John Lovejoy
Jump jockey John MacDonald Lovejoy was born at Rushington, Hampshire in 1958. He started his working life on his father Peter’s farm at Heyshot before spending six months with trainer Guy Bach at Churt, near Farnham, in Surrey.
Jump jockey John MacDonald Lovejoy was born at Rushington, Hampshire in 1958. He started his working life on his father Peter’s farm at Heyshot before spending six months with trainer Guy Bach at Churt, near Farnham, in Surrey.
He then continued his apprenticeship with Derek Kent, who trained near Chichester. He had his first ride in public for Kent on Sandor in a handicap hurdle at Windsor on November 10, 1979, finishing fifth in a field of 22. Later that month they finished second in a similar race over the same course.
He then continued his apprenticeship with Derek Kent, who trained near Chichester. He had his first ride in public for Kent on Sandor in a handicap hurdle at Windsor on November 10, 1979, finishing fifth in a field of 22. Later that month they finished second in a similar race over the same course.
John rode his first winner on Mr Foodbroker in a National Hunt Flat Race at Hereford on September 6, 1980 and followed that by winning another such race at Market Rasen on September 27. Later that season, Mr Foodbroker gave John one of his biggest days in the saddle when winning the Haig Whisky Novice Handicap Hurdle Final at Chepstow on Easter Monday, April 20, 1981.
John rode his first winner on Mr Foodbroker in a National Hunt Flat Race at Hereford on September 6, 1980 and followed that by winning another such race at Market Rasen on September 27. Later that season, Mr Foodbroker gave John one of his biggest days in the saddle when winning the Haig Whisky Novice Handicap Hurdle Final at Chepstow on Easter Monday, April 20, 1981.
When Derek Kent departed to train in Hong Kong, stable jockey Peter Haynes took over as trainer. John stayed with him and enjoyed a relatively successful career during the 1980s. He enjoyed his best season in 1983/84 with 16 winners, which included an Easter Monday victory on the talented but wayward Vodkatini in the Coral Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham.
When Derek Kent departed to train in Hong Kong, stable jockey Peter Haynes took over as trainer. John stayed with him and enjoyed a relatively successful career during the 1980s. He enjoyed his best season in 1983/84 with 16 winners, which included an Easter Monday victory on the talented but wayward Vodkatini in the Coral Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham.
By the turn of the millennium he was working as head lad to Barnstaple trainer Tony Newcombe. He subsequently joined Jonjo O’Neill’s Jackdaws Castle stable where he quickly became a valued member of the team there.
By the turn of the millennium he was working as head lad to Barnstaple trainer Tony Newcombe. He subsequently joined Jonjo O’Neill’s Jackdaws Castle stable where he quickly became a valued member of the team there.