Johnny Limb
1940 - 2013
1940 - 2013
Johnny Limb first appeared on a racecard when, aged 17, taking the ride on Sweet Rover in the Nat Flatman Apprentice Handicap at Newmarket on Friday, August 9, 1957.
Johnny Limb first appeared on a racecard when, aged 17, taking the ride on Sweet Rover in the Nat Flatman Apprentice Handicap at Newmarket on Friday, August 9, 1957.
'The best young jockey I have had in the yard since Charlie Elliott was apprenticed to me.' This was the opinion Jack Jarvis had of the fledgling jockey and, for a while, Johnny looked as though he could make it.
'The best young jockey I have had in the yard since Charlie Elliott was apprenticed to me.' This was the opinion Jack Jarvis had of the fledgling jockey and, for a while, Johnny looked as though he could make it.
At the end of the 1959 season, it was said: 'With a little luck Johnny would have doubled his score of 11 winners. It was not the lack of ability that was at fault and with Jack Jarvis as his tutor, he will be given the encouragement necessary to improve on that figure in 1960.'
At the end of the 1959 season, it was said: 'With a little luck Johnny would have doubled his score of 11 winners. It was not the lack of ability that was at fault and with Jack Jarvis as his tutor, he will be given the encouragement necessary to improve on that figure in 1960.'
The son of a Plymouth electrician, John stayed at 72, Freshfields, Newmarket, while he served his apprenticeship out with Jarvis at Park Lodge Stables between August 1955 to November 1960.
The son of a Plymouth electrician, John stayed at 72, Freshfields, Newmarket, while he served his apprenticeship out with Jarvis at Park Lodge Stables between August 1955 to November 1960.
Very much a journeyman jockey, he nonetheless won the Free Handicap, Newbury Spring Cup and Liverpool's Autumn Cup on Royal Painter.
Very much a journeyman jockey, he nonetheless won the Free Handicap, Newbury Spring Cup and Liverpool's Autumn Cup on Royal Painter.
His highest ever seasonal score - 11 in 1959 - just about sums up his career.
His highest ever seasonal score - 11 in 1959 - just about sums up his career.
Johnny's first win had come on Old King Cole in the Wretham Apprentice Handicap at Newmarket on Friday, July 4, 1958.
Johnny's first win had come on Old King Cole in the Wretham Apprentice Handicap at Newmarket on Friday, July 4, 1958.
A keen footballer and swimmer, he was able to comfortably keep his riding weight down to 7 st 11 lb.
A keen footballer and swimmer, he was able to comfortably keep his riding weight down to 7 st 11 lb.
By 1962, then aged just 22, John was finding rides more and more difficult to get. The end came the following year in August. He rode Cumulo for Jack Jarvis at Newmarket. It was just his second ride of the season.
By 1962, then aged just 22, John was finding rides more and more difficult to get. The end came the following year in August. He rode Cumulo for Jack Jarvis at Newmarket. It was just his second ride of the season.
In 1965, Johnny moved to Kenya where, finally fulfilling his potential, he became champion jockey. His son, John Junior, initially followed in his footsteps but later switched sports to become the golf pro at the Karen club in Kenya (named after Karen von Blixen, author of Out of Africa. The course is on what was her estate).
In 1965, Johnny moved to Kenya where, finally fulfilling his potential, he became champion jockey. His son, John Junior, initially followed in his footsteps but later switched sports to become the golf pro at the Karen club in Kenya (named after Karen von Blixen, author of Out of Africa. The course is on what was her estate).
When his riding career in Kenya finished, he took up training with his wife, Valerie, at Ololua Ridge Stables. Valerie also bred cattle.
When his riding career in Kenya finished, he took up training with his wife, Valerie, at Ololua Ridge Stables. Valerie also bred cattle.
Johnny Limb died during Christmas, 2013.
Johnny Limb died during Christmas, 2013.
Below by Chris Pitt
Below by Chris Pitt
John Limb was born on August 10, 1940 and began his apprenticeship with Jack Jarvis at Newmarket in August 1955. He rode his first winner on Old King Cole in an apprentices’ race on Newmarket’s July Course on July 4, 1958. He rode seven more winners that season, including a second success on Old King Cole in the Great Tom Handicap at Lincoln in October and a big race victory on Sam Hall’s Royal Painter in the Liverpool Autumn Cup.
John Limb was born on August 10, 1940 and began his apprenticeship with Jack Jarvis at Newmarket in August 1955. He rode his first winner on Old King Cole in an apprentices’ race on Newmarket’s July Course on July 4, 1958. He rode seven more winners that season, including a second success on Old King Cole in the Great Tom Handicap at Lincoln in October and a big race victory on Sam Hall’s Royal Painter in the Liverpool Autumn Cup.
He made a bright start to 1959, winning on the Jack Jarvis-trained Second String on the Tuesday of Lincoln’s season-opening fixture on March 18. Five days later he won on Welsh Star at Nottingham. He scored again at Nottingham’s next meeting on April 14, aboard Eric Cousins’ Laird o’ Montrose, and followed that by winning the Newbury Spring Cup on Towser Gosden’s Precious Heather four days later. He finished the season with a score of 12 winners and was arguably unlucky not to have ridden more, having finished second 12 times and 19 times third.
He made a bright start to 1959, winning on the Jack Jarvis-trained Second String on the Tuesday of Lincoln’s season-opening fixture on March 18. Five days later he won on Welsh Star at Nottingham. He scored again at Nottingham’s next meeting on April 14, aboard Eric Cousins’ Laird o’ Montrose, and followed that by winning the Newbury Spring Cup on Towser Gosden’s Precious Heather four days later. He finished the season with a score of 12 winners and was arguably unlucky not to have ridden more, having finished second 12 times and 19 times third.
Six more winners followed in 1960 but John briefly left racing at the end of that year before returning to Jack Jarvis in January 1962 to complete his apprenticeship. On the gallops he rode Jarvis’s speedy two-year-old Daybreak, winner of five of his seven races in 1962 including the New Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Six more winners followed in 1960 but John briefly left racing at the end of that year before returning to Jack Jarvis in January 1962 to complete his apprenticeship. On the gallops he rode Jarvis’s speedy two-year-old Daybreak, winner of five of his seven races in 1962 including the New Stakes at Royal Ascot.
John rode three winners in 1962, the first being on Bucks King, trained by Bill Holden, at Nottingham on June 2; the second on the Jarvis-trained Old Dutch at Newmarket on June 16; the third on Holden’s filly Le Barge in the Little Breeders’ Maiden Plate at Leicester on August 4.
John rode three winners in 1962, the first being on Bucks King, trained by Bill Holden, at Nottingham on June 2; the second on the Jarvis-trained Old Dutch at Newmarket on June 16; the third on Holden’s filly Le Barge in the Little Breeders’ Maiden Plate at Leicester on August 4.
He completed his apprenticeship in August 1963 and rode as a fully fledged jockey until the end of that year. Alas, no more winners came his way and, devoid of his claim, he quickly disappeared from the list of British jockeys.
He completed his apprenticeship in August 1963 and rode as a fully fledged jockey until the end of that year. Alas, no more winners came his way and, devoid of his claim, he quickly disappeared from the list of British jockeys.