Mick Langford
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Michael John Langford was born on October 12, 1939 and was attached to Roy Whiston’s stable near Market Drayton, in Shropshire during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Stan Mellor was then Whiston’s stable jockey, while Roy Edwards and Tim Brookshaw all came in for plenty of rides, so Mick was fairly well down the pecking order.
Michael John Langford was born on October 12, 1939 and was attached to Roy Whiston’s stable near Market Drayton, in Shropshire during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Stan Mellor was then Whiston’s stable jockey, while Roy Edwards and Tim Brookshaw all came in for plenty of rides, so Mick was fairly well down the pecking order.
He rode his first winner on Whiston’s selling hurdler Ripolina at Uttoxeter on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959. He won three more races that season, namely Sundorne Alice at Bangor-on-Dee on April 4, Ripolina at Uttoxeter on May 9, and Seven Lights at Cartmel on May 16.
He rode his first winner on Whiston’s selling hurdler Ripolina at Uttoxeter on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959. He won three more races that season, namely Sundorne Alice at Bangor-on-Dee on April 4, Ripolina at Uttoxeter on May 9, and Seven Lights at Cartmel on May 16.
He made a rapid start to the 1959/60 campaign, notching half a dozen winners before the end of October. Four of those were courtesy of 10-year-old selling hurdler Laura’s Son, who obliged at Devon & Exeter in August, on successive days at Newton Abbot in early September, and at Woore on October 22. He ended that season with a score of 11 winners, including two more on Ripolina and a Worcester novices’ hurdle on March 26, 1960, aboard a horse named The Dell.
He made a rapid start to the 1959/60 campaign, notching half a dozen winners before the end of October. Four of those were courtesy of 10-year-old selling hurdler Laura’s Son, who obliged at Devon & Exeter in August, on successive days at Newton Abbot in early September, and at Woore on October 22. He ended that season with a score of 11 winners, including two more on Ripolina and a Worcester novices’ hurdle on March 26, 1960, aboard a horse named The Dell.
Mick rated The Dell the best he’d ridden in public. He opened Mick’s account for the 1960/61 season when winning a handicap hurdle at Ludlow on September 21, 1960. However, that turned out to be the only race The Dell won all season, and Mick himself rode just one more winner, that being Ward of Clyde in the Bryn Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on November 23, 1960.
Mick rated The Dell the best he’d ridden in public. He opened Mick’s account for the 1960/61 season when winning a handicap hurdle at Ludlow on September 21, 1960. However, that turned out to be the only race The Dell won all season, and Mick himself rode just one more winner, that being Ward of Clyde in the Bryn Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on November 23, 1960.
Mick relinquished his licence the following season and by 1964 was assisting trainer-jockey Fred Dixon at Tern Hill Stables, near Market Drayton, while also helping Tim Brookshaw to run his farm. Mick took out a licence for the 1964/65 season and had a few rides for Dixon. He also held a licence for the 1968/69 season but failed to add to the 17 winners he had ridden when based with Roy Whiston.
Mick relinquished his licence the following season and by 1964 was assisting trainer-jockey Fred Dixon at Tern Hill Stables, near Market Drayton, while also helping Tim Brookshaw to run his farm. Mick took out a licence for the 1964/65 season and had a few rides for Dixon. He also held a licence for the 1968/69 season but failed to add to the 17 winners he had ridden when based with Roy Whiston.