John Hansen
John Hansen was born on September 7, 1960. He was a northern-based jump jockey whose career spanned the 1980s. He began his career with Tony Potts and then joined Jack Berry, who supplied John’s first winner, Clown Court at Cartmel on August 27, 1979.
John Hansen was born on September 7, 1960. He was a northern-based jump jockey whose career spanned the 1980s. He began his career with Tony Potts and then joined Jack Berry, who supplied John’s first winner, Clown Court at Cartmel on August 27, 1979.
After a brief spell riding for Cheshire trainer Ray Peacock, John joined Gordon W. Richards’ Greystoke stable and his career quickly took an upward curve. His winners during the 1982/83 season included a journey south to Ascot, where he won the Valley Gardens Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on the Richards-trained French Lord on October 30, 1982. He rode winners for other trainers too that season, notably on Neville Crump’s popular veteran Even Melody in a conditional jockeys’ chase at Wetherby on November 16. He won four hurdle races in a row on Chris Thornton’s filly Marjoram, at Huntingdon in January, Catterick in March, Cartmel in May and Market Rasen in June. Tarporley trainer Martin Cousins was another to offer support, giving John a winning ride on selling hurdler Kingsbere at Wetherby on Easter Monday.
After a brief spell riding for Cheshire trainer Ray Peacock, John joined Gordon W. Richards’ Greystoke stable and his career quickly took an upward curve. His winners during the 1982/83 season included a journey south to Ascot, where he won the Valley Gardens Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on the Richards-trained French Lord on October 30, 1982. He rode winners for other trainers too that season, notably on Neville Crump’s popular veteran Even Melody in a conditional jockeys’ chase at Wetherby on November 16. He won four hurdle races in a row on Chris Thornton’s filly Marjoram, at Huntingdon in January, Catterick in March, Cartmel in May and Market Rasen in June. Tarporley trainer Martin Cousins was another to offer support, giving John a winning ride on selling hurdler Kingsbere at Wetherby on Easter Monday.
The 1983/84 campaign started off well enough four early season winners, including a brace of Carlisle juvenile hurdles in September on Richards’ filly Jennie Pat, but it ended disappointingly with a score of only five. It is quite likely that injuries had a part to play in that.
The 1983/84 campaign started off well enough four early season winners, including a brace of Carlisle juvenile hurdles in September on Richards’ filly Jennie Pat, but it ended disappointingly with a score of only five. It is quite likely that injuries had a part to play in that.
The following season, 1984/85, he won back-to-back novice hurdles on Howard Johnson’s Tabriz Gold, the second of those wins, at Sedgefield on March 12, 1985, resulted in John riding out his claim. Other highlights that season included riding Gordon Richards’ 100/1 outsider Immigrate in the 1985 Grand National, being well behind when falling at Becher’s on the second circuit; and a Whit Monday double at Hexham for Penrith trainer Tommy Barnes on novice hurdler Rhein Lad and three-mile handicap chaser Hazy Glen.
The following season, 1984/85, he won back-to-back novice hurdles on Howard Johnson’s Tabriz Gold, the second of those wins, at Sedgefield on March 12, 1985, resulted in John riding out his claim. Other highlights that season included riding Gordon Richards’ 100/1 outsider Immigrate in the 1985 Grand National, being well behind when falling at Becher’s on the second circuit; and a Whit Monday double at Hexham for Penrith trainer Tommy Barnes on novice hurdler Rhein Lad and three-mile handicap chaser Hazy Glen.
The 1985/86 season again yielded five winners, two of them on Richards’ novice hurdler Wise Cracker at Sedgefield in September and Uttoxeter in October. Having lost his claim, winning opportunities became rarer. John’s score fell to four in the 1987/88 season, two of those courtesy of Hawick trainer John Leadbetter’s chaser Impage, at Wetherby in November 1987 and at Hexham in May 1988.
The 1985/86 season again yielded five winners, two of them on Richards’ novice hurdler Wise Cracker at Sedgefield in September and Uttoxeter in October. Having lost his claim, winning opportunities became rarer. John’s score fell to four in the 1987/88 season, two of those courtesy of Hawick trainer John Leadbetter’s chaser Impage, at Wetherby in November 1987 and at Hexham in May 1988.
Gordon Richards’ chaser Conclusive gave John a winning start to the 1988/89 campaign, landing a Southwell handicap chase on August 6. He won twice that season on Richards’ novice chaser Tartan Takeover, firstly at Carlisle on October and then when winning the Racing Post Series Novices’ Handicap Chase Final at Wetherby on Easter Monday, March 27, 1989, giving him the biggest win of his career. That, though, was as good as it got, for John quit the saddle soon afterwards.
Gordon Richards’ chaser Conclusive gave John a winning start to the 1988/89 campaign, landing a Southwell handicap chase on August 6. He won twice that season on Richards’ novice chaser Tartan Takeover, firstly at Carlisle on October and then when winning the Racing Post Series Novices’ Handicap Chase Final at Wetherby on Easter Monday, March 27, 1989, giving him the biggest win of his career. That, though, was as good as it got, for John quit the saddle soon afterwards.