John Lowe
The son of a publican, John Joseph Lowe was born at Dingle, Liverpool on October 31 1950, and on May 11, 1968, having only his fourth ride in public, won the Great Jubilee Handicap at Kempton on Pally's Double. At that time, the Jubilee was one of the biggest handicaps of the season, so it was a remarkable achievement for one so inexperienced.
The son of a publican, John Joseph Lowe was born at Dingle, Liverpool on October 31 1950, and on May 11, 1968, having only his fourth ride in public, won the Great Jubilee Handicap at Kempton on Pally's Double. At that time, the Jubilee was one of the biggest handicaps of the season, so it was a remarkable achievement for one so inexperienced.
Lowe returned to Kempton a year later to win the Queen's Prize on the 11-year-old Off Beat.
Lowe returned to Kempton a year later to win the Queen's Prize on the 11-year-old Off Beat.
He came closest to a classic win when Abbeydale was beaten into second place by Joe Mercer on One In A Million.
He came closest to a classic win when Abbeydale was beaten into second place by Joe Mercer on One In A Million.
The only Group 1 winner Lowe ever rode was the Steve Norton-trained filly Goodbye Shelley, who caused a 36-1 upset in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc day in 1982. On his first ride in France, he won the race by dashing his mount clear turning for home and just holding on by a short head.
The only Group 1 winner Lowe ever rode was the Steve Norton-trained filly Goodbye Shelley, who caused a 36-1 upset in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc day in 1982. On his first ride in France, he won the race by dashing his mount clear turning for home and just holding on by a short head.
Lowe won only three British Group races in his career, including the Gimcrack on Goodbye Shelley's stablemate Full Extent in 1981.
Lowe won only three British Group races in his career, including the Gimcrack on Goodbye Shelley's stablemate Full Extent in 1981.
Lowe's best season numerically came in 1977 when his 86 wins put him seventh place in the jockeys' table.
Lowe's best season numerically came in 1977 when his 86 wins put him seventh place in the jockeys' table.
He landed a rare Royal Ascot double the following year when Mountain Cross won both the Ascot Stakes and the Queen Alexandra Stakes. This was the second time Lowe had won the Ascot Stakes. In 1976 he rode Tudor Crown as the supposed pacemaker for hot favourite Coed Cochion. Lowe stayed in front to the end, winning at 66-1.
He landed a rare Royal Ascot double the following year when Mountain Cross won both the Ascot Stakes and the Queen Alexandra Stakes. This was the second time Lowe had won the Ascot Stakes. In 1976 he rode Tudor Crown as the supposed pacemaker for hot favourite Coed Cochion. Lowe stayed in front to the end, winning at 66-1.
Two factors conspired to limit his success; he was based in the north, and he was perceived by many as just a lightweight.
Two factors conspired to limit his success; he was based in the north, and he was perceived by many as just a lightweight.
During a 33-year career (1968 - 2000) Lowe won 1,138 races in Britain (and many more during his winters in India).
During a 33-year career (1968 - 2000) Lowe won 1,138 races in Britain (and many more during his winters in India).
He retained his Liverpudlian sense of humour throughout his riding days when his bouffant, blow-dried hair could be easily picked out by the TV cameras.
He retained his Liverpudlian sense of humour throughout his riding days when his bouffant, blow-dried hair could be easily picked out by the TV cameras.
Father: John Lowe (merchant seaman)
Father: John Lowe (merchant seaman)
Apprenticed to: Jack Watts, Newmarket 1966-70; Bill Watts, Richmond, Yorkshire 1971-73
Apprenticed to: Jack Watts, Newmarket 1966-70; Bill Watts, Richmond, Yorkshire 1971-73
Other Group winners: Full Extent (1981 Gimcrack Stakes), Protection Racket (1981 Doncaster Cup), Goodbye Shelley (1983 Fred Darling Stakes), Amongst The Stars (1986 Ludwig Goebels-Erinnerungsrennen), Medicus (1988 Premio Carlo Porta)
Other Group winners: Full Extent (1981 Gimcrack Stakes), Protection Racket (1981 Doncaster Cup), Goodbye Shelley (1983 Fred Darling Stakes), Amongst The Stars (1986 Ludwig Goebels-Erinnerungsrennen), Medicus (1988 Premio Carlo Porta)
Other big-handicap winners: Off Beat (1969 Queen`s Prize), Tudor Crown (1976 Ascot Stakes), Mint (1977 Old Newton Cup), Mountain Cross (1978 Ascot Stakes), Sparkling Boy (1980 Ayr Gold Cup), Leysh (1984 Cambridgeshire), K-Battery (1986 Lincoln Handicap), Felipe Toro (1986 Portland Handicap), Final Shot (1990 Ayr Gold Cup), Rinja (1991 Bessborough Handicap), Mellottie (1991 Cambridgeshire, 1992 Coalite Handicap), Wizard King (1994 Britannia Handicap)
Other big-handicap winners: Off Beat (1969 Queen`s Prize), Tudor Crown (1976 Ascot Stakes), Mint (1977 Old Newton Cup), Mountain Cross (1978 Ascot Stakes), Sparkling Boy (1980 Ayr Gold Cup), Leysh (1984 Cambridgeshire), K-Battery (1986 Lincoln Handicap), Felipe Toro (1986 Portland Handicap), Final Shot (1990 Ayr Gold Cup), Rinja (1991 Bessborough Handicap), Mellottie (1991 Cambridgeshire, 1992 Coalite Handicap), Wizard King (1994 Britannia Handicap)
1,000th win in Britain: Lobinda, Beverley, September 19, 1991
1,000th win in Britain: Lobinda, Beverley, September 19, 1991
Richest win: Cape Merino (1993 Redcar 2-Y-O Trophy)
Richest win: Cape Merino (1993 Redcar 2-Y-O Trophy)
Last winner: Deep Blue, Windsor, October 26, 2000
Last winner: Deep Blue, Windsor, October 26, 2000
Cock of the North: 1984
Cock of the North: 1984
Big winners
Big winners
1968: Great Jubilee Handicap – Pally’s Double
1968: Great Jubilee Handicap – Pally’s Double
1971: Cumberland Plate – Flying Doctor
1971: Cumberland Plate – Flying Doctor
1976: Ascot Stakes – Tudor Crown
1976: Ascot Stakes – Tudor Crown
1977: Thirsk Hunt Cup – Kithairon
1977: Thirsk Hunt Cup – Kithairon
1977: Old Newton Cup – Mint
1977: Old Newton Cup – Mint
1977: Bunbury Cup – Kintore
1977: Bunbury Cup – Kintore
1977: Beeswing Stakes – In Haste
1977: Beeswing Stakes – In Haste
1978: Ascot Stakes – Mountain Cross
1978: Ascot Stakes – Mountain Cross
1978: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Mountain Cross
1978: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Mountain Cross
1978: Cumberland Plate – Battlement
1978: Cumberland Plate – Battlement
1980: Ayr Gold Cup – Sparkling Boy
1980: Ayr Gold Cup – Sparkling Boy
1981: Gimcrack Stakes – Full Extent
1981: Gimcrack Stakes – Full Extent
1981: Doncaster Cup – Protection Racket
1981: Doncaster Cup – Protection Racket
1982: Prix Marcel Boussac – Goodbye Shelley
1982: Prix Marcel Boussac – Goodbye Shelley
1983: Fred Darling Stakes – Goodbye Shelley
1983: Fred Darling Stakes – Goodbye Shelley
1984: Cumberland Plate – K-Battery
1984: Cumberland Plate – K-Battery
1984: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Leysh
1984: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Leysh
1986: Lincoln Handicap – K-Battery
1986: Lincoln Handicap – K-Battery
1986: Portland Handicap – Felipe Toro
1986: Portland Handicap – Felipe Toro
1987: Gosforth Park Cup – Royal Fan
1987: Gosforth Park Cup – Royal Fan
1988: Dee Stakes – Clifton Chapel
1988: Dee Stakes – Clifton Chapel
1988: Gosforth Park Cup – Ski Champion
1988: Gosforth Park Cup – Ski Champion
1990: Ayr Gold Cup – Final Shot
1990: Ayr Gold Cup – Final Shot
1991: Bessborough Stakes – Rinja
1991: Bessborough Stakes – Rinja
1991: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Mellottie
1991: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Mellottie
1993: Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy (Redcar) – Cape Marino
1993: Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy (Redcar) – Cape Marino
1994: Britannia Stakes – Wizard King
1994: Britannia Stakes – Wizard King