Len Lungo
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Better remembered today for his successes as a trainer, Scottish-born Len Lungo was also a prominent National Hunt jockey in the mid-1970s. He had no background in racing. Born of Italian parents in a village near Motherwell on February 5, 1950, his father owned a fish and chip shop. Of his two Italian immigrant grandfathers, one had a café, the other worked in a garage.
Better remembered today for his successes as a trainer, Scottish-born Len Lungo was also a prominent National Hunt jockey in the mid-1970s. He had no background in racing. Born of Italian parents in a village near Motherwell on February 5, 1950, his father owned a fish and chip shop. Of his two Italian immigrant grandfathers, one had a café, the other worked in a garage.
But the riding bug bit Len as a boy when he rode the local farmer’s ponies. By the age of 13 he had demonstrated sufficient skill for his father to buy him a pony of his own. He then graduated to show jumping, which taught him how to present a horse at a fence.
But the riding bug bit Len as a boy when he rode the local farmer’s ponies. By the age of 13 he had demonstrated sufficient skill for his father to buy him a pony of his own. He then graduated to show jumping, which taught him how to present a horse at a fence.
On the edge of his village lived a man named James Barrett, who trained a small string of horses. Len was allowed, firstly, to exercise his horses, and then, because he had shown he could jump, he was allowed to school them. Aged 14, he rode them over the fences on the old National Hunt course at Bogside, which at the time was still being used for point-to-points.
On the edge of his village lived a man named James Barrett, who trained a small string of horses. Len was allowed, firstly, to exercise his horses, and then, because he had shown he could jump, he was allowed to school them. Aged 14, he rode them over the fences on the old National Hunt course at Bogside, which at the time was still being used for point-to-points.
When he left the local grammar school at 16, he started his racing career as an amateur rider with Barrett and had two rides “on complete no-hopers.” The first of those was in a novice hurdle at Kelso on a horse that had fallen at the first flight at Carlisle only three days before. Len at least got him round and gave him a crack with the whip to ensure he didn’t finish last.
When he left the local grammar school at 16, he started his racing career as an amateur rider with Barrett and had two rides “on complete no-hopers.” The first of those was in a novice hurdle at Kelso on a horse that had fallen at the first flight at Carlisle only three days before. Len at least got him round and gave him a crack with the whip to ensure he didn’t finish last.
Sadly, Barrett died soon after. His horses were dispersed and Len moved on to join Craig Brown, who trained at Linlithgow, West Lothian. Opportunities there were limited so he got a job with an uncle emptying fruit machines and just rode at weekends.
Sadly, Barrett died soon after. His horses were dispersed and Len moved on to join Craig Brown, who trained at Linlithgow, West Lothian. Opportunities there were limited so he got a job with an uncle emptying fruit machines and just rode at weekends.
His chance came when Craig Brown’s stable jockey, John Leech, cracked an ankle in the spring of 1971. Len came in for some of his rides during the last six weeks of the season and rode his first two winners under rules. Both were achieved on a novice chaser named Scarba, firstly at Hexham on May 12, secondly at Perth on May 20.
His chance came when Craig Brown’s stable jockey, John Leech, cracked an ankle in the spring of 1971. Len came in for some of his rides during the last six weeks of the season and rode his first two winners under rules. Both were achieved on a novice chaser named Scarba, firstly at Hexham on May 12, secondly at Perth on May 20.
Luck struck once more. An Edinburgh University undergraduate who lived in Exeter came to ride out with the Craig Brown stable. He was a friend of Gerald Cottrell, who trained in Devon. He recommended Len to Cottrell and encouraged him to try his luck down south. It proved a successful move, for he rode nine winners that season.
Luck struck once more. An Edinburgh University undergraduate who lived in Exeter came to ride out with the Craig Brown stable. He was a friend of Gerald Cottrell, who trained in Devon. He recommended Len to Cottrell and encouraged him to try his luck down south. It proved a successful move, for he rode nine winners that season.
Len turned professional at the start of the 1972/73 campaign and rode 14 winners, but that was quickly bettered the following season. The 23-year-old made a blistering start to 1973/74, riding seven winners and 11 placed from 20 rides during the opening month of August.
Len turned professional at the start of the 1972/73 campaign and rode 14 winners, but that was quickly bettered the following season. The 23-year-old made a blistering start to 1973/74, riding seven winners and 11 placed from 20 rides during the opening month of August.
A Boxing Day double at Wincanton for Cottrell included a Joe Coral Golden Hurdle qualifier on Leopardus, (left) more winners followed, including a lucrative Easter period, resulting in him ending up with a score of 23 for the season.
A Boxing Day double at Wincanton for Cottrell included a Joe Coral Golden Hurdle qualifier on Leopardus, (left) more winners followed, including a lucrative Easter period, resulting in him ending up with a score of 23 for the season.
However, he never again attained such lofty heights and only made double figures once more (11 in 1975/76) in a season. He rode a career total of 66 winners before retiring from the saddle.
However, he never again attained such lofty heights and only made double figures once more (11 in 1975/76) in a season. He rode a career total of 66 winners before retiring from the saddle.
Len took out a full trainer’s licence in 1990 and enjoyed a successful career in that sphere. Based at purpose-built, ultra-modern Hetland Hill stables in Carrutherstown, near Dumfries, overlooking the Solway Firth, he elevated the training of jumpers north of the border to a new level, eclipsing the long-time Scottish record set by Ken Oliver for the most wins in a National Hunt season when saddling 59 winners in the 2000/01 campaign.
Len took out a full trainer’s licence in 1990 and enjoyed a successful career in that sphere. Based at purpose-built, ultra-modern Hetland Hill stables in Carrutherstown, near Dumfries, overlooking the Solway Firth, he elevated the training of jumpers north of the border to a new level, eclipsing the long-time Scottish record set by Ken Oliver for the most wins in a National Hunt season when saddling 59 winners in the 2000/01 campaign.
As well as quantity, Len also experienced his share of big-race success and enjoyed Cheltenham Festival victories with Celtic Giant in the 1999 Fulke Walywn Kim Muir Chase, and Freetown in the 2002 Pertemps Final.
As well as quantity, Len also experienced his share of big-race success and enjoyed Cheltenham Festival victories with Celtic Giant in the 1999 Fulke Walywn Kim Muir Chase, and Freetown in the 2002 Pertemps Final.
He set a new personal best of 63 winners in season 2002/03. Although in the two seasons following, the number of winners dropped to 47 and 56, it was still comfortably ahead of any other Scottish trainer, albeit disappointing by his own high standards. But the numbers dipped further and he sent out just ten winners in 2007/08, improving to twelve from a mere 79 runners the following season.
He set a new personal best of 63 winners in season 2002/03. Although in the two seasons following, the number of winners dropped to 47 and 56, it was still comfortably ahead of any other Scottish trainer, albeit disappointing by his own high standards. But the numbers dipped further and he sent out just ten winners in 2007/08, improving to twelve from a mere 79 runners the following season.
In June 2009 he announced that he was “cutting back his training interests” with a view to letting out the training facilities at Carrutherstown, citing the recession as a major contributing factor for his decision. Having sent out a total of 640 winners from his Dumfriesshire yard, he relinquished his trainer’s licence at the end of that year.
In June 2009 he announced that he was “cutting back his training interests” with a view to letting out the training facilities at Carrutherstown, citing the recession as a major contributing factor for his decision. Having sent out a total of 640 winners from his Dumfriesshire yard, he relinquished his trainer’s licence at the end of that year.
The ex-conditional jockey Iain Jardine moved from his current base near Hawick to take over the stables on September 1.
The ex-conditional jockey Iain Jardine moved from his current base near Hawick to take over the stables on September 1.