Mick James
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Michael Brian Cecil James was born on December 29, 1934. He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence from 1953/54 to 1972/73 and rode a total of 40 winners during his career.
Michael Brian Cecil James was born on December 29, 1934. He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence from 1953/54 to 1972/73 and rode a total of 40 winners during his career.
The first of those 40 came at Worcester on December 5, 1953 on the Roy Whiston-trained hurdler Tulliepowrie, who then won again at Southwell on December 21 and at Cheltenham on December 30, giving Mick a flying start to his career. He rode two winners at Uttoxeter’s 1954 Easter fixture, Life Story on the Monday and Royal Etna on the Tuesday, and finished the campaign with a win on Galloway Nova at Woore on May 13, giving him a score of six for the season.
The first of those 40 came at Worcester on December 5, 1953 on the Roy Whiston-trained hurdler Tulliepowrie, who then won again at Southwell on December 21 and at Cheltenham on December 30, giving Mick a flying start to his career. He rode two winners at Uttoxeter’s 1954 Easter fixture, Life Story on the Monday and Royal Etna on the Tuesday, and finished the campaign with a win on Galloway Nova at Woore on May 13, giving him a score of six for the season.
Mick won again on Galloway Nova at Uttoxeter on April 2, 1955 and also scored a Whit Monday double at Uttoxeter on hurdler Desertcar and chaser Nore Buoy. He continued to ply his trade as a journeyman jockey over the next five years, riding between three and five winners a season, but a major change occurred in 1960.
Mick won again on Galloway Nova at Uttoxeter on April 2, 1955 and also scored a Whit Monday double at Uttoxeter on hurdler Desertcar and chaser Nore Buoy. He continued to ply his trade as a journeyman jockey over the next five years, riding between three and five winners a season, but a major change occurred in 1960.
Charlie Stuck was a Plymouth bookmaker who also owned a successful football pools business. Stuck’s ambition was to own and train a string of racehorses. Money was no barrier but being a bookmaker was, for bookies were not then permitted to own racehorses or to hold a trainer’s licence. Undaunted, in 1960 he purchased Crossways Stables at Yelverton, South Devon, bought himself eighteen horses, registered his wife as the owner and installed Mick James as his private trainer.
Charlie Stuck was a Plymouth bookmaker who also owned a successful football pools business. Stuck’s ambition was to own and train a string of racehorses. Money was no barrier but being a bookmaker was, for bookies were not then permitted to own racehorses or to hold a trainer’s licence. Undaunted, in 1960 he purchased Crossways Stables at Yelverton, South Devon, bought himself eighteen horses, registered his wife as the owner and installed Mick James as his private trainer.
Besides training the horses, Mick also rode most of them. The new operation hit the ground running for the 1960/61 season with handicap hurdler Combatant, who won races at Newton Abbot and Fontwell in September, Cheltenham in October and Kempton in November before his season ended prematurely in January when Mick pulled him up in Wincanton’s Kingwell Hurdle. Another decent handicap hurdler in the yard was Fidus Achates, on whom Mick won at Fontwell on September 12 and Worcester on March 6 before handing over the reins to Clive Chapman who steered Fidus Achates to victory in the 1961 Imperial Cup, giving Mick his highest-profile training success.
Besides training the horses, Mick also rode most of them. The new operation hit the ground running for the 1960/61 season with handicap hurdler Combatant, who won races at Newton Abbot and Fontwell in September, Cheltenham in October and Kempton in November before his season ended prematurely in January when Mick pulled him up in Wincanton’s Kingwell Hurdle. Another decent handicap hurdler in the yard was Fidus Achates, on whom Mick won at Fontwell on September 12 and Worcester on March 6 before handing over the reins to Clive Chapman who steered Fidus Achates to victory in the 1961 Imperial Cup, giving Mick his highest-profile training success.
However, despite that success, the arrangement lasted only one season. There was a falling out between Stuck and his trainer, resulting in Bob Bassett taking over the licence and the running of Crossways Stables for the 1961/62 campaign. Mick returned to the Midlands and began training at Black Birches Stables at Hadnall, near Shrewsbury. He rode four winners that season, all of which he also trained, beginning with Sythian at Wolverhampton on January 20, 1962. Lordling was his next winner, at Woore on March 22; then came Village Fair who landed a brace of juvenile hurdles at Southwell on April 21 and Ludlow five days later. They were to be his last winners as a jockey.
However, despite that success, the arrangement lasted only one season. There was a falling out between Stuck and his trainer, resulting in Bob Bassett taking over the licence and the running of Crossways Stables for the 1961/62 campaign. Mick returned to the Midlands and began training at Black Birches Stables at Hadnall, near Shrewsbury. He rode four winners that season, all of which he also trained, beginning with Sythian at Wolverhampton on January 20, 1962. Lordling was his next winner, at Woore on March 22; then came Village Fair who landed a brace of juvenile hurdles at Southwell on April 21 and Ludlow five days later. They were to be his last winners as a jockey.
In 1963 Mick moved his training operation to Rose Farm, Formby, near Liverpool, where he became private trainer to advertising hoardings magnate Arthur Maiden. He stayed there until 1968 when relocating to Hampton Post Stables at Malpas, in Cheshire.
In 1963 Mick moved his training operation to Rose Farm, Formby, near Liverpool, where he became private trainer to advertising hoardings magnate Arthur Maiden. He stayed there until 1968 when relocating to Hampton Post Stables at Malpas, in Cheshire.
It was also in 1968 that Mick had his one and only ride in the Grand National. His mount was Willing Slave, who’d won a couple of early season chases for George Owen at the start of the 1967/68 campaign before arriving in Mick’s yard. Mick rode him at Worcester, finishing last of eleven after leading early. John Buckingham rode the horse next time out at Haydock but Mick was back on board for his attempt at the Grand National. Willing Slave was a genuine 100-1 shot but he gave Mick, who wore colours of ‘white, red diamond, blue sleeves’, a safe ride round for a circuit before being pulled up just after halfway.
It was also in 1968 that Mick had his one and only ride in the Grand National. His mount was Willing Slave, who’d won a couple of early season chases for George Owen at the start of the 1967/68 campaign before arriving in Mick’s yard. Mick rode him at Worcester, finishing last of eleven after leading early. John Buckingham rode the horse next time out at Haydock but Mick was back on board for his attempt at the Grand National. Willing Slave was a genuine 100-1 shot but he gave Mick, who wore colours of ‘white, red diamond, blue sleeves’, a safe ride round for a circuit before being pulled up just after halfway.
He only trained at Malpas for a couple of years before finally settling at Warren Stables in Prees Heath, near Whitchurch, Shropshire. That was to be his base for the remainder of his training career, which lasted until 1992.
He only trained at Malpas for a couple of years before finally settling at Warren Stables in Prees Heath, near Whitchurch, Shropshire. That was to be his base for the remainder of his training career, which lasted until 1992.
Mick, who rated Combatant ahead of Fidus Achates as the best he had
Mick, who rated Combatant ahead of Fidus Achates as the best he had
ridden, continued to ride some of the horses he trained until finally relinquishing his jockey’s licence in 1973.
ridden, continued to ride some of the horses he trained until finally relinquishing his jockey’s licence in 1973.
His daughter Sharron (right) duly became an integral part of the training operation and also rode many of the yard’s runners on the Flat and over jumps.
His daughter Sharron (right) duly became an integral part of the training operation and also rode many of the yard’s runners on the Flat and over jumps.