Peter Healey
National Hunt jockey Peter Reginald Healey was born on August 6, 1937. His career spanned ten years from the late 1950s to the late 60s but he rode just three winners.
National Hunt jockey Peter Reginald Healey was born on August 6, 1937. His career spanned ten years from the late 1950s to the late 60s but he rode just three winners.
He registered his first success on Gainspur in the Silver Drum Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on December 8, 1962 for Bargoed, Glamorgan permit holder Brinley Davies. He won on him again at Stratford in April 1963 and rated him the best horse he rode.
He registered his first success on Gainspur in the Silver Drum Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on December 8, 1962 for Bargoed, Glamorgan permit holder Brinley Davies. He won on him again at Stratford in April 1963 and rated him the best horse he rode.
He became head lad to veteran Bletchley trainer William (Bill) Francis. Born in 1893, Francis derived his primary means of income from farming. Horses – hunting, eventing and showing – were, according to his entry in the 1963 Directory of the Turf, his “one expensive hobby”. He’d ridden in point-to-points for forty years between 1908 and 1948 when, aged 55, he broke his neck in the Members’ Race at the Hertfordshire point-to-point at Friar’s Wash.
He became head lad to veteran Bletchley trainer William (Bill) Francis. Born in 1893, Francis derived his primary means of income from farming. Horses – hunting, eventing and showing – were, according to his entry in the 1963 Directory of the Turf, his “one expensive hobby”. He’d ridden in point-to-points for forty years between 1908 and 1948 when, aged 55, he broke his neck in the Members’ Race at the Hertfordshire point-to-point at Friar’s Wash.
Peter scored his only other victory on Francis’s selling chaser Malacca III on the Saturday of Towcester’s 1964 Easter meeting. Malacca III started joint-favourite at 3-1, having finished third under the same jockey at Wolverhampton the previous month. Peter reckoned that Towcester victory was the highlight of his riding career.
Peter scored his only other victory on Francis’s selling chaser Malacca III on the Saturday of Towcester’s 1964 Easter meeting. Malacca III started joint-favourite at 3-1, having finished third under the same jockey at Wolverhampton the previous month. Peter reckoned that Towcester victory was the highlight of his riding career.
Not all of Bill Francis’s string was a good as Malacca III. Irish Castle, a Fortina gelding, dam’s pedigree unknown, ran just three times in two seasons and Peter was on board on each occasion. Having got round tailed off last of seven over hurdles on his sole start of the 1963/64 campaign, he rode him in two novice/maiden chases within 48 hours over Easter 1965, pulling up at Southwell on the Saturday and at Towcester on Easter Monday.
Not all of Bill Francis’s string was a good as Malacca III. Irish Castle, a Fortina gelding, dam’s pedigree unknown, ran just three times in two seasons and Peter was on board on each occasion. Having got round tailed off last of seven over hurdles on his sole start of the 1963/64 campaign, he rode him in two novice/maiden chases within 48 hours over Easter 1965, pulling up at Southwell on the Saturday and at Towcester on Easter Monday.
Another was Black Don, by Black Tarquin, on whom he finished unplaced in two four-year-old hurdle races at Hereford and Newbury in October 1963. Subsequently renamed Black Donna, it begs the question as to whether or not connections had spotted that the horse was a filly and not a colt.
Another was Black Don, by Black Tarquin, on whom he finished unplaced in two four-year-old hurdle races at Hereford and Newbury in October 1963. Subsequently renamed Black Donna, it begs the question as to whether or not connections had spotted that the horse was a filly and not a colt.
A fall from Pallas River in a four-year-old hurdle at Plumpton on May 25, 1963, appears to have done some damage, for he was unable to take the ride on stablemate Pallas Main when he made his racecourse debut later that afternoon. During the 1963/64 campaign, Peter rode Pallas Main in all but two of his 15 races over fences, the highlight coming in a handicap chase at Ludlow on February 27, 1964, when finishing second, beaten two lengths, to a decent chaser of Fulke Walwyn’s named Saxon Cavalier.
A fall from Pallas River in a four-year-old hurdle at Plumpton on May 25, 1963, appears to have done some damage, for he was unable to take the ride on stablemate Pallas Main when he made his racecourse debut later that afternoon. During the 1963/64 campaign, Peter rode Pallas Main in all but two of his 15 races over fences, the highlight coming in a handicap chase at Ludlow on February 27, 1964, when finishing second, beaten two lengths, to a decent chaser of Fulke Walwyn’s named Saxon Cavalier.
Peter subsequently became head lad to permit holder Frank Rose, based at Leighton Buzzard. He had eight rides for him in his final season with a licence, 1968/69. By then, rising weight had become an issue. He struggled to do under 11 stone and was forced to put up 15lb overweight when finishing last on Becgain in a selling hurdle at Nottingham in October. He had his last ride on Hermit’s Star in a handicap chase at Huntingdon on Boxing Day 1968. Anchored by 10lb overweight at 10st 13lb – presumably Peter had had to forego Christmas dinner to boil his body down – Hermit’s Star refused.
Peter subsequently became head lad to permit holder Frank Rose, based at Leighton Buzzard. He had eight rides for him in his final season with a licence, 1968/69. By then, rising weight had become an issue. He struggled to do under 11 stone and was forced to put up 15lb overweight when finishing last on Becgain in a selling hurdle at Nottingham in October. He had his last ride on Hermit’s Star in a handicap chase at Huntingdon on Boxing Day 1968. Anchored by 10lb overweight at 10st 13lb – presumably Peter had had to forego Christmas dinner to boil his body down – Hermit’s Star refused.
Having relinquished his licence at the end of the season, Peter then took up farming, which had long been one of his main interests, along with shooting and fishing.
Having relinquished his licence at the end of the season, Peter then took up farming, which had long been one of his main interests, along with shooting and fishing.
Peter Healey’s winners were:
Peter Healey’s winners were:
1. Gainspur, Chepstow, December 8, 1962
1. Gainspur, Chepstow, December 8, 1962
2. Gainspur, Stratford-on-Avon, April 4, 1963
2. Gainspur, Stratford-on-Avon, April 4, 1963
3. Malacca III, Towcester, March 28, 1964
3. Malacca III, Towcester, March 28, 1964
