John Hudson
1934 - 2008
1934 - 2008
When John Hudson died in the summer of 2008, scrapbooks left behind told the story of his 33 winners in thirteen years.
When John Hudson died in the summer of 2008, scrapbooks left behind told the story of his 33 winners in thirteen years.
Born on January 8, 1934, his father, Tom, owned a 200-acre dairy farm, Hall Bank, in the village of Mealsgate, a tiny Cumbrian village which had grown up alongside an old Roman road. Tom led a busy life. With over 100 cattle and 200 sheep to tend, he still found time to train eight or so racehorses, among them Lucky Pilgrim & Beamsong.
Born on January 8, 1934, his father, Tom, owned a 200-acre dairy farm, Hall Bank, in the village of Mealsgate, a tiny Cumbrian village which had grown up alongside an old Roman road. Tom led a busy life. With over 100 cattle and 200 sheep to tend, he still found time to train eight or so racehorses, among them Lucky Pilgrim & Beamsong.
It is not difficult to see from where John inherited his love of horses.
It is not difficult to see from where John inherited his love of horses.
Tom had taken out a training licence in 1956, the year John had turned professional having ridden five winners as an amateur, the first of which, Union Star, had come at Sedgefield in 1955.
Tom had taken out a training licence in 1956, the year John had turned professional having ridden five winners as an amateur, the first of which, Union Star, had come at Sedgefield in 1955.
Union Star's owner, Joe Watson, was also the owner of Turmoil, which he had picked up for 180 guineas at the Stockton Sales.
Union Star's owner, Joe Watson, was also the owner of Turmoil, which he had picked up for 180 guineas at the Stockton Sales.
Len Skelton, a young, neighbouring farmer, had bought a horse - Sundawn lll - for a song and proceeded to win five point-to-points with it.
Len Skelton, a young, neighbouring farmer, had bought a horse - Sundawn lll - for a song and proceeded to win five point-to-points with it.
He then asked Tom Hudson to take over its training. This Tom successfully did, winning - on Thursday, December 4, 1958 - the Christmas Dinner Handicap at Liverpool with John, showing considerable dash, in the saddle.
He then asked Tom Hudson to take over its training. This Tom successfully did, winning - on Thursday, December 4, 1958 - the Christmas Dinner Handicap at Liverpool with John, showing considerable dash, in the saddle.
Now Joe Watson approached Tom, requesting that he take over the training of Turmoil.
Now Joe Watson approached Tom, requesting that he take over the training of Turmoil.
It took Tom and John some time to work the horse out. Gradually, after defeats in two mile chases, they came to realise that Turmoil was an out-and-out stayer, one especially good on soft going.
It took Tom and John some time to work the horse out. Gradually, after defeats in two mile chases, they came to realise that Turmoil was an out-and-out stayer, one especially good on soft going.
On Saturday, December 13, 1958, the horse was sent up to Newcastle to contest the Chipchase Handicap Steeplechase. Devon Dumpling, the 7/4 favourite, was widely expected to win, but John and Turmoil routed the field, coming home impressively at 5/1.
On Saturday, December 13, 1958, the horse was sent up to Newcastle to contest the Chipchase Handicap Steeplechase. Devon Dumpling, the 7/4 favourite, was widely expected to win, but John and Turmoil routed the field, coming home impressively at 5/1.
But it was his win in Newcastle's Eider Chase which attracted attention.
But it was his win in Newcastle's Eider Chase which attracted attention.
That race had been witnessed by Mr Geoffrey Kohn, the owner of Grand National winner, Sundew. He had earlier arrived at Tom's stable wanting to buy Sundawn, but the owner had refused to sell. Tom suggested that he went to see Turmoil run at Newcastle.
That race had been witnessed by Mr Geoffrey Kohn, the owner of Grand National winner, Sundew. He had earlier arrived at Tom's stable wanting to buy Sundawn, but the owner had refused to sell. Tom suggested that he went to see Turmoil run at Newcastle.
Suitably impressed, Mr Kohn bought the horse but, to Tom's dismay, transferred it to Alec Kilpatrick's Marlborough stables. However, John was retained to ride.
Suitably impressed, Mr Kohn bought the horse but, to Tom's dismay, transferred it to Alec Kilpatrick's Marlborough stables. However, John was retained to ride.
Entered for the National, the team wanted rain but, on the day, the going was described as 'good', too fast for Turmoil.
Entered for the National, the team wanted rain but, on the day, the going was described as 'good', too fast for Turmoil.
John kept Turmoil at the back of the field until halfway when he began to edge forward. Then - disaster. Surrounded by loose horses, Turmoil was badly baulked at the Canal Turn and his race was over.
John kept Turmoil at the back of the field until halfway when he began to edge forward. Then - disaster. Surrounded by loose horses, Turmoil was badly baulked at the Canal Turn and his race was over.
'But for this we may have finished fourth' John said later.
'But for this we may have finished fourth' John said later.
Oxo went on to win from the luckless Wynburgh.
Oxo went on to win from the luckless Wynburgh.
Mild compensation awaited when, three weeks later, John & Turmoil won the Golden Miller Chase at Cheltenham. Incessant rain throughout the morning undoubtedly aided his chance and Turmoil won by an easy 15 lengths.
Mild compensation awaited when, three weeks later, John & Turmoil won the Golden Miller Chase at Cheltenham. Incessant rain throughout the morning undoubtedly aided his chance and Turmoil won by an easy 15 lengths.
Thereafter, the horse completely lost its form and was sold on to a Mrs Brackensbury to be trained by her permit-holding husband.
Thereafter, the horse completely lost its form and was sold on to a Mrs Brackensbury to be trained by her permit-holding husband.
John only had one more ride in the National, the delicate former hunter chaser Nedsmar, who - because of problems with his shoulders - could only run three or four times a year. The National was a tall order for so fragile a horse, and this was reflected in the betting. Starting at 100/1, John's mount got no further than Becher's, where he took a spectacular fall, bringing down three others in the process.
John only had one more ride in the National, the delicate former hunter chaser Nedsmar, who - because of problems with his shoulders - could only run three or four times a year. The National was a tall order for so fragile a horse, and this was reflected in the betting. Starting at 100/1, John's mount got no further than Becher's, where he took a spectacular fall, bringing down three others in the process.
John did eventually win at Aintree when Costa Rica obliged on December 31, 1965.
John did eventually win at Aintree when Costa Rica obliged on December 31, 1965.
The following year, again on New Year's Eve, he won his last race when Gilthwaite took a selling chase at Catterick.
The following year, again on New Year's Eve, he won his last race when Gilthwaite took a selling chase at Catterick.
John then retired from the saddle and, still a comparatively young man, worked for the next twenty years for a tyre company before his death in 2008.
John then retired from the saddle and, still a comparatively young man, worked for the next twenty years for a tyre company before his death in 2008.
His father, Tom, died in the Spring of 1984 aged 81.
His father, Tom, died in the Spring of 1984 aged 81.
John Hudson’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Hudson’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Union Star, Sedgefield, May 14, 1955
1. Union Star, Sedgefield, May 14, 1955
2. Union Star, Newcastle, October 29, 1955
2. Union Star, Newcastle, October 29, 1955
3. Lucky Pilgrim, Sedgefield, December 26, 1955
3. Lucky Pilgrim, Sedgefield, December 26, 1955
4. Lucky Pilgrim, Catterick, December 31, 1955
4. Lucky Pilgrim, Catterick, December 31, 1955
5. Union Star, Ayr, January 2, 1956
5. Union Star, Ayr, January 2, 1956
6. Young Turk, Catterick Bridge, January 26, 1957
6. Young Turk, Catterick Bridge, January 26, 1957
7. Young Turk, Sedgefield, February 2, 1957
7. Young Turk, Sedgefield, February 2, 1957
8. Turmoil, Ayr, March 16, 1957
8. Turmoil, Ayr, March 16, 1957
9. Turmoil, Catterick Bridge, January 11, 1958
9. Turmoil, Catterick Bridge, January 11, 1958
10. Turmoil, Newcastle, February 15, 1958
10. Turmoil, Newcastle, February 15, 1958
11. Herdlaw, Perth, April 23, 1958
11. Herdlaw, Perth, April 23, 1958
12. Herdlaw, Cartmel, May 26, 1958
12. Herdlaw, Cartmel, May 26, 1958
13. West Croft, Haydock Park, November 26, 1958
13. West Croft, Haydock Park, November 26, 1958
14. Sundawn III, Liverpool, December 4, 1958
14. Sundawn III, Liverpool, December 4, 1958
15. Turmoil, Newcastle, December 13, 1958
15. Turmoil, Newcastle, December 13, 1958
16. Turmoil, Catterick Bridge, January 1, 1959
16. Turmoil, Catterick Bridge, January 1, 1959
17. Turmoil, Newcastle, February 14, 1959
17. Turmoil, Newcastle, February 14, 1959
18. Buncton, Kelso, March 7, 1959
18. Buncton, Kelso, March 7, 1959
19. Turmoil, Cheltenham, April 10, 1959
19. Turmoil, Cheltenham, April 10, 1959
20. Dinton, Hexham, May 16, 1959
20. Dinton, Hexham, May 16, 1959
21. Reba, Ayr, March 12, 1960
21. Reba, Ayr, March 12, 1960
22. Entracte, Perth, April 28, 1960
22. Entracte, Perth, April 28, 1960
23. Tipperary Mary, Sedgefield, March 18, 1961
23. Tipperary Mary, Sedgefield, March 18, 1961
24. Tipperary Mary, Kelso, May 3, 1961
24. Tipperary Mary, Kelso, May 3, 1961
25. Surprising, Cartmel, May 20, 1961
25. Surprising, Cartmel, May 20, 1961
26. Surprising, Sedgefield, September 9, 1961
26. Surprising, Sedgefield, September 9, 1961
27. Nedsmar, Ayr, December 16, 1961
27. Nedsmar, Ayr, December 16, 1961
28. Nedsmar, March 13, 1963
28. Nedsmar, March 13, 1963
29. Gilthwaite, Carlisle, March 28, 1964
29. Gilthwaite, Carlisle, March 28, 1964
30. Nedsmar, Hexham, April 27, 1964
30. Nedsmar, Hexham, April 27, 1964
31. Costa Rica, Liverpool, December 31, 1965
31. Costa Rica, Liverpool, December 31, 1965
32. Costa Rica, Haydock Park, January 8, 1966
32. Costa Rica, Haydock Park, January 8, 1966
33. Gilthwaite, Catterick Bridge, December 31, 1966
33. Gilthwaite, Catterick Bridge, December 31, 1966
Nedsmar is led in after winning at Hexham, April 27, 1964 (below)
Nedsmar is led in after winning at Hexham, April 27, 1964 (below)
John on Herdlaw
John on Herdlaw
John riding Stella's Courage at Carlisle
John riding Stella's Courage at Carlisle
(jockey with white sleeves, horse with white blaze & wearing sheepskin noseband)
(jockey with white sleeves, horse with white blaze & wearing sheepskin noseband)