Ron Hutchinson
Ronald Robert Hutchinson, the son of a plumber, was born in Australia on December 14, 1927 and, on leaving school in 1941, became apprenticed to C. A. Goodfellow.
Ronald Robert Hutchinson, the son of a plumber, was born in Australia on December 14, 1927 and, on leaving school in 1941, became apprenticed to C. A. Goodfellow.
He rode his first winner just two years later on Busybody at Mentone racecourse in the state of Victoria.
He rode his first winner just two years later on Busybody at Mentone racecourse in the state of Victoria.
It was in 1960 that Ron first came to Britain, taking up an option to ride for leading Irish trainer Paddy Prendergast. He got off to a great start, winning, that year, on his very first mount in England - Martial in the Two Thousand Guineas. Aged 32, he had never ridden over the Rowley Mile Course before.
It was in 1960 that Ron first came to Britain, taking up an option to ride for leading Irish trainer Paddy Prendergast. He got off to a great start, winning, that year, on his very first mount in England - Martial in the Two Thousand Guineas. Aged 32, he had never ridden over the Rowley Mile Course before.
A victory at Royal Ascot, on the Prendergast-trained Typhoon, swiftly followed: other winners Ron rode for the stable included Display, who won both the National Stakes and the Cheveley Park, and Floribunda, who took the Nunthorpe. Ron then won the Champagne Stakes on Clear Sound.
A victory at Royal Ascot, on the Prendergast-trained Typhoon, swiftly followed: other winners Ron rode for the stable included Display, who won both the National Stakes and the Cheveley Park, and Floribunda, who took the Nunthorpe. Ron then won the Champagne Stakes on Clear Sound.
When his association with Paddy Prendergast came to an end, Ron moved permanently to England and rode regularly for the Duke of Norfolk, who ran a private stable at Arundel. He also rode, whenever possible, for trainer Jack Jarvis.
When his association with Paddy Prendergast came to an end, Ron moved permanently to England and rode regularly for the Duke of Norfolk, who ran a private stable at Arundel. He also rode, whenever possible, for trainer Jack Jarvis.
Ron won some top class races for the Arundel set-up including the 1973 Eclipse (Scottish Rifle), 1970 Ayr Gold Cup (John Splendid), Goodwood's 1968 Gordon Stakes (Mount Athos) and the 1974 Ascot Gold Cup (Ragstone).
Ron won some top class races for the Arundel set-up including the 1973 Eclipse (Scottish Rifle), 1970 Ayr Gold Cup (John Splendid), Goodwood's 1968 Gordon Stakes (Mount Athos) and the 1974 Ascot Gold Cup (Ragstone).
He also did well for Harry: together they landed the 1969 One Thousand Guineas on Full Dress and the St Leger on Intermezzo in the same year.
He also did well for Harry: together they landed the 1969 One Thousand Guineas on Full Dress and the St Leger on Intermezzo in the same year.
Like his fellow countryman and good friend Scobie Breasley, Ron excelled at waiting tactics.
Like his fellow countryman and good friend Scobie Breasley, Ron excelled at waiting tactics.
He was never to win the Derby; he was jocked off the 1966 Epsom Derby hero Charlottown (Scobie Breasley got the ride) and he had left for the Far East when the Arundel yard landed the 1978 race with Shirley Heights, a colt he had ridden as a 2-y-o the previous season.
He was never to win the Derby; he was jocked off the 1966 Epsom Derby hero Charlottown (Scobie Breasley got the ride) and he had left for the Far East when the Arundel yard landed the 1978 race with Shirley Heights, a colt he had ridden as a 2-y-o the previous season.
It wasn't entirely his own fault losing the mount on Charlottown: the horse was due to make its seasonal reappearance on May 9 in the Brighton Derby trial, but was found to be suffering from a bruised foot that morning and was withdrawn.
It wasn't entirely his own fault losing the mount on Charlottown: the horse was due to make its seasonal reappearance on May 9 in the Brighton Derby trial, but was found to be suffering from a bruised foot that morning and was withdrawn.
He recovered sufficiently to take part in the Lingfield Derby Trial on May 13. The going was soft and the meeting only went ahead after a morning inspection.
He recovered sufficiently to take part in the Lingfield Derby Trial on May 13. The going was soft and the meeting only went ahead after a morning inspection.
Reasonably enough, Ron did not want to subject Charlottown to a hard race and allowed the horse to take things just a bit to easily early on. Consequently, when Brian Taylor shot Black Prince ll into a clear lead turning into the straight, Ron was clearly in trouble. Some twenty lengths behind, he began riding with full purpose, but Charlottown hung badly in the last furlong.
Reasonably enough, Ron did not want to subject Charlottown to a hard race and allowed the horse to take things just a bit to easily early on. Consequently, when Brian Taylor shot Black Prince ll into a clear lead turning into the straight, Ron was clearly in trouble. Some twenty lengths behind, he began riding with full purpose, but Charlottown hung badly in the last furlong.
Ron was roasted by the riders in the stands and lost the Derby ride.
Ron was roasted by the riders in the stands and lost the Derby ride.
One mid-summer afternoon at Salisbury, Ron rode the unraced filly Skyway. The stewards thought he had been a little economical with his efforts, and suspended him for a fortnight.
One mid-summer afternoon at Salisbury, Ron rode the unraced filly Skyway. The stewards thought he had been a little economical with his efforts, and suspended him for a fortnight.
Ron should certainly have won The Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Scottish Rifle, but his judgement was awry and he finished a neck second to Gift Card. (He made up for this lapse by taking the Eclipse on the same horse later.)
Ron should certainly have won The Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Scottish Rifle, but his judgement was awry and he finished a neck second to Gift Card. (He made up for this lapse by taking the Eclipse on the same horse later.)
Ron was 5ft 2ins.
Ron was 5ft 2ins.
Citing a troublesome hip joint, Ron retired from the saddle in 1977. His son, Raymond, a student at a veterinary college, became a successful amateur rider on the flat.
Citing a troublesome hip joint, Ron retired from the saddle in 1977. His son, Raymond, a student at a veterinary college, became a successful amateur rider on the flat.
Ray, aged 34, and his father returned home to Australia on Thursday, 29 December 1988.
Ray, aged 34, and his father returned home to Australia on Thursday, 29 December 1988.
It was Ray's intention to take out a training licence in the Gold Coast Queensland after spending six months working with trainer Colin Hayes.
It was Ray's intention to take out a training licence in the Gold Coast Queensland after spending six months working with trainer Colin Hayes.
Upon Ron Hutchinson retirement, he expressed an interest in the buying and selling of racehorses. He also offered that he was not interested in obtaining his trainer's licence due to his belief that it was indeed the rare jockey that could make the transition to becoming a good trainer.
Upon Ron Hutchinson retirement, he expressed an interest in the buying and selling of racehorses. He also offered that he was not interested in obtaining his trainer's licence due to his belief that it was indeed the rare jockey that could make the transition to becoming a good trainer.
He was selected for induction into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2005, being one of the fortunate jockeys from his era to live to appreciate the honour.
He was selected for induction into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2005, being one of the fortunate jockeys from his era to live to appreciate the honour.
Classic winners:
Classic winners:
Two Thousand Guineas: Martial (1960)
Two Thousand Guineas: Martial (1960)
One Thousand Guineas: Full Dress II (1969)
One Thousand Guineas: Full Dress II (1969)
St Leger: Intermezzo (1969)
St Leger: Intermezzo (1969)
Irish Two Thousand Guineas: Kythnos (1960)
Irish Two Thousand Guineas: Kythnos (1960)
Irish One Thousand Guineas: Lacquer (1967), Black Satin (1970), Gaily (1974)
Irish One Thousand Guineas: Lacquer (1967), Black Satin (1970), Gaily (1974)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1960: Ormonde Stakes – Light Horseman
1960: Ormonde Stakes – Light Horseman
1960: Dee Stakes – Alcaeus
1960: Dee Stakes – Alcaeus
1960: Coventry Stakes – Typhoon
1960: Coventry Stakes – Typhoon
1960: Norfolk Stakes – Floribunda
1960: Norfolk Stakes – Floribunda
1960: Richmond Stakes – Typhoon
1960: Richmond Stakes – Typhoon
1960: Lowther Stakes – Kathy Too
1960: Lowther Stakes – Kathy Too
1961: King George V Stakes – Floribunda
1961: King George V Stakes – Floribunda
1961: National Stakes – Display
1961: National Stakes – Display
1961: Molecomb Stakes – La Tendresse
1961: Molecomb Stakes – La Tendresse
1961: Lowther Stakes – La Tendresse
1961: Lowther Stakes – La Tendresse
1961: Nunthorpe Stakes – Floribunda
1961: Nunthorpe Stakes – Floribunda
1961: Champagne Stakes – Clear Sound
1961: Champagne Stakes – Clear Sound
1961: Cheveley Park Stakes – Display
1961: Cheveley Park Stakes – Display
1962: Chester Vase – Silver Cloud
1962: Chester Vase – Silver Cloud
1962: Norfolk Stakes – Daybreak
1962: Norfolk Stakes – Daybreak
1962: Gordon Stakes – Gay Challenger
1962: Gordon Stakes – Gay Challenger
1962: Doncaster Cup – Bonnard
1962: Doncaster Cup – Bonnard
1962: Cumberland Lodge Stakes – Silver Cloud
1962: Cumberland Lodge Stakes – Silver Cloud
1962: Horris Hill Stakes – Scholar Gipsy
1962: Horris Hill Stakes – Scholar Gipsy
1962: Midland Cesarewitch – Tropical Sky
1962: Midland Cesarewitch – Tropical Sky
1963: Queen Anne Stakes – Welsh Rake
1963: Queen Anne Stakes – Welsh Rake
1963: Norfolk Stakes – Ballymacad
1963: Norfolk Stakes – Ballymacad
1963: Wokingham Stakes – Marcher
1963: Wokingham Stakes – Marcher
1963: July Stakes – Endless Honey
1963: July Stakes – Endless Honey
1963: Richmond Stakes – Gentle Art
1963: Richmond Stakes – Gentle Art
1963: Sussex Stakes – Queen’s Hussar
1963: Sussex Stakes – Queen’s Hussar
1963: Portland Handicap – Marcher
1963: Portland Handicap – Marcher
1964: Palace House Stakes – Ruby Laser
1964: Palace House Stakes – Ruby Laser
1964: Victoria Cup – Blazing Scent
1964: Victoria Cup – Blazing Scent
1964: City of Birmingham Cup – Forthright
1964: City of Birmingham Cup – Forthright
1964: July Stakes – Ragtime
1964: July Stakes – Ragtime
1964: Richmond Stakes – Ragtime
1964: Richmond Stakes – Ragtime
1964: Solario Stakes – Rehearsed
1964: Solario Stakes – Rehearsed
1965: July Stakes – Sky Gipsy
1965: July Stakes – Sky Gipsy
1965: July Cup – Merry Madcap
1965: July Cup – Merry Madcap
1965: Stewards Cup – Potier
1965: Stewards Cup – Potier
1965: Sussex Stakes – Carlemont
1965: Sussex Stakes – Carlemont
1965: Gordon Stakes – King Log
1965: Gordon Stakes – King Log
1965: Imperial Stakes – Conjuror
1965: Imperial Stakes – Conjuror
1965: Dewhurst Stakes – Pretendre
1965: Dewhurst Stakes – Pretendre
1965: Observer Gold Cup – Pretendre
1965: Observer Gold Cup – Pretendre
1965: November Handicap – Concealdem
1965: November Handicap – Concealdem
1966: Free Handicap – Kibenka
1966: Free Handicap – Kibenka
1966: Palace House Stakes – Tamino
1966: Palace House Stakes – Tamino
1966: Queen Anne Stakes – Tesco Boy
1966: Queen Anne Stakes – Tesco Boy
1966: Ribblesdale Stakes – Parthian Glance
1966: Ribblesdale Stakes – Parthian Glance
1966: Sussex Stakes – Paveh
1966: Sussex Stakes – Paveh
1966: Goodwood Cup – Gaulois
1966: Goodwood Cup – Gaulois
1966: William Hill Gold Cup – Corinto
1966: William Hill Gold Cup – Corinto
1966: Princess Royal Stakes – Predicament
1966: Princess Royal Stakes – Predicament
1967: Dante Stakes – Gay Garland
1967: Dante Stakes – Gay Garland
1967: Yorkshire Cup – Salvo
1967: Yorkshire Cup – Salvo
1967: Henry II Stakes – Parbury
1967: Henry II Stakes – Parbury
1967: National Stakes – Sovereign
1967: National Stakes – Sovereign
1967: Queen Mary Stakes – Sovereign
1967: Queen Mary Stakes – Sovereign
1967: Hardwicke Stakes – Salvo
1967: Hardwicke Stakes – Salvo
1967: Gordon Stakes – Mount Athos
1967: Gordon Stakes – Mount Athos
1967: Lowther Stakes – Sovereign
1967: Lowther Stakes – Sovereign
1967: Imperial Stakes – Hametus
1967: Imperial Stakes – Hametus
1967: Diadem Stakes – Great Bear
1967: Diadem Stakes – Great Bear
1968: Lockinge Stakes – Supreme Sovereign
1968: Lockinge Stakes – Supreme Sovereign
1968: Coronation Stakes – Sovereign
1968: Coronation Stakes – Sovereign
1968: Queen’s Vase – Zorba II
1968: Queen’s Vase – Zorba II
1968: July Stakes – Burglar
1968: July Stakes – Burglar
1968: Princess of Wales’s Stakes – Mount Athos
1968: Princess of Wales’s Stakes – Mount Athos
1968: Falmouth Stakes – Ileana
1968: Falmouth Stakes – Ileana
1968: Cumberland Lodge Stakes – Chicago
1968: Cumberland Lodge Stakes – Chicago
1969: Duke of York Stakes – Great Bear
1969: Duke of York Stakes – Great Bear
1969: Lockinge Stakes – Habitat
1969: Lockinge Stakes – Habitat
1969: Henry II Stakes – Chicago
1969: Henry II Stakes – Chicago
1969: Cherry Hinton Stakes – Wild Wings
1969: Cherry Hinton Stakes – Wild Wings
1969: King George V Stakes – Laser Light
1969: King George V Stakes – Laser Light
1969: Challenge Stakes – Burglar
1969: Challenge Stakes – Burglar
1970: Westbury Stakes – Arthur
1970: Westbury Stakes – Arthur
1970: Falmouth Stakes – Caprera
1970: Falmouth Stakes – Caprera
1970: Ayr Gold Cup – John Splendid
1970: Ayr Gold Cup – John Splendid
1971: Queen Anne Stakes – Roi Soleil
1971: Queen Anne Stakes – Roi Soleil
1971: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Arthur
1971: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Arthur
1971: Queen’s Vase – Parnell
1971: Queen’s Vase – Parnell
1972: Royal Hunt Cup – Tempest Boy
1972: Royal Hunt Cup – Tempest Boy
1972: July Cup – Parsimony
1972: July Cup – Parsimony
1972: Gordon Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1972: Gordon Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1972: Nassau Stakes – Crespinali
1972: Nassau Stakes – Crespinali
1972: Mill Reef Stakes – Mon Fils
1972: Mill Reef Stakes – Mon Fils
1972: Ayr Gold Cup – Swinging Junior
1972: Ayr Gold Cup – Swinging Junior
1972: Mill Reef Stakes – Mon Fils
1972: Mill Reef Stakes – Mon Fils
1973: Earl of Sefton Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1973: Earl of Sefton Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1973: Westbury Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1973: Westbury Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1973: Brigadier Gerard Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1973: Brigadier Gerard Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1973: Eclipse Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1973: Eclipse Stakes – Scottish Rifle
1974: Henry II Stakes – Ragstone
1974: Henry II Stakes – Ragstone
1974: Great Jubilee Handicap – Jumpabout
1974: Great Jubilee Handicap – Jumpabout
1974: Ascot Gold Cup – Ragstone
1974: Ascot Gold Cup – Ragstone
1974: Hungerford Stakes – Pitcairn
1974: Hungerford Stakes – Pitcairn
1974: Waterford Crystal Mile – Pitcairn
1974: Waterford Crystal Mile – Pitcairn
1976: Lingfield Derby Trial – Norfolk Air
1976: Lingfield Derby Trial – Norfolk Air
1976: Molecomb Stakes – Be Easy
1976: Molecomb Stakes – Be Easy
1977: King George V Stakes – Scarcely Blessed
1977: King George V Stakes – Scarcely Blessed
1977: Molecomb Stakes – Hatta
1977: Molecomb Stakes – Hatta
In Ireland
In Ireland
1960: Tetrarch Stakes – Kythnos
1960: Tetrarch Stakes – Kythnos
1960: Pretty Polly Stakes – Jet Auction
1960: Pretty Polly Stakes – Jet Auction
1961: Madrid Free Handicap – Bally Sol
1961: Madrid Free Handicap – Bally Sol
1961: Desmond Stakes – Baynard
1961: Desmond Stakes – Baynard
1977: Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes – North Stoke
1977: Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes – North Stoke
In France
In France
1968: Prix Robert Papin – Folle Russe
1968: Prix Robert Papin – Folle Russe
In Germany
In Germany
1966: Grosser Preis von Baden - Atilla
1966: Grosser Preis von Baden - Atilla
1967: Grosser Preis von Baden – Salvo
1967: Grosser Preis von Baden – Salvo
In Italy
In Italy
1966: Derby Italiano – Appiani
1966: Derby Italiano – Appiani
1968: Gran Premio del Jockey Club – Chicago
1968: Gran Premio del Jockey Club – Chicago
1968: Premio Roma – Chicago
1968: Premio Roma – Chicago