David Mould
Born on April 29, 1940, the son of an Ashford, Middlesex horse dealer, David Stephen Mould started out as an Epsom apprentice with Staff Ingham in August 1955 at five shillings a week. He weighed barely five stone at the time.
Born on April 29, 1940, the son of an Ashford, Middlesex horse dealer, David Stephen Mould started out as an Epsom apprentice with Staff Ingham in August 1955 at five shillings a week. He weighed barely five stone at the time.
Within a couple of years his weight had risen to nine stone, causing him to make the transition to National Hunt racing and join royal trainer Peter Cazalet at Tonbridge, Kent, in October 1957. He won on his very first ride over jumps, Straight Hill, in the Bolney Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on November 19, 1958.
Within a couple of years his weight had risen to nine stone, causing him to make the transition to National Hunt racing and join royal trainer Peter Cazalet at Tonbridge, Kent, in October 1957. He won on his very first ride over jumps, Straight Hill, in the Bolney Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on November 19, 1958.
He finished second on Lochroe in the 1960 Cheltenham Gold Cup, beaten a length by Bill Rees on Pas Seul. He achieved his first notable success for Cazalet on Antiar, owned by the Contessa di Sant Ella, in the 1963 Imperial Cup at Sandown Park.
He finished second on Lochroe in the 1960 Cheltenham Gold Cup, beaten a length by Bill Rees on Pas Seul. He achieved his first notable success for Cazalet on Antiar, owned by the Contessa di Sant Ella, in the 1963 Imperial Cup at Sandown Park.
At that time, Bill Rees was Cazalet’s stable jockey and thereby first jockey to the Queen Mother. However, Rees suffered a series of bad falls during the mid-1960s and David found himself inheriting the position of royal jockey.
At that time, Bill Rees was Cazalet’s stable jockey and thereby first jockey to the Queen Mother. However, Rees suffered a series of bad falls during the mid-1960s and David found himself inheriting the position of royal jockey.
He rode for the Queen Mother for 16 years and rode 606 winners in her light blue and buff colours before retiring in the 1974/75 season. They included The Rip, Super Fox, Laffy, Makaldar, Oedipe, Arch Point, Three No Trumps, Inch Arran, Chaou II and Ballykine.
He rode for the Queen Mother for 16 years and rode 606 winners in her light blue and buff colours before retiring in the 1974/75 season. They included The Rip, Super Fox, Laffy, Makaldar, Oedipe, Arch Point, Three No Trumps, Inch Arran, Chaou II and Ballykine.
Makaldar was one of his favourite horses, while describing him as “an ugly old brute with great big ears like a donkey. He was bone idle and needed to be stoked up to get the best out of him”.
Makaldar was one of his favourite horses, while describing him as “an ugly old brute with great big ears like a donkey. He was bone idle and needed to be stoked up to get the best out of him”.
David was unlucky not to win the 1967 Champion Hurdle on Makaldar. Aurelius, subsequently disqualified, carried Makaldar across the course from the last hurdle. Despite being badly hampered, Makaldar finished second, just one length behind the winner Saucy Kit. Switched to fences the following season, David rode Makaldar to win Ascot’s Black and White Gold Cup Chase.
David was unlucky not to win the 1967 Champion Hurdle on Makaldar. Aurelius, subsequently disqualified, carried Makaldar across the course from the last hurdle. Despite being badly hampered, Makaldar finished second, just one length behind the winner Saucy Kit. Switched to fences the following season, David rode Makaldar to win Ascot’s Black and White Gold Cup Chase.
Among other notable owners for whom David rode were Sir Winston Churchill and the American actor Gregory Peck, who once flew David to his home in his private jet. He rode Peck’s chaser Different Class to win at successive Cheltenham National Hunt meetings: the 1966 Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase and the 1967 National Hunt Handicap Chase. He also finished third on that horse in the 1968 Grand National.
Among other notable owners for whom David rode were Sir Winston Churchill and the American actor Gregory Peck, who once flew David to his home in his private jet. He rode Peck’s chaser Different Class to win at successive Cheltenham National Hunt meetings: the 1966 Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase and the 1967 National Hunt Handicap Chase. He also finished third on that horse in the 1968 Grand National.
David provided the Queen Mother with victory over the Grand National fences when winning the 1973 Topham Trophy aboard Inch Arran.
David provided the Queen Mother with victory over the Grand National fences when winning the 1973 Topham Trophy aboard Inch Arran.
He twice rode four winners on a card, at Newton Abbot on August 2, 1965, and at Folkestone on November 5, 1968. Along with the successes came the inevitable falls and injuries. He broke his shoulder 12 times and his leg four times. So badly was the leg infected that nobody would risk treating it, so, in desperation, he rang the Queen Mother who immediately sent him to see her own surgeon, Sir Henry Osmond Clarke. Without this help, he would have lost a leg.
He twice rode four winners on a card, at Newton Abbot on August 2, 1965, and at Folkestone on November 5, 1968. Along with the successes came the inevitable falls and injuries. He broke his shoulder 12 times and his leg four times. So badly was the leg infected that nobody would risk treating it, so, in desperation, he rang the Queen Mother who immediately sent him to see her own surgeon, Sir Henry Osmond Clarke. Without this help, he would have lost a leg.
Other injuries included a broken back, rubs, cracked skull and a punctured lung. He once said: “If they took all the screws out of my bones, I’d fall apart!”
Other injuries included a broken back, rubs, cracked skull and a punctured lung. He once said: “If they took all the screws out of my bones, I’d fall apart!”
In 1969 he married the successful showjumper Marion Coakes at the Church of All Saints in Hordle, Hampshire. They had met at a Horse and Hound Ball.
In 1969 he married the successful showjumper Marion Coakes at the Church of All Saints in Hordle, Hampshire. They had met at a Horse and Hound Ball.
Marion Coakes had become well known due to her association with her brilliant pony, Stroller, in the showjumping ring. Standing just 14.2 hands, Stroller had peaked with a silver medal in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He died of a heart attack in March 1986, at the remarkable age of 36.
Marion Coakes had become well known due to her association with her brilliant pony, Stroller, in the showjumping ring. Standing just 14.2 hands, Stroller had peaked with a silver medal in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He died of a heart attack in March 1986, at the remarkable age of 36.
After nineteen years of marriage, they announced that they were expecting their first child that March (1989). They had a son, Jack. David was 48 at the time: Marion was 41.
After nineteen years of marriage, they announced that they were expecting their first child that March (1989). They had a son, Jack. David was 48 at the time: Marion was 41.
David never became champion jockey: “I would have loved to have been champion, but I never had an injury-free season.” he said. “'I spent more Christmases in hospital than I did at home. I even managed to break my foot two days after our wedding. That was some honeymoon!”
David never became champion jockey: “I would have loved to have been champion, but I never had an injury-free season.” he said. “'I spent more Christmases in hospital than I did at home. I even managed to break my foot two days after our wedding. That was some honeymoon!”
David and Marion set up an equestrian centre and began developing young showjumpers, eventers and one or two racehorses.
David and Marion set up an equestrian centre and began developing young showjumpers, eventers and one or two racehorses.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1963: Imperial Cup – Antiar
1963: Imperial Cup – Antiar
1964: Victor Ludorum Hurdle – Makaldar
1964: Victor Ludorum Hurdle – Makaldar
1965: Mackeson Handicap Hurdle – Makaldar
1965: Mackeson Handicap Hurdle – Makaldar
1966: Coventry Handicap Chase – Kapeno
1966: Coventry Handicap Chase – Kapeno
1966: Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase – Different Class
1966: Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase – Different Class
1966: Mackeson Novices’ Hurdle – Rackham
1966: Mackeson Novices’ Hurdle – Rackham
1967: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Different Class
1967: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Different Class
1967: Heinz Novices’ Chase – Three No Trumps
1967: Heinz Novices’ Chase – Three No Trumps
1967: Black & White Whisky Gold Cup – Makaldar
1967: Black & White Whisky Gold Cup – Makaldar
1968: Coventry Handicap Chase – Different Class
1968: Coventry Handicap Chase – Different Class
1970: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Chaou II
1970: Worcester Royal Porcelain Chase – Chaou II
1970: Hennessy Gold Cup – Border Mark
1970: Hennessy Gold Cup – Border Mark
1972: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Jomon
1972: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Jomon
1972: Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase – Clever Scot
1972: Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase – Clever Scot
1973: Lloyds Bank Hurdle – Moyne Royal
1973: Lloyds Bank Hurdle – Moyne Royal
1973: Topham Trophy Chase – Inch Arran
1973: Topham Trophy Chase – Inch Arran
1973: Benson & Hedges Handicap Chase – Tingle Creek
1973: Benson & Hedges Handicap Chase – Tingle Creek
1974: Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup – Garnishee
1974: Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup – Garnishee