Steve Horsfall
Diminutive apprentice jockey Steve Horsfall weighed a flyweight 6st 12lb when starting out with Cockerham trainer Jack Berry, having been steered into racing by one of Jack’s owners.
Diminutive apprentice jockey Steve Horsfall weighed a flyweight 6st 12lb when starting out with Cockerham trainer Jack Berry, having been steered into racing by one of Jack’s owners.
Steven Stafford Horsfall was born in Wetherill, near Huddersfield, on April 16, 1964. He’d been apprenticed for three years before riding his first winner on Jack Berry’s stable stalwart O I Oyston at Catterick on March 30, 1983.
Steven Stafford Horsfall was born in Wetherill, near Huddersfield, on April 16, 1964. He’d been apprenticed for three years before riding his first winner on Jack Berry’s stable stalwart O I Oyston at Catterick on March 30, 1983.
During that summer he picked up an increasing number of outside rides due to his lightweight. One of them was David Chapman’s Relative Ease, an easy three-length winner at Ripon on July 16, carrying 7st 2lb. Another was Mary Reveley’s King Charlemagne, on whom he won twice in a week, carrying 7st 6lb at Beverley on July 14 and 7st 8lb at Hamilton six days later.
During that summer he picked up an increasing number of outside rides due to his lightweight. One of them was David Chapman’s Relative Ease, an easy three-length winner at Ripon on July 16, carrying 7st 2lb. Another was Mary Reveley’s King Charlemagne, on whom he won twice in a week, carrying 7st 6lb at Beverley on July 14 and 7st 8lb at Hamilton six days later.
He won two decent races on Chapman’s sprinter Karen’s Star, firstly the Bri-Eden Challenge Trophy under 7st 4lb at Wolverhampton on August 1, and then what was his biggest win in the Foodbrokers’ Northern Trophy Handicap at Thirsk, September 3. Two days after that, he rode a winner for his boss, Jack Berry’s two-year-old Lucky Boardman’s in a Beverley maiden.
He won two decent races on Chapman’s sprinter Karen’s Star, firstly the Bri-Eden Challenge Trophy under 7st 4lb at Wolverhampton on August 1, and then what was his biggest win in the Foodbrokers’ Northern Trophy Handicap at Thirsk, September 3. Two days after that, he rode a winner for his boss, Jack Berry’s two-year-old Lucky Boardman’s in a Beverley maiden.
Despite reaching double figures for the season, Steve was unable to capitalise on that success. By 1986 he was down to just one winner for the year. He registered three in 1987.
Despite reaching double figures for the season, Steve was unable to capitalise on that success. By 1986 he was down to just one winner for the year. He registered three in 1987.
When his apprenticeship ended, Steve took out a professional jockey’s licence and rode for four seasons, 1988 to 1991, but had little success. The best horse he rode was John Balding’s gigantic sprinter Blyton Lad, although he did not actually win on him. He rode Blyton Lad in the horse’s first two races as a two-year-old, finishing unplaced on his debut at Beverley and then fourth of 14 at Leicester on September 20, 1988. Steve then rode him in his first five starts as a three-year-old, finishing third at Thirsk on April 27, 1989. Stuart Webster took over the reins thereafter and rode Blyton Lad for the remainder of the horse’s career.
When his apprenticeship ended, Steve took out a professional jockey’s licence and rode for four seasons, 1988 to 1991, but had little success. The best horse he rode was John Balding’s gigantic sprinter Blyton Lad, although he did not actually win on him. He rode Blyton Lad in the horse’s first two races as a two-year-old, finishing unplaced on his debut at Beverley and then fourth of 14 at Leicester on September 20, 1988. Steve then rode him in his first five starts as a three-year-old, finishing third at Thirsk on April 27, 1989. Stuart Webster took over the reins thereafter and rode Blyton Lad for the remainder of the horse’s career.