Ben Lay
Ben winning at Leicester on 9 Jan 1961
Ben winning at Leicester on 9 Jan 1961
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Ben Lay is the son of the former jockey Percy Dennis Lay who, confusingly, was also known as Ben.
Ben Lay is the son of the former jockey Percy Dennis Lay who, confusingly, was also known as Ben.
Ben junior was born on 13 May 1940 and held a jump jockey’s licence from 1955/56 to 1962/63, riding horses trained by his father at Rectory Farm at Broughton, near Banbury. He rode his first winner on Kano in a Towcester selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1956. Kano also provided him with his second winner when scoring at Devon & Exeter early the next season.
Ben junior was born on 13 May 1940 and held a jump jockey’s licence from 1955/56 to 1962/63, riding horses trained by his father at Rectory Farm at Broughton, near Banbury. He rode his first winner on Kano in a Towcester selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1956. Kano also provided him with his second winner when scoring at Devon & Exeter early the next season.
His third win was achieved on Glenandri at Uttoxeter, a stable stalwart who won over hurdles and nine times over fences in a career spanning eleven seasons, his final victory coming in that Uttoxeter race when ridden by Ben.
His third win was achieved on Glenandri at Uttoxeter, a stable stalwart who won over hurdles and nine times over fences in a career spanning eleven seasons, his final victory coming in that Uttoxeter race when ridden by Ben.
Unfortunately, Ben’s riding career was hampered by being rather heavy. He also wore glasses but to overcome this he had strong lenses fitted into his goggles.
Unfortunately, Ben’s riding career was hampered by being rather heavy. He also wore glasses but to overcome this he had strong lenses fitted into his goggles.
His fourth and final victory, aboard Damp Rag at Leicester in January 1961, was gained in near farcical circumstances when finishing alone in a dramatic three-horse chase. One of his rivals, Ragd, the mount of Dave Dick, fell at the fifth fence, while the other Popin, ridden by Les Fisher, fell at the seventh. Ragd was remounted but refused at the next fence; Popin was also remounted but fell again four fences from home, leaving Ben and Damp Rag in splendid isolation.
His fourth and final victory, aboard Damp Rag at Leicester in January 1961, was gained in near farcical circumstances when finishing alone in a dramatic three-horse chase. One of his rivals, Ragd, the mount of Dave Dick, fell at the fifth fence, while the other Popin, ridden by Les Fisher, fell at the seventh. Ragd was remounted but refused at the next fence; Popin was also remounted but fell again four fences from home, leaving Ben and Damp Rag in splendid isolation.
There were fallers aplenty at that particular Leicester meeting. The fences had recently been rebuilt and were, it transpired, much too stiff. After winning the race, Ben returned to the weighing room to find several jockeys discussing the severity of the fences. When one of them asked Ben for his opinion he replied that he did not think they were too bad. The other jockeys’ rejoinder was that they were not surprised as Ben was half blind and probably never even noticed the fences anyway.
There were fallers aplenty at that particular Leicester meeting. The fences had recently been rebuilt and were, it transpired, much too stiff. After winning the race, Ben returned to the weighing room to find several jockeys discussing the severity of the fences. When one of them asked Ben for his opinion he replied that he did not think they were too bad. The other jockeys’ rejoinder was that they were not surprised as Ben was half blind and probably never even noticed the fences anyway.
Ben had had a few rides as an apprentice on the Flat, the first when just 12 years old, and was involved in a strange incident when riding Wild Honey at Warwick on 12 June 1952. There were ten runners and Wild Honey beat only one home. However, the judge mistook the colours and placed him third. Everyone got paid out on the Tote for a place before the error was spotted. Ben’s mother had had £1 each-way on him for luck and unexpectedly received a nice place dividend. In the paper the next day it was said that the judge should have borrowed young Lay’s glasses!
Ben had had a few rides as an apprentice on the Flat, the first when just 12 years old, and was involved in a strange incident when riding Wild Honey at Warwick on 12 June 1952. There were ten runners and Wild Honey beat only one home. However, the judge mistook the colours and placed him third. Everyone got paid out on the Tote for a place before the error was spotted. Ben’s mother had had £1 each-way on him for luck and unexpectedly received a nice place dividend. In the paper the next day it was said that the judge should have borrowed young Lay’s glasses!
After retiring from the saddle, Ben moved to Ireland and bought a farm at Portlaw, near Waterford, where he combined training with milking a herd of 40 cows. Brothers Paddy and John Kiely rode most of his runners. John Kiely is now a successful trainer in his own right, his current stable star being Carlingford Lough, on whom AP McCoy won Leopardstown’s Hennessy Gold cup in 2015.
After retiring from the saddle, Ben moved to Ireland and bought a farm at Portlaw, near Waterford, where he combined training with milking a herd of 40 cows. Brothers Paddy and John Kiely rode most of his runners. John Kiely is now a successful trainer in his own right, his current stable star being Carlingford Lough, on whom AP McCoy won Leopardstown’s Hennessy Gold cup in 2015.
Ben also bred horses from his stallion Dear Gazelle. He stayed in Ireland for 15 years – his father was with him for a time – before returning to his native Oxfordshire.
Ben also bred horses from his stallion Dear Gazelle. He stayed in Ireland for 15 years – his father was with him for a time – before returning to his native Oxfordshire.
He held a permit licence for a few years but has now relinquished it. He is, though, still actively involved with horses and also with cattle on his farm just outside Chipping Norton.
He held a permit licence for a few years but has now relinquished it. He is, though, still actively involved with horses and also with cattle on his farm just outside Chipping Norton.
Ben Lay’s winners were in chronological order:
Ben Lay’s winners were in chronological order:
1. Kano, Towcester, 2 April 1956
1. Kano, Towcester, 2 April 1956
2. Kano, Devon & Exeter, 11 September 1956
2. Kano, Devon & Exeter, 11 September 1956
3. Glenandri, Uttoxeter, 8 April 1958
3. Glenandri, Uttoxeter, 8 April 1958
4. Damp Rag, Leicester, 9 January 1961
4. Damp Rag, Leicester, 9 January 1961