Brian Jefferies

Brian Jefferies

Article by Alan Trout

Southwest-based jump jockey Brian Jefferies (sometimes misspelt ‘Jeffries’) rode 16 winners in the 1970s. Associated with the Somerset stable of Mrs Betty Kennard at Bicknoller, near Taunton, his first ride was at Cheltenham on January 5, 1972, when Flippant Fred finished sixth of 14 starters in the Northleach Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. 

He celebrated his first winner at Devon & Exeter on April 27, when The Pack Horse held off the strong challenge of Birdland on the flat to land the Burnt House Lane Novices’ Hurdle (Division 3) by half a length. The stewards were kept busy after the race as Bob Champion, rider of the runner-up, objected to the winner and then Bob (Robert Arthur) Davies, who rode the third horse objected to the first two. Both objections were overruled.

There were no more wins for Brian that season and only two in 1972/73, but things began to pick up thereafter, including two more victories on The Pack Horse, and other trainers began putting him up. Among them were Ken Cundell and Reg Keenor, the latter’s selling hurdler  De Bortreaux providing him with three wins in 1974. 

After six wins in the 1973/74 campaign, Brian fared slightly better in 1974/75 with seven. One of them, Hogan Hills at Cheltenham in November, was his last for Mrs Kennard. His final winner was at Devon & Exeter on March 22, 1975, when Killagurteen, trained by former jump jockey Ted Fisher, just got up beat Holemoor Boy by a neck in the Pellew Handicap Hurdle. 

Brian only kept the ride on Killagurteen for one more unplaced start. He had his last ride at Windsor on January 1, 1976, when The Purser was unplaced in the Bray Selling Handicap Hurdle. 

He subsequently became Mrs Kennard's Head Lad.

Brian Jefferies’ winners were, in chronological order:

1. The Pack Horse, Devon & Exeter, April 27, 1972

2. Platypus, Newbury, November 2, 1972

3. Bobby Corbett, Worcester, April 26, 1973

4. The Pack Horse, Devon & Exeter, August 23, 1973

5. Clifton Fair, Devon & Exeter, November 20, 1973

6. Clifton Fair, Newton Abbot, December 26, 1973

7. The Pack Horse, Taunton, April 5, 1974

8. Takasaki, Taunton, May 10, 1974

9. De Bortreaux, Devon & Exeter, May 27, 1974

10. De Bortreaux, Newton Abbot, August 15, 1974

11. De Bortreaux, Newton Abbot, September 14, 1974

12. Norton Park, Taunton, September 27, 1974

13. Hogan Hills, Cheltenham, November 8, 1974

14. Portland III, Devon & Exeter, January 1, 1975

15. Grey Bird, Taunton, February 6, 1975

16. Killagurteen, Devon & Exeter, March 22, 1975