John Holden
1936 - 2007
1936 - 2007
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Northern Flat jockey John ‘Squeak’ Holden was born in 1936 and began his racing career in 1952 as an apprentice with Harry Peacock at Richmond. He failed to trouble the judge as an apprentice but took out a jockey’s licence in 1961, riding as third (or fourth) jockey to Sam Hall, who trained at Brecongill, Middleham.
Northern Flat jockey John ‘Squeak’ Holden was born in 1936 and began his racing career in 1952 as an apprentice with Harry Peacock at Richmond. He failed to trouble the judge as an apprentice but took out a jockey’s licence in 1961, riding as third (or fourth) jockey to Sam Hall, who trained at Brecongill, Middleham.
Joe Sime was Hall’s stable jockey, while the likes of Dennis Buckle and Walter Bentley were invariably higher in the pecking order when it came to rides. However, such was the strength of Sam Hall’s stable that there were still a few opportunities for an understudy’s understudy.
Joe Sime was Hall’s stable jockey, while the likes of Dennis Buckle and Walter Bentley were invariably higher in the pecking order when it came to rides. However, such was the strength of Sam Hall’s stable that there were still a few opportunities for an understudy’s understudy.
John rode his first winner on three-year-old maiden Lanesborough at Ripon on June 20, 1962. He went on to amass eight winners, all for Sam Hall, mostly in maiden races. While he would probably have partnered most of Hall’s best horses on the gallops, the best he rode in public was Marcus Brutus, on whom he won the Fairfield (3yo) Plate at Stockton in May 1966. The following month Marcus Brutus won the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, ridden on that occasion by Lester Piggott.
John rode his first winner on three-year-old maiden Lanesborough at Ripon on June 20, 1962. He went on to amass eight winners, all for Sam Hall, mostly in maiden races. While he would probably have partnered most of Hall’s best horses on the gallops, the best he rode in public was Marcus Brutus, on whom he won the Fairfield (3yo) Plate at Stockton in May 1966. The following month Marcus Brutus won the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, ridden on that occasion by Lester Piggott.
Another decent performer to benefit from John’s handling was Sovereign Set. John won a three-year-old maiden plate at Thirsk on the horse’s seasonal debut in May 1966. Sovereign Set went on to land a pair of valuable sprint handicaps at Newcastle and Redcar the next year and several other races thereafter.
Another decent performer to benefit from John’s handling was Sovereign Set. John won a three-year-old maiden plate at Thirsk on the horse’s seasonal debut in May 1966. Sovereign Set went on to land a pair of valuable sprint handicaps at Newcastle and Redcar the next year and several other races thereafter.
John’s biggest success came on Double Port in the Earl of Sefton’s Handicap at Liverpool on Grand National Day 1967, an hour or so after the Aintree crowd was still coming to terms with the sensational victory of 100-1 shot Foinavon in the Grand National itself. He rode one more winner that month, Pat O’Hara in the Fryston Stakes at Pontefract, which proved to be the last of his career. He had only nine rides that season and finally gave up being a jockey at the end of 1969.
John’s biggest success came on Double Port in the Earl of Sefton’s Handicap at Liverpool on Grand National Day 1967, an hour or so after the Aintree crowd was still coming to terms with the sensational victory of 100-1 shot Foinavon in the Grand National itself. He rode one more winner that month, Pat O’Hara in the Fryston Stakes at Pontefract, which proved to be the last of his career. He had only nine rides that season and finally gave up being a jockey at the end of 1969.
In retirement he was a popular and dearly loved friend of many racing people in the north. He died, aged 70, in January 2007 after a long battle with cancer. His funeral took place at St Mary’s Church in Richmond followed by a service at Darlington Crematorium.
In retirement he was a popular and dearly loved friend of many racing people in the north. He died, aged 70, in January 2007 after a long battle with cancer. His funeral took place at St Mary’s Church in Richmond followed by a service at Darlington Crematorium.
John Holden’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Holden’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Lanesborough, Ripon, June 20, 1962
1. Lanesborough, Ripon, June 20, 1962
2. Onus, Carlisle, July 6, 1962
2. Onus, Carlisle, July 6, 1962
3. Pelocan, Catterick Bridge, August 13, 1964
3. Pelocan, Catterick Bridge, August 13, 1964
4. Farmer Giles, Redcar, June 18, 1965
4. Farmer Giles, Redcar, June 18, 1965
5. Marcus Brutus, Stockton, April 9, 1966
5. Marcus Brutus, Stockton, April 9, 1966
6. Sovereign Set, Thirsk, May 18, 1966
6. Sovereign Set, Thirsk, May 18, 1966
7. Double Port, Liverpool, April 8, 1967
7. Double Port, Liverpool, April 8, 1967
8. Pat O’Hara, Pontefract, April 19, 1967
8. Pat O’Hara, Pontefract, April 19, 1967