Rodney Kirk
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Rodney Kirk was born in 1947, the son of the director of an engineering company at Leighton Buzzard. He learned to ride aged six when his father bought him a pony.
Rodney Kirk was born in 1947, the son of the director of an engineering company at Leighton Buzzard. He learned to ride aged six when his father bought him a pony.
Despite family objections, he became apprenticed to Tom Masson’s stable at Lewes early in 1963.
Despite family objections, he became apprenticed to Tom Masson’s stable at Lewes early in 1963.
He gained his first success at the fifth attempt on Tom Masson’s Saucy Lad in a Brighton apprentices’ handicap on June 10, 1964.
He gained his first success at the fifth attempt on Tom Masson’s Saucy Lad in a Brighton apprentices’ handicap on June 10, 1964.
No doubt to young Rodney’s delight, a photo of him winning the race appeared on the front page of the next day’s Sporting Life.
No doubt to young Rodney’s delight, a photo of him winning the race appeared on the front page of the next day’s Sporting Life.
His only other winner that year was on Orifion, also trained by Tom Masson, in an apprentices’ race at Ascot on 25 September.
His only other winner that year was on Orifion, also trained by Tom Masson, in an apprentices’ race at Ascot on 25 September.
His early career was something of a slow burner, just one winner in 1965, two in 1966, none at all in 1967. However, he rode five winners in 1968, all for Masson, and emulated that in 1969, including a couple of decent handicaps on Guy Harwood’s Ciribiribin at Sandown and Tom Masson’s The Ska at Newbury.
His early career was something of a slow burner, just one winner in 1965, two in 1966, none at all in 1967. However, he rode five winners in 1968, all for Masson, and emulated that in 1969, including a couple of decent handicaps on Guy Harwood’s Ciribiribin at Sandown and Tom Masson’s The Ska at Newbury.
He finished his apprenticeship at the end of that season and rode as a freelance for the next three years. Although tall for a jockey, he managed to maintain his weight around the 7st 12lb mark. He rode just one winner as a fully-fledged jockey, the Auriol Sinclair-trained two-year-old Piccolo Pete in a humble two-horse seller at Folkestone on Monday, July 19, 1971. He relinquished his licence in November 1972.
He finished his apprenticeship at the end of that season and rode as a freelance for the next three years. Although tall for a jockey, he managed to maintain his weight around the 7st 12lb mark. He rode just one winner as a fully-fledged jockey, the Auriol Sinclair-trained two-year-old Piccolo Pete in a humble two-horse seller at Folkestone on Monday, July 19, 1971. He relinquished his licence in November 1972.
A bad week: Rodney tried to make all the running on Lulibelle in the Ringmer Stakes at Brighton (August 7 1969). In a storming finish, Rodney lost an iron and was beaten a short head. Then, a few days later, at Newbury, he was unseated by Beryl at the start. He was brought back unconscious in the racecourse ambulance and taken to hospital.
A bad week: Rodney tried to make all the running on Lulibelle in the Ringmer Stakes at Brighton (August 7 1969). In a storming finish, Rodney lost an iron and was beaten a short head. Then, a few days later, at Newbury, he was unseated by Beryl at the start. He was brought back unconscious in the racecourse ambulance and taken to hospital.
Rodney Kirk’s winners were, in chronological order:
Rodney Kirk’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Saucy Lad, Brighton, June 10, 1964
1. Saucy Lad, Brighton, June 10, 1964
2. Orifion, Ascot, September 25, 1964
2. Orifion, Ascot, September 25, 1964
3. Wee Spot, Newbury, July 23, 1965
3. Wee Spot, Newbury, July 23, 1965
4. Castlenik, Windsor, August 6, 1966
4. Castlenik, Windsor, August 6, 1966
5. Aura Luminis, Brighton, September 14, 1966
5. Aura Luminis, Brighton, September 14, 1966
6. Castlenik, Newmarket, April 18, 1968
6. Castlenik, Newmarket, April 18, 1968
7. Wingspread, Folkestone, June 10, 1968
7. Wingspread, Folkestone, June 10, 1968
8. Open Hours, Brighton, June 22, 1968
8. Open Hours, Brighton, June 22, 1968
9. Polly Peck, Windsor, August 31, 1968
9. Polly Peck, Windsor, August 31, 1968
10. New Frontier, Lingfield Park, October 9, 1968
10. New Frontier, Lingfield Park, October 9, 1968
11. The Ska, Alexandra Park, May 20, 1969
11. The Ska, Alexandra Park, May 20, 1969
12. Ciribiribin, Sandown Park, June 14, 1969
12. Ciribiribin, Sandown Park, June 14, 1969
13. Aga Lass, Brighton, June 16, 1969
13. Aga Lass, Brighton, June 16, 1969
14. Wingspread, Folkestone, July 8, 1969
14. Wingspread, Folkestone, July 8, 1969
15. The Ska, Newbury, July 12, 1969
15. The Ska, Newbury, July 12, 1969
16. Piccolo Pete, Folkestone, July 19, 1971
16. Piccolo Pete, Folkestone, July 19, 1971