Peter Horne
Peter Horne
Peter Horne
Peter Horne served his apprenticeship with Jack Holt at the old Gatwick Racecourse in the early 1950s, before the airport was built. He had a few rides on the Flat but no winners.
Peter Horne served his apprenticeship with Jack Holt at the old Gatwick Racecourse in the early 1950s, before the airport was built. He had a few rides on the Flat but no winners.
A career highlight was a ride in the 1953 Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. He partnered Holt’s longshot Demonstrate and led to halfway but faded and finished last of the 24 runners. Probably the best he rode in a race was Glim And Dim, also trained by Holt, on whom he finished fifth in apprentice races at Sandown and Lewes in 1953. He rode Glim And Dim in the corresponding Sandown race the following year but had to put up overweight at 7st 11lb, so weight was already becoming an issue.
A career highlight was a ride in the 1953 Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. He partnered Holt’s longshot Demonstrate and led to halfway but faded and finished last of the 24 runners. Probably the best he rode in a race was Glim And Dim, also trained by Holt, on whom he finished fifth in apprentice races at Sandown and Lewes in 1953. He rode Glim And Dim in the corresponding Sandown race the following year but had to put up overweight at 7st 11lb, so weight was already becoming an issue.
He turned to jumping and managed to win three races over hurdles during the 1955/56 season, all on Megalithic, again trained by Jack Holt. Their first success came in the September Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on September 26, 1955, beating Hymettus, the mount of Dick Francis, by 20 lengths. The combination then won at Wye on October 31, although the margin of victory in the Northam Novices’ Hurdle was only a length and a half.
He turned to jumping and managed to win three races over hurdles during the 1955/56 season, all on Megalithic, again trained by Jack Holt. Their first success came in the September Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on September 26, 1955, beating Hymettus, the mount of Dick Francis, by 20 lengths. The combination then won at Wye on October 31, although the margin of victory in the Northam Novices’ Hurdle was only a length and a half.
Three placed efforts and a fall were features of Megalithic’s next six outings, with Peter or hurdle race specialist Harry Sprague sharing the rides, before the former landed his third and final win at Lingfield Park on January 14, 1956, when taking the Medway Handicap Hurdle by five lengths from Fred Winter on Vermillon.
Three placed efforts and a fall were features of Megalithic’s next six outings, with Peter or hurdle race specialist Harry Sprague sharing the rides, before the former landed his third and final win at Lingfield Park on January 14, 1956, when taking the Medway Handicap Hurdle by five lengths from Fred Winter on Vermillon.
Although Peter rode Megalithic three more times, one second place finish was their best result. He only held a licence for one more season, then left racing and became a fruit and veg merchant, based in Horley.
Although Peter rode Megalithic three more times, one second place finish was their best result. He only held a licence for one more season, then left racing and became a fruit and veg merchant, based in Horley.
In 1979, Peter Horne’s name reappeared in the pages of the Sporting Life, this time as the owner of a very fast greyhound. His black bitch Tyrean, trained by Eric Pateman at Reigate, emerged as favourite for the Spillers-sponsored Greyhound Derby.
In 1979, Peter Horne’s name reappeared in the pages of the Sporting Life, this time as the owner of a very fast greyhound. His black bitch Tyrean, trained by Eric Pateman at Reigate, emerged as favourite for the Spillers-sponsored Greyhound Derby.
Peter could hardly believe his luck. Tyrean was merely a graded runner at White City when he took her in exchange for another greyhound less than three months before the Derby heats began. Since then, she had gone from strength to strength and was now one of the six finalists for greyhound racing’s greatest prize, having won her semi-final from defending title holder Lacca Champion.
Peter could hardly believe his luck. Tyrean was merely a graded runner at White City when he took her in exchange for another greyhound less than three months before the Derby heats began. Since then, she had gone from strength to strength and was now one of the six finalists for greyhound racing’s greatest prize, having won her semi-final from defending title holder Lacca Champion.
“I rode three National Hunt winners but nothing quite compares with the thrill I am getting from Tyrean,” he told the Sporting Life’s Archie Newhouse a few days before the final. “I’ve been in a sort of Disneyland since the Derby started – and if she wins on Saturday I will really go to America and see Disneyland.”
“I rode three National Hunt winners but nothing quite compares with the thrill I am getting from Tyrean,” he told the Sporting Life’s Archie Newhouse a few days before the final. “I’ve been in a sort of Disneyland since the Derby started – and if she wins on Saturday I will really go to America and see Disneyland.”
Alas, the dream did not come true. Tyrean, a daughter the great champion Myrtown, was sent off the 15-8 favourite for the £25,000 to the winner Greyhound Derby final but could only finish fifth behind the Geoff De Mulder-trained Sarahs Bunny.
Alas, the dream did not come true. Tyrean, a daughter the great champion Myrtown, was sent off the 15-8 favourite for the £25,000 to the winner Greyhound Derby final but could only finish fifth behind the Geoff De Mulder-trained Sarahs Bunny.
