Mark Lowry
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Mark Lowry was born in County Derry, Northern Ireland on January 7, 1953, the son of Dr Charles Lowry who, in addition to being a doctor, was also a permit trainer. It was very much a ‘horsey’ family: his grandfather, mother, father, an uncle and a cousin all rode point-to-point winners.
National Hunt jockey Mark Lowry was born in County Derry, Northern Ireland on January 7, 1953, the son of Dr Charles Lowry who, in addition to being a doctor, was also a permit trainer. It was very much a ‘horsey’ family: his grandfather, mother, father, an uncle and a cousin all rode point-to-point winners.
Indeed, his first winner under National Hunt rules, Molly Bawn in the Lecale Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick on Saturday, May 5, 1973, was bred by Mark’s grandfather, owned by his mother and trained by his father, so it was a real family success.
Indeed, his first winner under National Hunt rules, Molly Bawn in the Lecale Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick on Saturday, May 5, 1973, was bred by Mark’s grandfather, owned by his mother and trained by his father, so it was a real family success.
Says Mark “We lived in a village called Bellaghy and used to gallop our horses in a big field at Moneyglass, about six miles away from where A P McCoy was raised. That and the fact we are both now retired jump jockeys is pretty much where the similarity ends!”
Says Mark “We lived in a village called Bellaghy and used to gallop our horses in a big field at Moneyglass, about six miles away from where A P McCoy was raised. That and the fact we are both now retired jump jockeys is pretty much where the similarity ends!”
He began race riding at the age of 17 and quickly developed into a successful point-to-point jockey. While studying law at Queens University, Belfast, he rode out for Jeremy Maxwell and also rode his point-to-pointers.
He began race riding at the age of 17 and quickly developed into a successful point-to-point jockey. While studying law at Queens University, Belfast, he rode out for Jeremy Maxwell and also rode his point-to-pointers.
“We had very few point-to-point meetings in the North in those days,” he recalls, “usually about a dozen every spring, and whilst we used to race under rules all over the South we never went pointing there. Jeremy was an excellent trainer – he subsequently bought and passed on a lot of very good horses to the Dickinsons – and I was lucky to be his point-to-point jockey for two seasons. In 1973 I rode 10 point-to-point winners from 27 rides at a 39% strike rate.
“We had very few point-to-point meetings in the North in those days,” he recalls, “usually about a dozen every spring, and whilst we used to race under rules all over the South we never went pointing there. Jeremy was an excellent trainer – he subsequently bought and passed on a lot of very good horses to the Dickinsons – and I was lucky to be his point-to-point jockey for two seasons. In 1973 I rode 10 point-to-point winners from 27 rides at a 39% strike rate.
“In 1974, I left Queens – not a great long-term career move – and went to work for Jeremy. That year I was champion rider in the North, rode 13 winners from 32 rides which was a 41% strike rate. My record for Jeremy in point-to-points over those two seasons was 18 winners from 29 rides, 62% With that firepower I’d have had to have been pretty bad not to have been champion at least once!”
“In 1974, I left Queens – not a great long-term career move – and went to work for Jeremy. That year I was champion rider in the North, rode 13 winners from 32 rides which was a 41% strike rate. My record for Jeremy in point-to-points over those two seasons was 18 winners from 29 rides, 62% With that firepower I’d have had to have been pretty bad not to have been champion at least once!”
Later that year Mark made the journey to Gloucestershire, where he joined David Nicholson as pupil trainer cum amateur rider.
Later that year Mark made the journey to Gloucestershire, where he joined David Nicholson as pupil trainer cum amateur rider.
“The Duke’s was an amazing place to work,” he reflects. “He liked to call a spade a spade but I loved it there. The Duke was very old fashioned. Everyone had to be mucked out and tacked up by 7:30 am sharp when he came out of the house to leg us up. As I looked after something that his secretary Melinda Pilkington (now Jim Wilson’s wife) rode every day, I had that to tack up as well. I lived 40 minutes away with an uncle for the first couple of months so I used to have to leave the house at 5:30 to get mucked out and tacked up in time. The first day I was there the lads told me we schooled on Tuesdays so I went to see the guv’nor and asked him if I'd be schooling. He asked why and I replied that I wanted to know whether to bring my crash helmet in or not (well, it was 1974) to which he responded by giving me a glare and saying ‘You don’t need a crash helmet, my horses don’t fall schooling!’
“The Duke’s was an amazing place to work,” he reflects. “He liked to call a spade a spade but I loved it there. The Duke was very old fashioned. Everyone had to be mucked out and tacked up by 7:30 am sharp when he came out of the house to leg us up. As I looked after something that his secretary Melinda Pilkington (now Jim Wilson’s wife) rode every day, I had that to tack up as well. I lived 40 minutes away with an uncle for the first couple of months so I used to have to leave the house at 5:30 to get mucked out and tacked up in time. The first day I was there the lads told me we schooled on Tuesdays so I went to see the guv’nor and asked him if I'd be schooling. He asked why and I replied that I wanted to know whether to bring my crash helmet in or not (well, it was 1974) to which he responded by giving me a glare and saying ‘You don’t need a crash helmet, my horses don’t fall schooling!’
“John Suthern and Robin Dickin were the stable jockeys and Allen Webb was also there at the time. I’d have stayed forever but the queue for rides was too long and Gerry Scott (whose stepson was at the Duke’s at the time) got me a job as assistant trainer with Jimmy Fitzgerald at Malton in February 1975. Again, I was lucky as Tommy Skiffington had just gone back to America and Chris Thomson Jones had also just left so I got rides from Jimmy straight away.”
“John Suthern and Robin Dickin were the stable jockeys and Allen Webb was also there at the time. I’d have stayed forever but the queue for rides was too long and Gerry Scott (whose stepson was at the Duke’s at the time) got me a job as assistant trainer with Jimmy Fitzgerald at Malton in February 1975. Again, I was lucky as Tommy Skiffington had just gone back to America and Chris Thomson Jones had also just left so I got rides from Jimmy straight away.”
Mark rode his first winner in England on Fitzgerald’s novice hurdler The Radge Cadge at Wetherby on Easter Monday 1975. Two more followed that season, Tony Kemp’s Jewel Of Meath at Southwell on May 5, and Fitzgerald’s handicap chaser Dunhigh, also at Southwell, on May 19.
Mark rode his first winner in England on Fitzgerald’s novice hurdler The Radge Cadge at Wetherby on Easter Monday 1975. Two more followed that season, Tony Kemp’s Jewel Of Meath at Southwell on May 5, and Fitzgerald’s handicap chaser Dunhigh, also at Southwell, on May 19.
Relinquishing his role as assistant trainer, he turned professional the following season and rode eleven winners, including an Easter Monday double at Market Rasen on Ken Whitehead’s Mr Midshipman and Peter Arthur’s Golden Rock.
Relinquishing his role as assistant trainer, he turned professional the following season and rode eleven winners, including an Easter Monday double at Market Rasen on Ken Whitehead’s Mr Midshipman and Peter Arthur’s Golden Rock.
Probably the best horse with which he was associated was Jimmy Fitzgerald’s useful mare Fair Kitty. Mark won a Panama Cigar Hurdle qualifier at Market Rasen in November 1975 (right) and renewed his association when she was put over fences, winning a pair of novice chases at Newcastle and Catterick in December 1977.
Probably the best horse with which he was associated was Jimmy Fitzgerald’s useful mare Fair Kitty. Mark won a Panama Cigar Hurdle qualifier at Market Rasen in November 1975 (right) and renewed his association when she was put over fences, winning a pair of novice chases at Newcastle and Catterick in December 1977.
“They were great days in Malton,” he remembers. “Gerry Griffin, who was a brilliant hurdles jockey, rode out at Fitzy’s and in and around Malton there was a great crowd of jockeys – Gordon Holmes, Martin Blackshaw, Colin and Nigel Tinkler, Alan Brown, Tony (PA) Charlton and Dave Dutton to name a few. I loved every minute of it!
“They were great days in Malton,” he remembers. “Gerry Griffin, who was a brilliant hurdles jockey, rode out at Fitzy’s and in and around Malton there was a great crowd of jockeys – Gordon Holmes, Martin Blackshaw, Colin and Nigel Tinkler, Alan Brown, Tony (PA) Charlton and Dave Dutton to name a few. I loved every minute of it!
“Fitzy wasn’t the easiest to work for but I got on well with him and he was very good to me. Indeed, he was a regular guest for dinner with my wife and me up to his sad death.
“Fitzy wasn’t the easiest to work for but I got on well with him and he was very good to me. Indeed, he was a regular guest for dinner with my wife and me up to his sad death.
“My best season (1977/78) only yielded 13 winners but it was great fun. Unfortunately, I lost my claim right at the end of that season and then I broke my wrist at the start of the next season, missed half of the season and only rode three winners.”
“My best season (1977/78) only yielded 13 winners but it was great fun. Unfortunately, I lost my claim right at the end of that season and then I broke my wrist at the start of the next season, missed half of the season and only rode three winners.”
Injuries coupled with rising weight meant that it became increasingly difficult to
Injuries coupled with rising weight meant that it became increasingly difficult to
earn a living. His final winner was on a novice hurdler called Woodlands for Malton trainer Ted Carter at Stockton (as Teesside Park had just been renamed) on Friday, March 7, 1980. He finally conceded defeat at the end of that year, bringing to an end a career that had produced over 70 winners under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points from around 1,000 rides.
earn a living. His final winner was on a novice hurdler called Woodlands for Malton trainer Ted Carter at Stockton (as Teesside Park had just been renamed) on Friday, March 7, 1980. He finally conceded defeat at the end of that year, bringing to an end a career that had produced over 70 winners under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points from around 1,000 rides.
During his time as a professional jockey he was an elected member of the Council of the Jockeys’ Association of Great Britain, representing the interests of Northern Flat and National Hunt jockeys. He also appeared, along with fellow jump jockey Kevin McCauley, as an extra in the filming of a Dick Francis series called ‘The Racing Game’.
During his time as a professional jockey he was an elected member of the Council of the Jockeys’ Association of Great Britain, representing the interests of Northern Flat and National Hunt jockeys. He also appeared, along with fellow jump jockey Kevin McCauley, as an extra in the filming of a Dick Francis series called ‘The Racing Game’.
After relinquishing his jockey’s licence, Mark joined pet food supplier Championship Foods in Orwell, near Royston, Hertfordshire, as a sales representative, being promoted to sales manager in 1984.
After relinquishing his jockey’s licence, Mark joined pet food supplier Championship Foods in Orwell, near Royston, Hertfordshire, as a sales representative, being promoted to sales manager in 1984.
He left the company in 1985 and returned to Ireland to set up a horse dealing business and livery yard. He obtained a trainer’s licence and had a point-to-point winner from just a handful of runners. Then in 1986, while on holiday in Yorkshire, he was offered a job as assistant trainer to Charles Booth at Flaxton. He accepted, thus renewing an association that had already been going for a decade and a friendship that has been maintained to this day.
He left the company in 1985 and returned to Ireland to set up a horse dealing business and livery yard. He obtained a trainer’s licence and had a point-to-point winner from just a handful of runners. Then in 1986, while on holiday in Yorkshire, he was offered a job as assistant trainer to Charles Booth at Flaxton. He accepted, thus renewing an association that had already been going for a decade and a friendship that has been maintained to this day.
“I rode for a lot of trainers as a freelance but my longest association was with Charles Booth,” Mark explains. “I had my first point-to point-ride for him in May 1975 at the old Lincoln racecourse and my last ride for him in a charity race at Doncaster in June 2004, 29 years later. Mind you, I never managed to ride him a winner!
“I rode for a lot of trainers as a freelance but my longest association was with Charles Booth,” Mark explains. “I had my first point-to point-ride for him in May 1975 at the old Lincoln racecourse and my last ride for him in a charity race at Doncaster in June 2004, 29 years later. Mind you, I never managed to ride him a winner!
“Charles and I are still the greatest of friends and go on holiday together most years. A few years ago we went to Venice and Gerry and Kate Griffin came too, a great week of fun and reminiscing.”
“Charles and I are still the greatest of friends and go on holiday together most years. A few years ago we went to Venice and Gerry and Kate Griffin came too, a great week of fun and reminiscing.”
While working as Charles Booth’s assistant he invested in a fledgling video rental business, which eventually became a full-time commitment as a managing partner. ‘Just The Video’, as the company was named, became the leading video hire and retail business in the Ryedale area, with four stores and a successful mail order business.
While working as Charles Booth’s assistant he invested in a fledgling video rental business, which eventually became a full-time commitment as a managing partner. ‘Just The Video’, as the company was named, became the leading video hire and retail business in the Ryedale area, with four stores and a successful mail order business.
Mark’s close friend former jockey Tony Charlton had just started training, so Mark rode out for him until he was tragically killed in a car crash in January 1989.
Mark’s close friend former jockey Tony Charlton had just started training, so Mark rode out for him until he was tragically killed in a car crash in January 1989.
“I was devastated when Tony was killed,” says Mark. “What a great trainer he would have become had he lived. Nigel Tinkler sent a few horses to the yard so Tony’s widow Sue would have some income and I stayed on to ‘oversee’ them in the mornings. Then when they went back to Nigel’s yard I went with them and I’ve ridden out there ever since.”
“I was devastated when Tony was killed,” says Mark. “What a great trainer he would have become had he lived. Nigel Tinkler sent a few horses to the yard so Tony’s widow Sue would have some income and I stayed on to ‘oversee’ them in the mornings. Then when they went back to Nigel’s yard I went with them and I’ve ridden out there ever since.”
In 1992 Mark launched another company, Vintage Video Mail Order, supplying classic films on video to British institutions overseas and foreign universities and educational establishments. Eventually he had customers in 66 different countries. However, due to the continual erosion of the video hire market and poor margins in video retail he decided to seek employment outside of the video industry and sold out to his business partner.
In 1992 Mark launched another company, Vintage Video Mail Order, supplying classic films on video to British institutions overseas and foreign universities and educational establishments. Eventually he had customers in 66 different countries. However, due to the continual erosion of the video hire market and poor margins in video retail he decided to seek employment outside of the video industry and sold out to his business partner.
He’d already obtained a HNC in Business and Finance from Bishop Burton College in Beverley, achieving distinctions in 11 of the 12 modules. The career path he chose was with trailer supplier Indespension Ltd, being appointed as a branch manager at Leeds in March 1995. His interest in IT systems led to him becoming the company’s IT manager in December 1998 and that’s what he does today, managing all of the IT and telecommunications for a company that employs 170 people at 22 sites.
He’d already obtained a HNC in Business and Finance from Bishop Burton College in Beverley, achieving distinctions in 11 of the 12 modules. The career path he chose was with trailer supplier Indespension Ltd, being appointed as a branch manager at Leeds in March 1995. His interest in IT systems led to him becoming the company’s IT manager in December 1998 and that’s what he does today, managing all of the IT and telecommunications for a company that employs 170 people at 22 sites.
He still rides work and schools racehorses for local trainers near his Yorkshire home, although with his job being based in Bolton he is only able to do so at weekends and on holidays. Despite working long hours he still finds time to play tennis competitively and to run two or three times a week, occasionally competing in 10k and half marathon races. Other interests include gardening, classical music and reading.
He still rides work and schools racehorses for local trainers near his Yorkshire home, although with his job being based in Bolton he is only able to do so at weekends and on holidays. Despite working long hours he still finds time to play tennis competitively and to run two or three times a week, occasionally competing in 10k and half marathon races. Other interests include gardening, classical music and reading.
He rides out for Nigel Tinkler and also for former Michael Dickinson jockey Chris Pimlott, who, besides running a successful riding school, trains a few point-to-pointers. As Mark says: “It’s certainly a change from the day job!”
He rides out for Nigel Tinkler and also for former Michael Dickinson jockey Chris Pimlott, who, besides running a successful riding school, trains a few point-to-pointers. As Mark says: “It’s certainly a change from the day job!”