Graham Lockerbie
1946 - 2008
1946 - 2008
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Graham Lockerbie was born in 1946 and began his racing career as a stable lad with John Barclay in Scotland but then moved on to Arthur Stephenson’s Bishop Auckland stable. He rode his first winner on Stephenson’s grey gelding Dashing White Sargeant at Hexham on Whit Monday, June 7, 1965.
National Hunt jockey Graham Lockerbie was born in 1946 and began his racing career as a stable lad with John Barclay in Scotland but then moved on to Arthur Stephenson’s Bishop Auckland stable. He rode his first winner on Stephenson’s grey gelding Dashing White Sargeant at Hexham on Whit Monday, June 7, 1965.
Stephenson’s novice hurdler Village Cop was Graham’s next winner, at Sedgefield in November 1966, followed eleven months later by the Taffy Williams-trained Big Noise at Teesside Park’s first ever National Hunt fixture on October 14, 1967.
Stephenson’s novice hurdler Village Cop was Graham’s next winner, at Sedgefield in November 1966, followed eleven months later by the Taffy Williams-trained Big Noise at Teesside Park’s first ever National Hunt fixture on October 14, 1967.
Graham left Arthur Stephenson and joined Denys Smith and then Frank Carr, who provided him with his first win over fences, Swan-Shot, in a novice riders’ chase at Wetherby in December 1970, following up in a similar contest at Uttoxeter the following month.
Graham left Arthur Stephenson and joined Denys Smith and then Frank Carr, who provided him with his first win over fences, Swan-Shot, in a novice riders’ chase at Wetherby in December 1970, following up in a similar contest at Uttoxeter the following month.
Snowy Wainwright’s Gay Como gave Graham both his wins for the 1972/73 season, picking up a pair of Carlisle novice hurdles in October. There were two more in 1973/74. He then joined Peter Easterby’s stable and rode three winners for him, beginning with Fixby Gold at Uttoxeter on December 21, 1974. Fixby Gold won again at Leicester on New Year’s Day. Selling hurdler Guy’s Mile was Graham last winner as a jockey, scoring at Hexham on Whit Monday 1975, coincidentally the corresponding fixture at which he’d ridden his first winner ten years earlier.
Snowy Wainwright’s Gay Como gave Graham both his wins for the 1972/73 season, picking up a pair of Carlisle novice hurdles in October. There were two more in 1973/74. He then joined Peter Easterby’s stable and rode three winners for him, beginning with Fixby Gold at Uttoxeter on December 21, 1974. Fixby Gold won again at Leicester on New Year’s Day. Selling hurdler Guy’s Mile was Graham last winner as a jockey, scoring at Hexham on Whit Monday 1975, coincidentally the corresponding fixture at which he’d ridden his first winner ten years earlier.
Disillusioned with life as a lad after quitting the saddle, Graham turned his back on racing for the security of a job in a local bacon factory. However, he soon realised he wanted to be back among horses so he returned to the Easterby yard and ended up as travelling head lad. He drove Easterby’s star-studded team, including the likes of Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon and Alverton, up to 60,000 miles a year. He also rode Sea Pigeon in some of his work. In 1979 he received the William Hill Northern Racing Personality Award in recognition of his contribution to racing.
Disillusioned with life as a lad after quitting the saddle, Graham turned his back on racing for the security of a job in a local bacon factory. However, he soon realised he wanted to be back among horses so he returned to the Easterby yard and ended up as travelling head lad. He drove Easterby’s star-studded team, including the likes of Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon and Alverton, up to 60,000 miles a year. He also rode Sea Pigeon in some of his work. In 1979 he received the William Hill Northern Racing Personality Award in recognition of his contribution to racing.
Graham eventually left Easterby and went on to train in his own right for almost four years, first in Middleham and later in Malton, before returning to his native Scotland. He died at his home in Dumfries on Saturday, October 4, 2008, aged 62, his funeral taking place at Jardine’s Chapel of Rest, Teregel Street, Dumfries on October 15.
Graham eventually left Easterby and went on to train in his own right for almost four years, first in Middleham and later in Malton, before returning to his native Scotland. He died at his home in Dumfries on Saturday, October 4, 2008, aged 62, his funeral taking place at Jardine’s Chapel of Rest, Teregel Street, Dumfries on October 15.
Graham Lockerbie rode a total of 12 winners. These were, in chronological order:
Graham Lockerbie rode a total of 12 winners. These were, in chronological order:
1. Dashing White Sargeant, Hexham, June 7, 1965
1. Dashing White Sargeant, Hexham, June 7, 1965
2. Village Cop, Sedgefield, November 19, 1966
2. Village Cop, Sedgefield, November 19, 1966
3. Big Noise, Teesside Park, October 14, 1967
3. Big Noise, Teesside Park, October 14, 1967
4. Swan-Shot, Wetherby, December 1, 1970
4. Swan-Shot, Wetherby, December 1, 1970
5. Swan-Shot, Uttoxeter, January 14, 1971
5. Swan-Shot, Uttoxeter, January 14, 1971
6. Gay Como, Carlisle, October 2, 1972
6. Gay Como, Carlisle, October 2, 1972
7. Gay Como, Carlisle, October 19, 1972
7. Gay Como, Carlisle, October 19, 1972
8. Lauso Lad, Kelso, October 6, 1973
8. Lauso Lad, Kelso, October 6, 1973
9. Just About, Ayr, March 11, 1974
9. Just About, Ayr, March 11, 1974
10. Fixby Gold, Uttoxeter, December 21, 1974
10. Fixby Gold, Uttoxeter, December 21, 1974
11. Fixby Gold, Leicester, January 1, 1975
11. Fixby Gold, Leicester, January 1, 1975
12. Guy’s Mile, Hexham, May 26, 1975
12. Guy’s Mile, Hexham, May 26, 1975