Michael Hewitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Michael Hewitt was born in 1949 and served his apprenticeship with Reg Hollinshead at Upper Longdon, near Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was there at the same time as another member of the Hollinshead apprentice academy, Beverley Hewitt. Although their surname was the same and they had known each other all their lives, they were not related.
Michael Hewitt was born in 1949 and served his apprenticeship with Reg Hollinshead at Upper Longdon, near Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was there at the same time as another member of the Hollinshead apprentice academy, Beverley Hewitt. Although their surname was the same and they had known each other all their lives, they were not related.
Christened Michael Sidney Hewitt, he was not as successful as Beverley, riding just four winners, all trained by Reg Hollinshead, but he did at least have the satisfaction of winning a bigger race. He also had the advantage of being a stone lighter than his friend, being able to ride initially at 7st 6lb rather than 8st 6lb.
Christened Michael Sidney Hewitt, he was not as successful as Beverley, riding just four winners, all trained by Reg Hollinshead, but he did at least have the satisfaction of winning a bigger race. He also had the advantage of being a stone lighter than his friend, being able to ride initially at 7st 6lb rather than 8st 6lb.
Michael rode his first winner on the three-year-old colt Lynne’s Luck at Worcester on June 25, 1965, but he had to wait almost two years for his second, Just Jenny in a Ripon apprentices’ handicap in April 1967.
Michael rode his first winner on the three-year-old colt Lynne’s Luck at Worcester on June 25, 1965, but he had to wait almost two years for his second, Just Jenny in a Ripon apprentices’ handicap in April 1967.
A further wait of over two years ensued before his next winner but then he rode two within 48 hours. Both of those victories came courtesy of a horse named Driven, firstly in a Pontefract apprentices’ race on August 30, 1969 and secondly in the Midland Cambridgeshire at Wolverhampton two days later.
A further wait of over two years ensued before his next winner but then he rode two within 48 hours. Both of those victories came courtesy of a horse named Driven, firstly in a Pontefract apprentices’ race on August 30, 1969 and secondly in the Midland Cambridgeshire at Wolverhampton two days later.
Michael put up 7lb overweight at 7st 7lb when winning that Wolverhampton handicap and perhaps that was a portent of things to come. Having completed his apprenticeship in 1970, he rode for one season in 1971 as a fully-fledged jockey but failed to ride another winner.
Michael put up 7lb overweight at 7st 7lb when winning that Wolverhampton handicap and perhaps that was a portent of things to come. Having completed his apprenticeship in 1970, he rode for one season in 1971 as a fully-fledged jockey but failed to ride another winner.
Michael Hewitt’s winners were, in chronological order:
Michael Hewitt’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Lynne’s Luck, Worcester, June 25, 1965
1. Lynne’s Luck, Worcester, June 25, 1965
2. Just Jenny, Ripon, April 26, 1967
2. Just Jenny, Ripon, April 26, 1967
3. Driven, Pontefract, August 30, 1969
3. Driven, Pontefract, August 30, 1969
4. Driven, Wolverhampton, September 1, 1969
4. Driven, Wolverhampton, September 1, 1969
