Mark Harrington
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Mark Harrington was born in Chelmsford, Essex, on May 7, 1961. He was around horses from an early age, as his mother trained a few point-to-pointers.
National Hunt jockey Mark Harrington was born in Chelmsford, Essex, on May 7, 1961. He was around horses from an early age, as his mother trained a few point-to-pointers.
Mark was apprenticed to Dickie Westbrook at Newmarket and rode his first winner on Princess Saulingo in the Eastcote Handicap Hurdle at Towcester on October 6, 1979.
Mark was apprenticed to Dickie Westbrook at Newmarket and rode his first winner on Princess Saulingo in the Eastcote Handicap Hurdle at Towcester on October 6, 1979.
Another of his early winners, also trained by Westbrook, was Izzyfast, on whom Mark won a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Leicester on December 15, 1980. That was one of seven winners he rode during that 1980/81 season for various different trainers, including a dead-heat on Bill Marshall’s novice hurdler Rubber Legs at Market Rasen, two wins on John Jenkins’ Seaway at Fakenham and Plumpton, and Albert Davison’s Shakyamonee at Towcester.
Another of his early winners, also trained by Westbrook, was Izzyfast, on whom Mark won a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Leicester on December 15, 1980. That was one of seven winners he rode during that 1980/81 season for various different trainers, including a dead-heat on Bill Marshall’s novice hurdler Rubber Legs at Market Rasen, two wins on John Jenkins’ Seaway at Fakenham and Plumpton, and Albert Davison’s Shakyamonee at Towcester.
Mark made a bright start to the 1981/82 season, courtesy of John Jenkins, winning on Chance Flight at Newton Abbot’s opening fixture on August 3. He rode a double at Fontwell on August 12 on Jenkins’ pair Admiral Grenville and Ayyabaan. He won again on Admiral Grenville at Plumpton two days later, and once more on Ayyabaan at Fontwell’s next meeting on August 25. He scored a third victory on Admiral Grenville at Newton Abbot in September. On October 1, he won on another Jenkins-trained horse, Crown Land, at Taunton, then followed up at Plumpton two weeks later. He then won on Jenkins’ novice hurdler Top Reef at Folkestone in November.
Mark made a bright start to the 1981/82 season, courtesy of John Jenkins, winning on Chance Flight at Newton Abbot’s opening fixture on August 3. He rode a double at Fontwell on August 12 on Jenkins’ pair Admiral Grenville and Ayyabaan. He won again on Admiral Grenville at Plumpton two days later, and once more on Ayyabaan at Fontwell’s next meeting on August 25. He scored a third victory on Admiral Grenville at Newton Abbot in September. On October 1, he won on another Jenkins-trained horse, Crown Land, at Taunton, then followed up at Plumpton two weeks later. He then won on Jenkins’ novice hurdler Top Reef at Folkestone in November.
Mark won three novice hurdles in a row on Du Maurier for Isle of Wight owner-trainer Alan Aylett, at Ludlow on November 6, Kempton on December 4 and at Kempton again on January 23. He scored on yet another Jenkins novice hurdler, End Of Era, at Lingfield on February 4. Top Reef obliged again at Wolverhampton on February 22. They may have been only low-key races but they kept Mark ticking along nicely. He rode Admiral Grenville to win the General Refrigeration Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on Easter Monday. Du Maurier gave him a taste of success on a bigger stage when winning at Ascot on April 27, 1982. It had been a good season
Mark won three novice hurdles in a row on Du Maurier for Isle of Wight owner-trainer Alan Aylett, at Ludlow on November 6, Kempton on December 4 and at Kempton again on January 23. He scored on yet another Jenkins novice hurdler, End Of Era, at Lingfield on February 4. Top Reef obliged again at Wolverhampton on February 22. They may have been only low-key races but they kept Mark ticking along nicely. He rode Admiral Grenville to win the General Refrigeration Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on Easter Monday. Du Maurier gave him a taste of success on a bigger stage when winning at Ascot on April 27, 1982. It had been a good season
The next season, 1982/83, he won back-to-back early season races on another Jenkins-trained horse, Chance Flight, landing the Evening Argos Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on August 30, and the Ernest Hawkesford Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on September 11. Later that season he formed an association with Dina Smith’s novice hurdler Dancing Sovereign, winning three on the bounce, at Nottingham on March 22, at Fontwell on May 2, and in Fontwell’s Meyrick Good Handicap Hurdle on Whit Monday.
The next season, 1982/83, he won back-to-back early season races on another Jenkins-trained horse, Chance Flight, landing the Evening Argos Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on August 30, and the Ernest Hawkesford Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on September 11. Later that season he formed an association with Dina Smith’s novice hurdler Dancing Sovereign, winning three on the bounce, at Nottingham on March 22, at Fontwell on May 2, and in Fontwell’s Meyrick Good Handicap Hurdle on Whit Monday.
Thereafter, however, Mark found the going tougher and his scores dwindled, although he rode winners for Stan Mellor towards the end of his career. He retired in 1988.
Thereafter, however, Mark found the going tougher and his scores dwindled, although he rode winners for Stan Mellor towards the end of his career. He retired in 1988.