Derek Lacy
Born in York, Derek Lacy served his apprenticeship initially with Tommy Dent at Rufforth, near York. He rode nine winners as an apprentice, the first of them on the Dent-trained Gunga Din in the Briton Apprentice Selling Handicap at Thirsk on 24 September 1960. He rode two more winners that season, one for Dent, the other for Richmond trainer Jack Ormston.
Born in York, Derek Lacy served his apprenticeship initially with Tommy Dent at Rufforth, near York. He rode nine winners as an apprentice, the first of them on the Dent-trained Gunga Din in the Briton Apprentice Selling Handicap at Thirsk on 24 September 1960. He rode two more winners that season, one for Dent, the other for Richmond trainer Jack Ormston.
He only managed one winner – Steal A March for Mick Easterby at Stockton – from 28 rides in 1961, although he did finish second twice. He rode three in 1962, all of them for Dent.
He only managed one winner – Steal A March for Mick Easterby at Stockton – from 28 rides in 1961, although he did finish second twice. He rode three in 1962, all of them for Dent.
In 1963 Derek’s indentures were transferred to former jockey Jimmy Thompson, who trained at Shiptonthorpe, near Ripon. He rode his only winner that year on Thompson’s four-year-old gelding Saucy Simon in a four-horse Pontefract seller in August. His last winner in Britain was also for Thompson, aboard Simtim in the Leeds Three-Year-Old Selling Handicap at Catterick on 22 July 1964.
In 1963 Derek’s indentures were transferred to former jockey Jimmy Thompson, who trained at Shiptonthorpe, near Ripon. He rode his only winner that year on Thompson’s four-year-old gelding Saucy Simon in a four-horse Pontefract seller in August. His last winner in Britain was also for Thompson, aboard Simtim in the Leeds Three-Year-Old Selling Handicap at Catterick on 22 July 1964.
In search of better opportunities, Derek emigrated to Scandinavia in 1965 and went on to ride over 300 winners there including nine Classic winners. He rode just once more in Britain, when partnering Scandinavian runner Trainers Seat, a 66-1 outsider, in the 1977 King George.VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, in which they finished ninth of the eleven runners behind The Minstrel and Orange Bay who fought out a famous finish.
In search of better opportunities, Derek emigrated to Scandinavia in 1965 and went on to ride over 300 winners there including nine Classic winners. He rode just once more in Britain, when partnering Scandinavian runner Trainers Seat, a 66-1 outsider, in the 1977 King George.VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, in which they finished ninth of the eleven runners behind The Minstrel and Orange Bay who fought out a famous finish.
Derek Lacy’s British winners were, in chronological order:
Derek Lacy’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Gunga Din, Thirsk, 24 September 1960
1. Gunga Din, Thirsk, 24 September 1960
2. Tonise, Haydock Park, 29 September 1960
2. Tonise, Haydock Park, 29 September 1960
3. Heckley, Liverpool, 3 November 1960
3. Heckley, Liverpool, 3 November 1960
4. Steal A March, Stockton, 1 September 1961
4. Steal A March, Stockton, 1 September 1961
5. Miladdo, Ripon, 30 May1962
5. Miladdo, Ripon, 30 May1962
6. Blenheim Star, Yarmouth, 18 September 1962
6. Blenheim Star, Yarmouth, 18 September 1962
7. Royal Course, Catterick Bridge, 29 September 1962
7. Royal Course, Catterick Bridge, 29 September 1962
8. Saucy Simon, Pontefract, 8 August 1963
8. Saucy Simon, Pontefract, 8 August 1963
9. Simtim, Catterick Bridge, 22 July 1964
9. Simtim, Catterick Bridge, 22 July 1964