Peter Hedger
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Peter Hedger is recognised today as a successful trainer, operating with a string of around 20 horses at his yard at Eastergate, near Chichester. However, he was once a promising National Hunt jockey whose career was ended by a serious injury.
Peter Hedger is recognised today as a successful trainer, operating with a string of around 20 horses at his yard at Eastergate, near Chichester. However, he was once a promising National Hunt jockey whose career was ended by a serious injury.
Peter Ronald Hedger was born on December 22, 1939. He began his career with Syd Mercer in Lambourn and rode his first winner on Eastern Hope in division one of the Warwickshire Handicap Hurdle at Stratford on Saturday, October 31, 1959. He rode one more winner that season, on Mercer’s juvenile selling hurdler Hunter Trial at Birmingham in December.
Peter Ronald Hedger was born on December 22, 1939. He began his career with Syd Mercer in Lambourn and rode his first winner on Eastern Hope in division one of the Warwickshire Handicap Hurdle at Stratford on Saturday, October 31, 1959. He rode one more winner that season, on Mercer’s juvenile selling hurdler Hunter Trial at Birmingham in December.
He joined Chiseldon-based trainer David Gandolfo in 1961, rode just one winner that season, on Bwana at Towcester, but four the following season. Gandolfo’s hurdler
He joined Chiseldon-based trainer David Gandolfo in 1961, rode just one winner that season, on Bwana at Towcester, but four the following season. Gandolfo’s hurdler
Ruby’s Boy was Peter’s sole success of 1962/63; there were two early season winners to show for 1963/64, and then a wait until Easter Monday 1965 before the next, on hurdler Cheer at Plumpton.
Ruby’s Boy was Peter’s sole success of 1962/63; there were two early season winners to show for 1963/64, and then a wait until Easter Monday 1965 before the next, on hurdler Cheer at Plumpton.
Trevor Pink, who had died at Taunton in February 1965, had been the regular partner of Bill Wightman’s useful chaser Badbury Rings. Peter also worked for Wightman and became Badbury Rings’ jockey for the 1965/66 season, rattling off three wins in a row, two at Fontwell and one at Windsor. That Windsor victory, on November 17, 1965, was Peter’s 15th success, resulting in his allowance being cut from 5lb to 3lb.
Trevor Pink, who had died at Taunton in February 1965, had been the regular partner of Bill Wightman’s useful chaser Badbury Rings. Peter also worked for Wightman and became Badbury Rings’ jockey for the 1965/66 season, rattling off three wins in a row, two at Fontwell and one at Windsor. That Windsor victory, on November 17, 1965, was Peter’s 15th success, resulting in his allowance being cut from 5lb to 3lb.
Seven days later, Peter went to Kempton Park to ride the veteran 14-year-old Wartown – who’d run in the 1963 Grand National – in a novice riders’ chase. Wartown fell at the third fence and Peter was taken to hospital but discharged himself later that day. Several days later he went for an X-ray, which showed that he had a small fracture at the base of his skull, an injury that could have proved fatal; he’d effectively broken his neck. He was discharged on December 14 and advised by specialists not to ride again that season.
Seven days later, Peter went to Kempton Park to ride the veteran 14-year-old Wartown – who’d run in the 1963 Grand National – in a novice riders’ chase. Wartown fell at the third fence and Peter was taken to hospital but discharged himself later that day. Several days later he went for an X-ray, which showed that he had a small fracture at the base of his skull, an injury that could have proved fatal; he’d effectively broken his neck. He was discharged on December 14 and advised by specialists not to ride again that season.
That turned out to be an optimistic prognosis. When, in August 1966, he considered applying for his licence the upcoming season, he was advised by his doctor never to race-ride again.
That turned out to be an optimistic prognosis. When, in August 1966, he considered applying for his licence the upcoming season, he was advised by his doctor never to race-ride again.
Peter became a permit trainer in the late 1970s. On December 28, 1981, he saddled his first winner, a 50-1 shocker named Indado, partnered by Mark Richards, in the Hangover Selling Hurdle in Taunton. He’d bought Indado for only 400 guineas out of Ian Walker’s stable at the Newmarket sales earlier that year.
Peter became a permit trainer in the late 1970s. On December 28, 1981, he saddled his first winner, a 50-1 shocker named Indado, partnered by Mark Richards, in the Hangover Selling Hurdle in Taunton. He’d bought Indado for only 400 guineas out of Ian Walker’s stable at the Newmarket sales earlier that year.
He took out a full trainer’s licence in February 1989 and enjoyed plenty of success both over jumps with horses such as Al Asoof (1991 National Spirit Hurdle, Fontwell), Kilcash (1992 Free Handicap Hurdle, Chepstow) and Windsor specialist Avonburn, and on the Flat with the likes of Autumn Cover (1997 Great Jubilee Handicap, Kempton), Brilliant Red (1998 Courage Handicap, Newbury) and Veronica Franco (1998 Newbury Autumn Cup).
He took out a full trainer’s licence in February 1989 and enjoyed plenty of success both over jumps with horses such as Al Asoof (1991 National Spirit Hurdle, Fontwell), Kilcash (1992 Free Handicap Hurdle, Chepstow) and Windsor specialist Avonburn, and on the Flat with the likes of Autumn Cover (1997 Great Jubilee Handicap, Kempton), Brilliant Red (1998 Courage Handicap, Newbury) and Veronica Franco (1998 Newbury Autumn Cup).
He relinquished his licence in 2006 but took it out again in August 2009 and has continued his successful operation, his recent winners including Continuum, winner of the 2014 John Smith’s Silver Cup at York.
He relinquished his licence in 2006 but took it out again in August 2009 and has continued his successful operation, his recent winners including Continuum, winner of the 2014 John Smith’s Silver Cup at York.
Having started as an apprentice on the Flat and finished as a trainer, incorporating spells as a National Hunt jockey and horsebox driver along the way, Peter Hedger called time on his training career at the age of 80 after saddling his final two runners at Windsor on June 28, 2020, the second of which, C'est No Mour, finished fourth in a class 4 handicap. He would not, though, be giving up altogether, as he intended to become assistant trainer to another former jump jockey, Simon Hodgson.
Having started as an apprentice on the Flat and finished as a trainer, incorporating spells as a National Hunt jockey and horsebox driver along the way, Peter Hedger called time on his training career at the age of 80 after saddling his final two runners at Windsor on June 28, 2020, the second of which, C'est No Mour, finished fourth in a class 4 handicap. He would not, though, be giving up altogether, as he intended to become assistant trainer to another former jump jockey, Simon Hodgson.
Peter Hedger died on Sunday morning, 4 December 2022 aged 82.
Peter Hedger’s 15 winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
Peter Hedger’s 15 winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
1. Eastern Hope, Stratford-on-Avon, Saturday, October 31, 1959
1. Eastern Hope, Stratford-on-Avon, Saturday, October 31, 1959
2. Hunter Trial, Birmingham, December 14, 1959
2. Hunter Trial, Birmingham, December 14, 1959
3. Bwana, Towcester, April 22, 1961
3. Bwana, Towcester, April 22, 1961
4. Up Over, Newton Abbot, August 30, 1961
4. Up Over, Newton Abbot, August 30, 1961
5. Bwana, Towcester, April 21, 1962
5. Bwana, Towcester, April 21, 1962
6. Post Horn Gallop, Wincanton, April 23, 1962
6. Post Horn Gallop, Wincanton, April 23, 1962
7. Up Over, Wye, May 21, 1962
7. Up Over, Wye, May 21, 1962
8. Ruby’s Boy, Nottingham, May 17, 1963
8. Ruby’s Boy, Nottingham, May 17, 1963
9. Mon Bon Homme, Newton Abbot, September 20, 1963
9. Mon Bon Homme, Newton Abbot, September 20, 1963
10. Miss Peter, Fontwell Park, October 19, 1963
10. Miss Peter, Fontwell Park, October 19, 1963
11. Cheer, Plumpton, April 19, 1965
11. Cheer, Plumpton, April 19, 1965
12. Badbury Rings, Fontwell, September 6, 1965
12. Badbury Rings, Fontwell, September 6, 1965
13. Tremens, Warwick, September, September 25, 1965
13. Tremens, Warwick, September, September 25, 1965
14. Badbury Rings, Fontwell, October 12, 1965
14. Badbury Rings, Fontwell, October 12, 1965
15. Badbury Rings, Windsor, November 17, 1965
15. Badbury Rings, Windsor, November 17, 1965