John Harris
John Arthur Harris was born on July 3, 1962, the son of brave, will-ride-anything former National Hunt jockey Jimmy Harris, who broke his back in a steeplechase fall at Huntingdon in 1971. Though confined to a wheelchair, Jimmy subsequently carved out a successful career as a trainer, based at Eastwell Hall Stables, near Melton Mowbray.
John Arthur Harris was born on July 3, 1962, the son of brave, will-ride-anything former National Hunt jockey Jimmy Harris, who broke his back in a steeplechase fall at Huntingdon in 1971. Though confined to a wheelchair, Jimmy subsequently carved out a successful career as a trainer, based at Eastwell Hall Stables, near Melton Mowbray.
John began as an apprentice on the Flat with Paul Cole and then rode as a conditional jockey, having a 15-year career in the saddle. He rode his first winner on Mandys Time, trained by his father, in a Southwell novices’ hurdle on December 18, 1980.
John began as an apprentice on the Flat with Paul Cole and then rode as a conditional jockey, having a 15-year career in the saddle. He rode his first winner on Mandys Time, trained by his father, in a Southwell novices’ hurdle on December 18, 1980.
He scored his most important success on Silver Leo, also for his father, in the Merseyside Hurdle at Liverpool’s Grand National meeting on April 2, 1982. John rode 20 winners in the 1982/83 season and finished third in the Daily Mirror opportunity jockeys’ series.
He scored his most important success on Silver Leo, also for his father, in the Merseyside Hurdle at Liverpool’s Grand National meeting on April 2, 1982. John rode 20 winners in the 1982/83 season and finished third in the Daily Mirror opportunity jockeys’ series.
He rode as a freelance for most of his career. The best horse he rode was Donegal Prince, on which he finished third to Burrough Hill Lad and Wayward Lad in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on December 8, 1984.
He rode as a freelance for most of his career. The best horse he rode was Donegal Prince, on which he finished third to Burrough Hill Lad and Wayward Lad in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on December 8, 1984.
His last season as a jockey was in 1993/94, during which he rode seven winners. He took out a trainer’s licence later in 1994, based initially at Edingley, three miles north-west of Southwell, but then moved to Kirby House Stables, Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir, near Grantham.
His last season as a jockey was in 1993/94, during which he rode seven winners. He took out a trainer’s licence later in 1994, based initially at Edingley, three miles north-west of Southwell, but then moved to Kirby House Stables, Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir, near Grantham.
When Jimmy Harris died suddenly of a heart attack in August 2001, John took over the running of Eastwell Hall stables, where his family had lived for 30 years. His assistant trainer was his sister Vicki, herself a former jump jockey.
When Jimmy Harris died suddenly of a heart attack in August 2001, John took over the running of Eastwell Hall stables, where his family had lived for 30 years. His assistant trainer was his sister Vicki, herself a former jump jockey.
Born on September 26, 1963, Vicki Harris had ridden her first winner on Tit For Tat in a Southwell selling hurdle on April 19, 1984. She rode her second winner just days later on Pericolo Ludus on Huntingdon’s Easter Monday card.
Born on September 26, 1963, Vicki Harris had ridden her first winner on Tit For Tat in a Southwell selling hurdle on April 19, 1984. She rode her second winner just days later on Pericolo Ludus on Huntingdon’s Easter Monday card.
The training operation enjoyed its fair share of success over the next decade. John last winner was Gertmegalush at Nottingham on July 2, 2011. His final runner was Ladies Best at Doncaster on April 1, 2012, finishing last of 16. Ten days later, John was disqualified for four months after the BHA’s disciplinary panel held its enquiry into the running of Fadhb Ar Bith under the name of Liberate Palestine in a flapping meeting at Dingle in Ireland in August 2010.
The training operation enjoyed its fair share of success over the next decade. John last winner was Gertmegalush at Nottingham on July 2, 2011. His final runner was Ladies Best at Doncaster on April 1, 2012, finishing last of 16. Ten days later, John was disqualified for four months after the BHA’s disciplinary panel held its enquiry into the running of Fadhb Ar Bith under the name of Liberate Palestine in a flapping meeting at Dingle in Ireland in August 2010.
The owner of Fadhb Ar Bith, had been disqualified for four years back in 2007, yet John maintained he did not know either that he had owned the horse or the period covered by his ban. The disciplinary panel found that John’s attempt to cover up was an act of naivety rather than malice. He was disqualified for four months from April 6 to August 5. He has not trained since then.
The owner of Fadhb Ar Bith, had been disqualified for four years back in 2007, yet John maintained he did not know either that he had owned the horse or the period covered by his ban. The disciplinary panel found that John’s attempt to cover up was an act of naivety rather than malice. He was disqualified for four months from April 6 to August 5. He has not trained since then.
There was no redemption for trainer John Harris on Good Friday, after the BHA’s Disciplinary Panel held its enquiry into the running of Fadhb Ar Bith under the name Liberate Palestine at Dingle in Ireland in August 2010.
There was no redemption for trainer John Harris on Good Friday, after the BHA’s Disciplinary Panel held its enquiry into the running of Fadhb Ar Bith under the name Liberate Palestine at Dingle in Ireland in August 2010.
Harris was subject to two charges. He admitted to acting in a manner prejudicial to horseracing in Great Britain, on the grounds that he had a close association with Gerard Faulkner, a disqualified person. Faulkner was the owner of Fadhb Ar Bith, and had been disqualified for four years back in 2007, yet Harris maintained he did not know either that Faulkner owned the horse or the period covered by his ban. Telephone evidence of contact between the two led to a fine of £2000.
Harris was subject to two charges. He admitted to acting in a manner prejudicial to horseracing in Great Britain, on the grounds that he had a close association with Gerard Faulkner, a disqualified person. Faulkner was the owner of Fadhb Ar Bith, and had been disqualified for four years back in 2007, yet Harris maintained he did not know either that Faulkner owned the horse or the period covered by his ban. Telephone evidence of contact between the two led to a fine of £2000.
The allegations around running Fadhb Ar Bith in a flapping race were more serious. The horse had run five times between March and July 2012, culminating in a victory at Carlisle. A few days later it was collected by its owner and after racing in Ireland returned to Harris’ yard. At issue was whether the horse had ceased to be trained by Harris; it was not at any time taken off his list of Horses in Training.
The allegations around running Fadhb Ar Bith in a flapping race were more serious. The horse had run five times between March and July 2012, culminating in a victory at Carlisle. A few days later it was collected by its owner and after racing in Ireland returned to Harris’ yard. At issue was whether the horse had ceased to be trained by Harris; it was not at any time taken off his list of Horses in Training.
BHA intelligence had identified that Fadhb Ar Bith had run at a flapping meeting previously and was likely to do so at Dingle. Harris therefore insisted on the horse returning to his yard in an attempt to suggest it had been there all the time. Photographic evidence proved otherwise.
BHA intelligence had identified that Fadhb Ar Bith had run at a flapping meeting previously and was likely to do so at Dingle. Harris therefore insisted on the horse returning to his yard in an attempt to suggest it had been there all the time. Photographic evidence proved otherwise.
The BHA’s Disciplinary Panel found that Harris had many opportunities both before and after the flapping race at Dingle to tell Faulkner that he no longer wanted the horse in his yard, and to remove it from his list of horses registered with the authorities. His attempted cover up was, they said, an act of naivety rather than malice. Despite this, Harris himself was disqualified for four months from 6 April to 5 August.
The BHA’s Disciplinary Panel found that Harris had many opportunities both before and after the flapping race at Dingle to tell Faulkner that he no longer wanted the horse in his yard, and to remove it from his list of horses registered with the authorities. His attempted cover up was, they said, an act of naivety rather than malice. Despite this, Harris himself was disqualified for four months from 6 April to 5 August.