John Hayward
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
John Elsom Hayward was born on November 23, 1947, the son of a Kent miner. He served his apprenticeship with George Todd at Manton and rode his first winner on Todd’s Square Deal, carrying just 6st 7lb, at Lingfield Park on October 31, 1964.
John Elsom Hayward was born on November 23, 1947, the son of a Kent miner. He served his apprenticeship with George Todd at Manton and rode his first winner on Todd’s Square Deal, carrying just 6st 7lb, at Lingfield Park on October 31, 1964.
He rode eleven winners the following year, highlighted by the success of Square Deal in the Midland Cesarewitch on October 11, 1965, the race being run at Wolverhampton for the first time, having been transferred from Birmingham following that course’s closure.
He rode eleven winners the following year, highlighted by the success of Square Deal in the Midland Cesarewitch on October 11, 1965, the race being run at Wolverhampton for the first time, having been transferred from Birmingham following that course’s closure.
George Todd was a master of training stayers who carried on winning year after year, Trelawny being the most famous example. Another was Shira, on which, following a second place finish to Tubalcain when ridden by Ernie Johnson in the 1966 Ascot Stakes,
George Todd was a master of training stayers who carried on winning year after year, Trelawny being the most famous example. Another was Shira, on which, following a second place finish to Tubalcain when ridden by Ernie Johnson in the 1966 Ascot Stakes,
John won at Lingfield on the first day of July and followed up two weeks later by winning Ascot’s Brown Jack Stakes, which in those days was still run over the Queen Alexandra Stakes trip of 2m 6f 34yds, making it the joint longest race in the calendar. Shira took the lead two and a half furlongs from home and ran on strongly to gain revenge on the Geoff Lewis-ridden Tubalcain by a length and a half.
John won at Lingfield on the first day of July and followed up two weeks later by winning Ascot’s Brown Jack Stakes, which in those days was still run over the Queen Alexandra Stakes trip of 2m 6f 34yds, making it the joint longest race in the calendar. Shira took the lead two and a half furlongs from home and ran on strongly to gain revenge on the Geoff Lewis-ridden Tubalcain by a length and a half.
The following year John rode Shira to win the 2m 4f Ascot Stakes on the opening day of the Royal Meeting (June 20, 1967), beating fellow apprentice Tony Murray on Pilino in a photo-finish, and followed that by winning the Brown Jack Stakes on Shira for a second time. He rode four other winners during that season, including the Eric Simms Memorial Handicap at Brighton on George Todd’s Santaway on September 21.
The following year John rode Shira to win the 2m 4f Ascot Stakes on the opening day of the Royal Meeting (June 20, 1967), beating fellow apprentice Tony Murray on Pilino in a photo-finish, and followed that by winning the Brown Jack Stakes on Shira for a second time. He rode four other winners during that season, including the Eric Simms Memorial Handicap at Brighton on George Todd’s Santaway on September 21.
Shira failed to score in 1968 but twice ran well in defeat, finishing third behind Major Rose and Frog in the Chester Cup in May and second to Tubalcain over the same course and distance in the Greenall Whitley Gold Challenge Trophy in July. John rode four winners that season, the highlight being a double for George Todd on Square Deal and Welsh Windsor on June 28.
Shira failed to score in 1968 but twice ran well in defeat, finishing third behind Major Rose and Frog in the Chester Cup in May and second to Tubalcain over the same course and distance in the Greenall Whitley Gold Challenge Trophy in July. John rode four winners that season, the highlight being a double for George Todd on Square Deal and Welsh Windsor on June 28.
In 1969 Shira and John finished third in Chester’s Greenall Whitley Gold Challenge Trophy and second in the Brown Jack Stakes. John’s three winners that year, all for George Todd, comprised Santaway at Brighton on May 28, the Brighton Challenge Cup on Alloway Lad on August 6, and Conclusion at Salisbury on August 13.
In 1969 Shira and John finished third in Chester’s Greenall Whitley Gold Challenge Trophy and second in the Brown Jack Stakes. John’s three winners that year, all for George Todd, comprised Santaway at Brighton on May 28, the Brighton Challenge Cup on Alloway Lad on August 6, and Conclusion at Salisbury on August 13.
John’s last year with an apprentice allowance, 1970, yielded just two winners, both on the Alec Kerr-trained two-year-old Torna Sunda. He was able to claim 5lb when winning at Brighton on June 30 but came out of his time the following day, hence was a fully-fledged jockey when winning at Newbury on July 11.
John’s last year with an apprentice allowance, 1970, yielded just two winners, both on the Alec Kerr-trained two-year-old Torna Sunda. He was able to claim 5lb when winning at Brighton on June 30 but came out of his time the following day, hence was a fully-fledged jockey when winning at Newbury on July 11.
He struggled for opportunities without a claim, although he managed to ride five winners from 57 mounts in 1972.
He struggled for opportunities without a claim, although he managed to ride five winners from 57 mounts in 1972.
His last winner was on Alec Kerr’s 20/1 outsider Blustery in division two of the Chertsey Lock Maiden Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings at Kempton Park on Saturday, August 31, 1974.
His last winner was on Alec Kerr’s 20/1 outsider Blustery in division two of the Chertsey Lock Maiden Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings at Kempton Park on Saturday, August 31, 1974.
John continued riding until 1977 without further success, having ridden a total of 39 winners in Britain.
John continued riding until 1977 without further success, having ridden a total of 39 winners in Britain.
