John Long
National Hunt jockey John Edward Long was born on November 28 1947, the son of Folkestone trainer Ted Long. He started out as an amateur rider and had his first success under rules when aged 17 on 14-year-old Famous Knight, trained by his father, in the Aldington Selling Chase at Wye on April 5, 1965.
National Hunt jockey John Edward Long was born on November 28 1947, the son of Folkestone trainer Ted Long. He started out as an amateur rider and had his first success under rules when aged 17 on 14-year-old Famous Knight, trained by his father, in the Aldington Selling Chase at Wye on April 5, 1965.
His second win also came in selling chase company, aboard 13-year-old Heather Song, also trained by his father, on the Saturday of Plumpton’s 1966 Easter meeting. Later that month he won on another 13-year-old, Certain Justice, trained by Arthur Neaves, in the Cowdray Handicap Chase at Fontwell, the figure-of-eight course over which Certain Justice excelled. Two days later he finished second on Certain Justice’s stablemate Do Or Die in the Fred Withington Challenge Cup Chase at Towcester. Seven days after that, he was second on yet another Neaves-trained horse, Certain Danger, in a Huntingdon hunter chase.
His second win also came in selling chase company, aboard 13-year-old Heather Song, also trained by his father, on the Saturday of Plumpton’s 1966 Easter meeting. Later that month he won on another 13-year-old, Certain Justice, trained by Arthur Neaves, in the Cowdray Handicap Chase at Fontwell, the figure-of-eight course over which Certain Justice excelled. Two days later he finished second on Certain Justice’s stablemate Do Or Die in the Fred Withington Challenge Cup Chase at Towcester. Seven days after that, he was second on yet another Neaves-trained horse, Certain Danger, in a Huntingdon hunter chase.
Ron Atkins rode most of the Neaves horses the following season and it was John’s father who provided him with his next winner, Kelly’s Image, in a two-mile handicap hurdle at Wye in March 1968.
Ron Atkins rode most of the Neaves horses the following season and it was John’s father who provided him with his next winner, Kelly’s Image, in a two-mile handicap hurdle at Wye in March 1968.
After several seasons as an amateur, John turned professional at the start of the 1970/71 campaign. He took over the training licence at his father’s stable in 1973, riding and training Kelly’s Image to win a Plumpton selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1974. He relinquished his jockey’s licence the following season.
After several seasons as an amateur, John turned professional at the start of the 1970/71 campaign. He took over the training licence at his father’s stable in 1973, riding and training Kelly’s Image to win a Plumpton selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1974. He relinquished his jockey’s licence the following season.
By 1975 John was ensconced in Rose and Crown Racing Stables at Elham, near Canterbury. Ten years later found him training at Southern Stables at Plumpton Green, five miles north-west of Lewes. A further ten years on, he was based at Woldingham, near Caterham, in Surrey. Fast forward 20 years to 2015 and he was training out of Kings Ride Stables at Royston, in Hertfordshire. That, though, was but a short-term occupation, for in 2017 he moved again, this time to Southdown Stables, Brighton, where he trains today.
By 1975 John was ensconced in Rose and Crown Racing Stables at Elham, near Canterbury. Ten years later found him training at Southern Stables at Plumpton Green, five miles north-west of Lewes. A further ten years on, he was based at Woldingham, near Caterham, in Surrey. Fast forward 20 years to 2015 and he was training out of Kings Ride Stables at Royston, in Hertfordshire. That, though, was but a short-term occupation, for in 2017 he moved again, this time to Southdown Stables, Brighton, where he trains today.
He has rarely had more than a dozen horses under his care but has done well with his small string. He won ten races with Cativo Cavallino between 2007 and 2011, all of them with Natalia Gemelova in the saddle. In addition to those ten wins, the horse was in the frame a further 27 times from 82 races. For Life won seven races between 2007 and 2012, again ridden throughout by Gemelova. More recently, John trained Choral Music to win five races in 2018 and one in 2019, all in the hands of Rob Hornby.
He has rarely had more than a dozen horses under his care but has done well with his small string. He won ten races with Cativo Cavallino between 2007 and 2011, all of them with Natalia Gemelova in the saddle. In addition to those ten wins, the horse was in the frame a further 27 times from 82 races. For Life won seven races between 2007 and 2012, again ridden throughout by Gemelova. More recently, John trained Choral Music to win five races in 2018 and one in 2019, all in the hands of Rob Hornby.
John Long’s five winners as a jockey were, in chronological order.
John Long’s five winners as a jockey were, in chronological order.
1. Famous Knight, Wye, April 5, 1965
1. Famous Knight, Wye, April 5, 1965
2. Heather Song, Plumpton, April 9, 1966
2. Heather Song, Plumpton, April 9, 1966
3. Certain Justice, Fontwell Park, April 28, 1966
3. Certain Justice, Fontwell Park, April 28, 1966
4. Kelly’s Image, Wye, March 18, 1968
4. Kelly’s Image, Wye, March 18, 1968
5. Kelly’s Image, Plumpton, April 15, 1974
5. Kelly’s Image, Plumpton, April 15, 1974