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Dawson Lees
Dawson Lees
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Having ridden four winners on the Flat, Dawson William Lees then had two over hurdles.
Having ridden four winners on the Flat, Dawson William Lees then had two over hurdles.
He began his racing career as an apprentice with Barry Hills and had his first success at Leicester on September 21, 1987, when Rag Queen, owned by Robert Sangster and trained by Hills, joined the leaders two furlongs out and ran on to take the Gaddesby Apprentice Stakes by a length.
He began his racing career as an apprentice with Barry Hills and had his first success at Leicester on September 21, 1987, when Rag Queen, owned by Robert Sangster and trained by Hills, joined the leaders two furlongs out and ran on to take the Gaddesby Apprentice Stakes by a length.
He had few other opportunities that season but fared better in 1988 with three wins from nearly 20 rides. The first of that trio was Knighted Dancer who got the better of Expound by a neck in the Levy Board Apprentice Stakes at Carlisle on June 2. The next win was much more comfortable, with Divine Law finishing eight lengths clear in another round of the Levy Board apprentice series at Ripon on July 16.
He had few other opportunities that season but fared better in 1988 with three wins from nearly 20 rides. The first of that trio was Knighted Dancer who got the better of Expound by a neck in the Levy Board Apprentice Stakes at Carlisle on June 2. The next win was much more comfortable, with Divine Law finishing eight lengths clear in another round of the Levy Board apprentice series at Ripon on July 16.
Defence Policy was his final winner on the Flat, and his first against senior jockeys, when landing the Bedale Graduation Stakes at Thirsk on July 30. The three-year-old was the 6-5 on favourite, having won under Pat Eddery at Sandown nine days earlier, but it was nonetheless a creditable performance from Dawson to have Mark Birch, Kevin Darley and John Lowe occupying the next three positions.
Defence Policy was his final winner on the Flat, and his first against senior jockeys, when landing the Bedale Graduation Stakes at Thirsk on July 30. The three-year-old was the 6-5 on favourite, having won under Pat Eddery at Sandown nine days earlier, but it was nonetheless a creditable performance from Dawson to have Mark Birch, Kevin Darley and John Lowe occupying the next three positions.
He started his career over jumps riding as a conditional for Mrs Mary Reveley, opening his account at Towcester on October 10, 1990, when Touch Of Speed lived up to his name by taking the lead at the penultimate flight and being ridden out to land the Daventry Selling Hurdle by half a length.
He started his career over jumps riding as a conditional for Mrs Mary Reveley, opening his account at Towcester on October 10, 1990, when Touch Of Speed lived up to his name by taking the lead at the penultimate flight and being ridden out to land the Daventry Selling Hurdle by half a length.
His only other victory came at Devon & Exeter two months later when the four-year-old Fanille finished strongly to take the lead on the run-in and land the Cullompton Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle by a length. Trained like Touch Of Speed by ‘Lal’ Whiting, Fanille had finished second on his last two starts, both with Dawson on board, so was not winning out of turn. He kept the ride but only managed one fourth place from five subsequent starts. He had a few more rides without further success.
His only other victory came at Devon & Exeter two months later when the four-year-old Fanille finished strongly to take the lead on the run-in and land the Cullompton Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle by a length. Trained like Touch Of Speed by ‘Lal’ Whiting, Fanille had finished second on his last two starts, both with Dawson on board, so was not winning out of turn. He kept the ride but only managed one fourth place from five subsequent starts. He had a few more rides without further success.
Dawson Lees’ winners were, in chronological order:
Dawson Lees’ winners were, in chronological order:
1. Rag Queen, Leicester, September 21, 1987
1. Rag Queen, Leicester, September 21, 1987
2. Knighted Dancer, Carlisle, June 2, 1988
2. Knighted Dancer, Carlisle, June 2, 1988
3. Divine Law, Ripon, July 16, 1988
3. Divine Law, Ripon, July 16, 1988
4. Defence Policy, Thirsk, July 30, 1988
4. Defence Policy, Thirsk, July 30, 1988
5. Touch Of Speed, Towcester, October 10, 1990
5. Touch Of Speed, Towcester, October 10, 1990
6. Fanille, Devon & Exeter, December 7, 1990
6. Fanille, Devon & Exeter, December 7, 1990
Dawson Lees; first winner came in 1987
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