Peter Hetherington
1945 - 2015
1945 - 2015
The son of a farmer, Peter Hetherington was born at Lazonby, near Penrith, on January 24, 1945, and started out in Cumbrian pony racing before joining Harold Storey as an apprentice straight from school.
The son of a farmer, Peter Hetherington was born at Lazonby, near Penrith, on January 24, 1945, and started out in Cumbrian pony racing before joining Harold Storey as an apprentice straight from school.
However, it was for Scotforth, Lancashire trainer Horace Cousins that Peter rode his first winner, on Gainsborough Lad in the Standish Maiden Handicap for three-year-olds at Haydock Park on September 16, 1960.
However, it was for Scotforth, Lancashire trainer Horace Cousins that Peter rode his first winner, on Gainsborough Lad in the Standish Maiden Handicap for three-year-olds at Haydock Park on September 16, 1960.
His first big winner was achieved on Rapanni, trained at Dunbar by George Boyd, in Haydock Park’s Old Newton Cup on July 4, 1964.
His first big winner was achieved on Rapanni, trained at Dunbar by George Boyd, in Haydock Park’s Old Newton Cup on July 4, 1964.
Following Harold Storey’s retirement in 1966, Peter joined Denys Smith’s Bishop Auckland stable. He gained his biggest success when winning the 1967 Zetland Gold Cup on Sportaville, trained at Malton by Rufus Beasley.
Following Harold Storey’s retirement in 1966, Peter joined Denys Smith’s Bishop Auckland stable. He gained his biggest success when winning the 1967 Zetland Gold Cup on Sportaville, trained at Malton by Rufus Beasley.
Unlike most apprentices who struggle after losing their claim, Peter enjoyed his best season as a fully-fledged jockey in 1968 with 34 winners, riding primarily for Denys Smith and Middleham trainer Ernie Weymes. His wins included Ayr’s Tennent Trophy on Weymes’ colt Dodge City.
Unlike most apprentices who struggle after losing their claim, Peter enjoyed his best season as a fully-fledged jockey in 1968 with 34 winners, riding primarily for Denys Smith and Middleham trainer Ernie Weymes. His wins included Ayr’s Tennent Trophy on Weymes’ colt Dodge City.
Peter rated Ernie Weymes’ two-year-old Meldrum as the best he rode. He won three times on him in 1968, culminating in the Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon. Meldrum was only beaten once in four starts that year, finishing second in the Zetland Stakes at York when ridden by Lester Piggott. Peter often boasted the only time Meldrum got beat was when Piggott rode him.
Peter rated Ernie Weymes’ two-year-old Meldrum as the best he rode. He won three times on him in 1968, culminating in the Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon. Meldrum was only beaten once in four starts that year, finishing second in the Zetland Stakes at York when ridden by Lester Piggott. Peter often boasted the only time Meldrum got beat was when Piggott rode him.
By the late summer of 1969 Peter had 18 winners on the board, the most recent on Lord Howard de Walden’s three-year-old Lacis at Catterick on August 13. Seven days later he went to York for one ride at the Ebor meeting, finishing seventh on Royal Chant in the Falmouth Handicap. Driving home to Windscale, near Penrith, after racing he was involved in a head-on crash at Lancaster, suffering severe head injuries, bringing his riding career to an abrupt end at its height and leaving him unable to work.
By the late summer of 1969 Peter had 18 winners on the board, the most recent on Lord Howard de Walden’s three-year-old Lacis at Catterick on August 13. Seven days later he went to York for one ride at the Ebor meeting, finishing seventh on Royal Chant in the Falmouth Handicap. Driving home to Windscale, near Penrith, after racing he was involved in a head-on crash at Lancaster, suffering severe head injuries, bringing his riding career to an abrupt end at its height and leaving him unable to work.
Peter had ridden a total of 122 winners and had expressed a desire to retire early and run a farm. That ambition disappeared as a result of the car accident.
Peter had ridden a total of 122 winners and had expressed a desire to retire early and run a farm. That ambition disappeared as a result of the car accident.
In retirement he continued living in Windscale and in later years regularly went racing to Catterick and other northern tracks with the Injured Jockeys Fund’s northern almoner Karen Sharpe. In the summer of 2014 he went on an IJF holiday in Perth.
In retirement he continued living in Windscale and in later years regularly went racing to Catterick and other northern tracks with the Injured Jockeys Fund’s northern almoner Karen Sharpe. In the summer of 2014 he went on an IJF holiday in Perth.
Peter Hetherington died at the age of 71 in May 2015.
Peter Hetherington died at the age of 71 in May 2015.
Big winners
Big winners
1964: Old Newton Cup – Rapanni
1964: Old Newton Cup – Rapanni
1967: Zetland Gold Cup – Sportaville
1967: Zetland Gold Cup – Sportaville
1968: Tennent Trophy – Dodge City
1968: Tennent Trophy – Dodge City
1968: Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy – Meldrum
1968: Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy – Meldrum