Tony King
National Hunt jockey Anthony (Tony) King’s career spanned the first half of the 1960s, during which time he recorded a total of seven winners. The first of those cane on Peaceful Haven at Newton Abbot on August 19, 1961, for Barnstaple-based owner-trainer John Hill. It was Tony’s sole success from a dozen rides that season.
National Hunt jockey Anthony (Tony) King’s career spanned the first half of the 1960s, during which time he recorded a total of seven winners. The first of those cane on Peaceful Haven at Newton Abbot on August 19, 1961, for Barnstaple-based owner-trainer John Hill. It was Tony’s sole success from a dozen rides that season.
Seeking further opportunities, Tony moved north the following year and rode his second winner at Catterick in November 1962 aboard selling hurdler Daphne’s Pal, trained by Taffy Williams at Ferryhill, Co. Durham.
Seeking further opportunities, Tony moved north the following year and rode his second winner at Catterick in November 1962 aboard selling hurdler Daphne’s Pal, trained by Taffy Williams at Ferryhill, Co. Durham.
It was almost 17 months before he next visited the winner’s enclosure, the long drought being ended by 7-4 favourite Trymber, trained at Wiseton, near Doncaster by Russ Hobson, in the Rase Selling Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on Easter Monday 1964. That again was his sole success of the campaign, although he was perhaps unlucky not to have at least doubled his score as he finished second on three occasions.
It was almost 17 months before he next visited the winner’s enclosure, the long drought being ended by 7-4 favourite Trymber, trained at Wiseton, near Doncaster by Russ Hobson, in the Rase Selling Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on Easter Monday 1964. That again was his sole success of the campaign, although he was perhaps unlucky not to have at least doubled his score as he finished second on three occasions.
Having ridden just three winners in four years, Tony enjoyed his best season in 1964/65 with four wins from 34 mounts, all of them trained by Russ Hobson.
Having ridden just three winners in four years, Tony enjoyed his best season in 1964/65 with four wins from 34 mounts, all of them trained by Russ Hobson.
He made a good start with back-to-back wins on novice hurdler Rexumber at Market Rasen and Fakenham in August. Then, on a foggy October afternoon at Liverpool, he won a three-year-old hurdle race on Rackham, who was making his hurdling debut. They followed their Liverpool success with victory in the Sanderson Keyser Juvenile Hurdle, the last race of a valuable sponsored Doncaster card on November 21.
He made a good start with back-to-back wins on novice hurdler Rexumber at Market Rasen and Fakenham in August. Then, on a foggy October afternoon at Liverpool, he won a three-year-old hurdle race on Rackham, who was making his hurdling debut. They followed their Liverpool success with victory in the Sanderson Keyser Juvenile Hurdle, the last race of a valuable sponsored Doncaster card on November 21.
Just five days later, Tony and Rackham reappeared in the East Lancashire Hurdle at Haydock. They started favourite but slipped up on the flat when leading the field in the early stages. They then finished third in a decent four-year-old hurdle at Cheltenham in January, following that effort with another third-place finish behind Honeyborough and future Champion Hurdle hero Saucy Kit in the Brewers’ Hurdle at Doncaster.
Just five days later, Tony and Rackham reappeared in the East Lancashire Hurdle at Haydock. They started favourite but slipped up on the flat when leading the field in the early stages. They then finished third in a decent four-year-old hurdle at Cheltenham in January, following that effort with another third-place finish behind Honeyborough and future Champion Hurdle hero Saucy Kit in the Brewers’ Hurdle at Doncaster.
However, Jack Berry took over in the saddle next time out when Rackham won at Wetherby at the end of February. That substitution marked the end of Tony’s brief winning streak. He failed to ride another winner all season, coming closest when finishing third in a Wetherby selling hurdle on Lynton Croft on Easter Monday 1965.
However, Jack Berry took over in the saddle next time out when Rackham won at Wetherby at the end of February. That substitution marked the end of Tony’s brief winning streak. He failed to ride another winner all season, coming closest when finishing third in a Wetherby selling hurdle on Lynton Croft on Easter Monday 1965.
Rackham went on to prove himself a decent handicap hurdler. However, for Tony there was no further glory. He never rode another winner and did not renew his licence after the 1965/66 season, during which he’d had very few rides.
Rackham went on to prove himself a decent handicap hurdler. However, for Tony there was no further glory. He never rode another winner and did not renew his licence after the 1965/66 season, during which he’d had very few rides.
Tony King’s winners were, in chronological order:
Tony King’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Peaceful Haven, Newton Abbot, August 19, 1961
1. Peaceful Haven, Newton Abbot, August 19, 1961
2. Daphne’s Pal, Catterick Bridge, November 3, 1962
2. Daphne’s Pal, Catterick Bridge, November 3, 1962
3. Trymber, Market Rasen, March 30, 1964
3. Trymber, Market Rasen, March 30, 1964
4. Rexumber, Market Rasen, August 13, 1964
4. Rexumber, Market Rasen, August 13, 1964
5. Rexumber, Fakenham, August 29, 1964
5. Rexumber, Fakenham, August 29, 1964
6. Rackham, Liverpool, October 30, 1964
6. Rackham, Liverpool, October 30, 1964
7. Rackham, Doncaster, November 21, 1964
7. Rackham, Doncaster, November 21, 1964