John Hurst
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey John Hurst achieved by far his biggest success when winning 1984 Kennedy Construction Gold Cup (formerly known as the Massey-Ferguson) on Beau Ranger.
National Hunt jockey John Hurst achieved by far his biggest success when winning 1984 Kennedy Construction Gold Cup (formerly known as the Massey-Ferguson) on Beau Ranger.
John was one of those lucky few jockeys who didn’t have to worry about his weight, being on the small side and weighing about 9st 5lb, despite being able to eat three meals a day.
John was one of those lucky few jockeys who didn’t have to worry about his weight, being on the small side and weighing about 9st 5lb, despite being able to eat three meals a day.
He began his working life in a butcher’s shop in Birmingham, where his lack of inches was a running joke. It was through meeting some stable lads from Ken Bridgwater’s stable that led to him joining the Solihull trainer. As soon as he sat on one of Bridgwater’s racehorses, he felt as though he’d been doing it all his life. He had a natural affinity with them.
He began his working life in a butcher’s shop in Birmingham, where his lack of inches was a running joke. It was through meeting some stable lads from Ken Bridgwater’s stable that led to him joining the Solihull trainer. As soon as he sat on one of Bridgwater’s racehorses, he felt as though he’d been doing it all his life. He had a natural affinity with them.
He wasn’t with Ken Bridgwater long, moving south to Ron Vibert for nine months and then on to David Gandolfo at Wantage. He spent three years as a stable lad with Gandolfo and had seven rides during that time. The first was on Santelis, who carried 12st 7lb minus John’s claim, in a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Leicester on December 15, 1980.
He wasn’t with Ken Bridgwater long, moving south to Ron Vibert for nine months and then on to David Gandolfo at Wantage. He spent three years as a stable lad with Gandolfo and had seven rides during that time. The first was on Santelis, who carried 12st 7lb minus John’s claim, in a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Leicester on December 15, 1980.
He had to wait almost two years before riding his first winner, by which time he had moved on to Kevin Bishop’s Bridgwater yard. It was Bishop who supplied that all-important first success, Bannock Prince, in a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Newton Abbot on October 12, 1982.
He had to wait almost two years before riding his first winner, by which time he had moved on to Kevin Bishop’s Bridgwater yard. It was Bishop who supplied that all-important first success, Bannock Prince, in a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Newton Abbot on October 12, 1982.
He was very soon to experience the ups and downs of racing. On his first ride over fences, on Not Likely at Towcester on November 6, the bridle broke, the horse slipped up on the bend after the first fence, and John broke a collarbone. On his third ride over fences, he broke the other one.
He was very soon to experience the ups and downs of racing. On his first ride over fences, on Not Likely at Towcester on November 6, the bridle broke, the horse slipped up on the bend after the first fence, and John broke a collarbone. On his third ride over fences, he broke the other one.
It was February 29, 1984, before John rode his second winner, also for Kevin Bishop, when North Lane landed a three-mile novices’ chase at Worcester.
It was February 29, 1984, before John rode his second winner, also for Kevin Bishop, when North Lane landed a three-mile novices’ chase at Worcester.
In the 1984/85 season John struck up a memorable partnership with Somerset trainer John Thorne’s two-and-a-half-mile chaser Beau Ranger, winning six times in a row. It started at Worcester on October 13, continued in the Devonair Radio Challenge Cup at Devon & Exeter on November 2, and then came a far bigger triumph in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on November 15. They won again at Sandown on November 30, beating sole rival Drumgora by 30 lengths in a match for the Crowngap Handicap Chase.
In the 1984/85 season John struck up a memorable partnership with Somerset trainer John Thorne’s two-and-a-half-mile chaser Beau Ranger, winning six times in a row. It started at Worcester on October 13, continued in the Devonair Radio Challenge Cup at Devon & Exeter on November 2, and then came a far bigger triumph in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on November 15. They won again at Sandown on November 30, beating sole rival Drumgora by 30 lengths in a match for the Crowngap Handicap Chase.
And so to Cheltenham on Saturday, December 8, 1984, for the Kennedy Construction Handicap Chase, worth £12, 445 to the winner. With a 4lb penalty for his facile Sandown victory nullified by John’s 7lb claim, Beau Ranger was set to carry just 9st 10lb, a weight well with his rider’s range. The horse’s odds of 8/1 seemed generous, and they were, because John had Beau Ranger in front by the eighth fence and, despite a mistake three out, he ran on well to beat Classified by four lengths.
And so to Cheltenham on Saturday, December 8, 1984, for the Kennedy Construction Handicap Chase, worth £12, 445 to the winner. With a 4lb penalty for his facile Sandown victory nullified by John’s 7lb claim, Beau Ranger was set to carry just 9st 10lb, a weight well with his rider’s range. The horse’s odds of 8/1 seemed generous, and they were, because John had Beau Ranger in front by the eighth fence and, despite a mistake three out, he ran on well to beat Classified by four lengths.
Later that month, on the second day of Kempton’s Christmas meeting, John and Beau Ranger won their sixth race on the spin, landing the valuable Ladbroke Handicap Chase by eight lengths from Lean Ar Aghaidh.
Later that month, on the second day of Kempton’s Christmas meeting, John and Beau Ranger won their sixth race on the spin, landing the valuable Ladbroke Handicap Chase by eight lengths from Lean Ar Aghaidh.
Their next outing was in Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup, in which they finished fifth behind The Tsarevitch. Then it was back to winning ways, landing and a handicap chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting on March 28, 1985.
Their next outing was in Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup, in which they finished fifth behind The Tsarevitch. Then it was back to winning ways, landing and a handicap chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting on March 28, 1985.
John rode Beau Ranger six times the following season but failed to win. After a disappointing performance when 11/10 favourite for the Duchy of Cornwall Challenge Cup at Devon & Exeter on October 8, 1985, they finished third in Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase. They were unable to repeat their victories of the previous December at Cheltenham and Kempton, finishing fifth in both the Still Fork Trucks Gold Cup (the new name of the Kennedy Construction) and the Ladbroke Handicap Chase.
John rode Beau Ranger six times the following season but failed to win. After a disappointing performance when 11/10 favourite for the Duchy of Cornwall Challenge Cup at Devon & Exeter on October 8, 1985, they finished third in Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase. They were unable to repeat their victories of the previous December at Cheltenham and Kempton, finishing fifth in both the Still Fork Trucks Gold Cup (the new name of the Kennedy Construction) and the Ladbroke Handicap Chase.
They came fifth again in Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup and then finished second to West Tip at Newbury on March 22, 1986. Senior jockey Hywel Davies took over for Beau Ranger’s next start and promptly won the Whitbread Gold Label Gold Cup at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
They came fifth again in Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup and then finished second to West Tip at Newbury on March 22, 1986. Senior jockey Hywel Davies took over for Beau Ranger’s next start and promptly won the Whitbread Gold Label Gold Cup at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
By then the writing was on the wall for John’s future association with Beau Ranger. He rode him for what would be the last time in Charisma Gold Cup at Kempton on October 18, 1986, only to be unseated at the second fence. From then on, the rides on Beau Ranger were entrusted to various more experienced jockeys, notably Mark Perrett and Peter Scudamore, for whom he won a number of good races.
By then the writing was on the wall for John’s future association with Beau Ranger. He rode him for what would be the last time in Charisma Gold Cup at Kempton on October 18, 1986, only to be unseated at the second fence. From then on, the rides on Beau Ranger were entrusted to various more experienced jockeys, notably Mark Perrett and Peter Scudamore, for whom he won a number of good races.
As for John Hurst, he finished his career riding for David Barons. By 1991 he’d hung up his riding boots for good.
As for John Hurst, he finished his career riding for David Barons. By 1991 he’d hung up his riding boots for good.