John Hickman

John Hickman

Article by Alan Trout

Not to be confused with the successful point-to-point and amateur rider of the same name who was active at the same time, John Hickman rode just two winners, both on the four-year-old hurdler Spring Brow in the autumn of 1960.

Trained by Atty Corbett, Spring Brow had been placed in six of his seven starts in his career, with John having been aboard for the last two. This time he seized his chance and beat 29 rivals to take the Waterloo Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Sandown Park on November 18, 1960, coming with a strong run after the final flight and getting up in the closing stages. However, he did veer left near the finish, prompting leading jockey Tim Brookshaw, who had finished second on Nosey, to lodge an objection on grounds of “crossing after the last flight of hurdles”. The stewards overruled the objection and John had his first winner.

Just eight days later, Spring Brow and his young jockey recorded a second victory, winning the Speen Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury. This time there was only a field of 19 to beat and, taking the lead two hurdles out, Spring Brow won by two lengths. 

John kept the ride for the gelding’s next two outings but a fourth place was the best they could manage. The more experienced Johnny Gamble took over in the saddle but fared little better with one third place finish from four efforts. 

Those two wins on Spring Brow came from just 14 mounts John Hickman had during that 1960/61 campaign. He held a licence for one more season but had no further success from limited opportunities.