirsk and found his gallop was much better suited to Flat horses.
He later began training over jumps and saddled first winner in 2003. His totals from 2003 to 2006 were 11, 9 and 13 but the emphasis changed in 2007 when he moved to Thirsk and found his gallop was much better suited to Flat horses.
From five Flat winners the following season he went on to train 11 in 2009 and his seasonal tallies improved from there. In 2010, he trained the much-travelled nine-year-old Eijaaz to win a hat-trick of claimers.
From five Flat winners the following season he went on to train 11 in 2009 and his seasonal tallies improved from there. In 2010, he trained the much-travelled nine-year-old Eijaaz to win a hat-trick of claimers.
His best horses have included Gap Princess, who won five races, and City Of The Kings, winner of three handicaps in 2010 including a decent Class 2 at York. More recently, he won three Class 5 handicaps with Moccasin in 2015, while in April 2017 he trained the former Charlie Appleby inmate Wentworth Falls to win a pair of Class 3 handicaps at Doncaster and Redcar.
His best horses have included Gap Princess, who won five races, and City Of The Kings, winner of three handicaps in 2010 including a decent Class 2 at York. More recently, he won three Class 5 handicaps with Moccasin in 2015, while in April 2017 he trained the former Charlie Appleby inmate Wentworth Falls to win a pair of Class 3 handicaps at Doncaster and Redcar.