Liam Jones
Liam Jones
Liam Jones
Liam Jones started out as an apprentice with William Haggas in 2003 and went on to enjoy multiple big race victories between 2008 and 2014 including the Group 2 Diadem Stakes on King’s Apostle, the Group 3 John Porter Stakes on Harris Tweed, the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg on Triple Aspect, and the Group 2 Darley Oettingen-Trennen on Gerean.
Liam Jones started out as an apprentice with William Haggas in 2003 and went on to enjoy multiple big race victories between 2008 and 2014 including the Group 2 Diadem Stakes on King’s Apostle, the Group 3 John Porter Stakes on Harris Tweed, the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg on Triple Aspect, and the Group 2 Darley Oettingen-Trennen on Gerean.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 2007 with 65 winners, then rode 61 in 2008. Although those totals had fallen to 27 in 2018 and 19 in 2019, he was still making a living. However, in November 2019 he suffered a serious stalls injury and Chelmsford City which almost brought about his retirement. It occurred on the Mark Loughnane-trained Nananita. Liam somehow got his foot caught on the side of the starting gate, and when the stall opened it twisted his leg round. He stayed on board and rode the race on adrenaline, but the injury, as well as damaging his hip, tore away two centimetres of his lower abdomen.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 2007 with 65 winners, then rode 61 in 2008. Although those totals had fallen to 27 in 2018 and 19 in 2019, he was still making a living. However, in November 2019 he suffered a serious stalls injury and Chelmsford City which almost brought about his retirement. It occurred on the Mark Loughnane-trained Nananita. Liam somehow got his foot caught on the side of the starting gate, and when the stall opened it twisted his leg round. He stayed on board and rode the race on adrenaline, but the injury, as well as damaging his hip, tore away two centimetres of his lower abdomen.
With the injury taking a long time to heal, Liam shadowed the stewards at race meetings, leaning the ropes just in case he was unable to race-ride again, enabling him to pursue an alternative career as a BHA steward. However, following some hard training at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s facility at Peter O’Sullevan House, Newmarket, coupled with the help of an expensive cortisone injection, the was eventually able to make a full recovery.
With the injury taking a long time to heal, Liam shadowed the stewards at race meetings, leaning the ropes just in case he was unable to race-ride again, enabling him to pursue an alternative career as a BHA steward. However, following some hard training at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s facility at Peter O’Sullevan House, Newmarket, coupled with the help of an expensive cortisone injection, the was eventually able to make a full recovery.
It was February 2021 before he was back on a horse, riding out at Newmarket for his long-time mentor William Haggas. He returned to race-riding in a one-mile three-year-old maiden at Kempton on 10 March, finishing fourth on the Haggas-trained Pop Favorite.
It was February 2021 before he was back on a horse, riding out at Newmarket for his long-time mentor William Haggas. He returned to race-riding in a one-mile three-year-old maiden at Kempton on 10 March, finishing fourth on the Haggas-trained Pop Favorite.
He rode eight winners from 137 rides in 2021, the last of them on 14-1 shot Crack Regiment, trained by Henry Spiller in a class 4 handicap at Chelmsford City on 9 September. In what was to prove his last ride of the season, on the Dean Ivory-trained Adace, he finished second, beaten a head, in a class 5 handicap at Chelmsford on 26 November.
He rode eight winners from 137 rides in 2021, the last of them on 14-1 shot Crack Regiment, trained by Henry Spiller in a class 4 handicap at Chelmsford City on 9 September. In what was to prove his last ride of the season, on the Dean Ivory-trained Adace, he finished second, beaten a head, in a class 5 handicap at Chelmsford on 26 November.
The following week, Liam broke three bones in an ankle while riding out for William Haggas when his mount reared up, slipped and fell on him. Although it was a compound fracture, rather than a normal break, the injury was not regarded as being as severe as the previous one and Liam hoped to be back race-riding by March 2022.
The following week, Liam broke three bones in an ankle while riding out for William Haggas when his mount reared up, slipped and fell on him. Although it was a compound fracture, rather than a normal break, the injury was not regarded as being as severe as the previous one and Liam hoped to be back race-riding by March 2022.
However, that deadline came and went, and in March 2023 he received the devastating news from his specialist that the ankle injury was too bad for him to resume race-riding. The 37-year-old was forced to call time on his 20-year career in the saddle.
However, that deadline came and went, and in March 2023 he received the devastating news from his specialist that the ankle injury was too bad for him to resume race-riding. The 37-year-old was forced to call time on his 20-year career in the saddle.
He had ridden nearly 600 winners during his career, the lion’s share having been provided by William Haggas. Although he rode four Group race and eight Listed race winners, his biggest win in financial terms was his victory on Haikbidiac in the 2013 DBS Premier Yearling Stakes ay York, which carried a winner’s prize of £154,769.
He had ridden nearly 600 winners during his career, the lion’s share having been provided by William Haggas. Although he rode four Group race and eight Listed race winners, his biggest win in financial terms was his victory on Haikbidiac in the 2013 DBS Premier Yearling Stakes ay York, which carried a winner’s prize of £154,769.
Biggest winners:
Biggest winners:
2008: Cleeves Stakes (Lingfield) – Excusez Moi
2008: Cleeves Stakes (Lingfield) – Excusez Moi
2008: Weatherbys' Super Sprint – Jargelle
2008: Weatherbys' Super Sprint – Jargelle
2008: Diadem Stakes – King’s Apostle
2008: Diadem Stakes – King’s Apostle
2009: Scurry Stakes (Sandown) – Triple Aspect
2009: Scurry Stakes (Sandown) – Triple Aspect
2009: Guisborough Stakes (Redcar) – Musaalem
2009: Guisborough Stakes (Redcar) – Musaalem
2010: Magnolia Stakes (Kempton) – South Easter
2010: Magnolia Stakes (Kempton) – South Easter
2010: Sportingbet.com Leisure Stakes – Triple Aspect
2010: Sportingbet.com Leisure Stakes – Triple Aspect
2010: Coral Charge Stakes – Triple Aspect
2010: Coral Charge Stakes – Triple Aspect
2010: Stand Cup (Chester) – Harris Tweed
2010: Stand Cup (Chester) – Harris Tweed
2010: Noel Murless Stakes- Harris Tweed
2010: Noel Murless Stakes- Harris Tweed
2012: John Porter Stakes – Harris Tweed
2012: John Porter Stakes – Harris Tweed
2013: DBS Premier Yearling Stakes – Haikbidiac
2013: DBS Premier Yearling Stakes – Haikbidiac
2014: Kilvington Fillies’ Stakes – Caledonia Lady
2014: Kilvington Fillies’ Stakes – Caledonia Lady
In France
In France
2008: Prix d’Arenberg – Triple Aspect
2008: Prix d’Arenberg – Triple Aspect
In Germany
In Germany
2013: Darley Oettingen-Trennen – Gerean
2013: Darley Oettingen-Trennen – Gerean