John Higgins
The son of a Coventry painter and decorator, John James Higgins was born on December 13, 1948, and lived at Bellwood Cottage, Settrington, Malton.
The son of a Coventry painter and decorator, John James Higgins was born on December 13, 1948, and lived at Bellwood Cottage, Settrington, Malton.
He was apprenticed to Ron Mason from October 4, 1964 to October 1971 and rode his first winner, March Blue, on July 9, 1965, at Chester.
He was apprenticed to Ron Mason from October 4, 1964 to October 1971 and rode his first winner, March Blue, on July 9, 1965, at Chester.
His big race wins included the Ayr Gold Cup (Petite Path), Vaux Gold Tankard and the Northumberland Plate (Tartar Prince).
His big race wins included the Ayr Gold Cup (Petite Path), Vaux Gold Tankard and the Northumberland Plate (Tartar Prince).
During the seventies, John rode regularly in the West Indies and won the Trinidad Derby three times in four years.
During the seventies, John rode regularly in the West Indies and won the Trinidad Derby three times in four years.
It was in Belgium in 1978 that he suffered a breakdown.
It was in Belgium in 1978 that he suffered a breakdown.
"I was running a stable in Ostend," he recalls. "With worrying and wasting, I wasn't sleeping well and in the end I was mentally and physically exhausted. I felt fantastic, like I was on a high, but I wasn't thinking straight and my body was slowly collapsing.
"I was running a stable in Ostend," he recalls. "With worrying and wasting, I wasn't sleeping well and in the end I was mentally and physically exhausted. I felt fantastic, like I was on a high, but I wasn't thinking straight and my body was slowly collapsing.
"I went to a breakdown hospital near York. They told me that if I got my body physically right, the mental state would come good again."
"I went to a breakdown hospital near York. They told me that if I got my body physically right, the mental state would come good again."
They were right. "I came out feeling good," he adds. "I went to ride in Tehran for three months with Paul Tulk and `Flapper' Yates, but we found ourselves under siege when the Ayatollah came back. On the last night there was gunfire all around and we got out on the first flight the next day, along with the Shah.
They were right. "I came out feeling good," he adds. "I went to ride in Tehran for three months with Paul Tulk and `Flapper' Yates, but we found ourselves under siege when the Ayatollah came back. On the last night there was gunfire all around and we got out on the first flight the next day, along with the Shah.
"I decided then to get out of racing and was all set to go for an interview at the local bakery, when I heard that Henry Cecil was looking for a work-rider."
"I decided then to get out of racing and was all set to go for an interview at the local bakery, when I heard that Henry Cecil was looking for a work-rider."
Higgins joined Cecil in January 1979 as work-rider/third jockey and partnered many of Cecil's best horses on the gallops, including Reprimand, Slip Anchor and Indian Skimmer.
Higgins joined Cecil in January 1979 as work-rider/third jockey and partnered many of Cecil's best horses on the gallops, including Reprimand, Slip Anchor and Indian Skimmer.
"Commander In Chief impressed me the most," he says of the 1993 Derby winner. "He really floated over the ground. The faster he went, the smoother he felt."
"Commander In Chief impressed me the most," he says of the 1993 Derby winner. "He really floated over the ground. The faster he went, the smoother he felt."
He left Warren Place in 1996, and spent time with David Loder and Julie Cecil before joining Stoute's team.
He left Warren Place in 1996, and spent time with David Loder and Julie Cecil before joining Stoute's team.
Besides Medicean, he has partnered No Excuse Needed and rates him unlucky to have finished only fifth in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Besides Medicean, he has partnered No Excuse Needed and rates him unlucky to have finished only fifth in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
John enjoyed fishing & gardening. He was also a keen walker and jogger.
John enjoyed fishing & gardening. He was also a keen walker and jogger.
Big winners
Big winners
1968: Ayr Gold Cup – Petite Path
1968: Ayr Gold Cup – Petite Path
1969: Northumberland Plate – Tartar Prince
1969: Northumberland Plate – Tartar Prince
1970: Cumberland Plate – Sandal
1970: Cumberland Plate – Sandal
1970: Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap – Pabella
1970: Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap – Pabella
1971: Vaux Gold Tankard – Fairzan
1971: Vaux Gold Tankard – Fairzan
1979: Newbury Autumn Cup – Greatham House
1979: Newbury Autumn Cup – Greatham House