Kevin Mancini
Like a thousand or so other young, potential jockeys, Warwickshire-born Kevin's story is all about what might have been.
Like a thousand or so other young, potential jockeys, Warwickshire-born Kevin's story is all about what might have been.
Employed by trainer Nick Gaselee, Kevin had shown great promise: he seemed to have all the makings of a decent jockey when a crashing fall at Plumpton in August 1980 virtually wiped out his dreams.
Employed by trainer Nick Gaselee, Kevin had shown great promise: he seemed to have all the makings of a decent jockey when a crashing fall at Plumpton in August 1980 virtually wiped out his dreams.
He had broken his jaw, and split his jugular vein. Doctors informed him that he would not be able to ride for at least ten months, but Kevin was made of hardy stuff and was back in three.
He had broken his jaw, and split his jugular vein. Doctors informed him that he would not be able to ride for at least ten months, but Kevin was made of hardy stuff and was back in three.
But his chance of becoming a jockey had vanished with the fall: suffering from a reduction in rides, he soldiered on until 1983 before accepting the inevitable and quitting.
But his chance of becoming a jockey had vanished with the fall: suffering from a reduction in rides, he soldiered on until 1983 before accepting the inevitable and quitting.
He remained with Gaselee and often boasted how he had led up the stable's first-ever winner and also its hundredth.
He remained with Gaselee and often boasted how he had led up the stable's first-ever winner and also its hundredth.
Living in digs at Lambourn, he usually managed to take his washing home to his mother.
Living in digs at Lambourn, he usually managed to take his washing home to his mother.
Then he once used the village launderette.
Then he once used the village launderette.
'It was dreadful - I was in there two hours. Never again!'
'It was dreadful - I was in there two hours. Never again!'
Kevin went by the nickname 'Eddie'.
Kevin went by the nickname 'Eddie'.
'It's short for Eddie headbanger,' he explained, 'because since my fall, everybody in the yard reckons I'm crazy.'
'It's short for Eddie headbanger,' he explained, 'because since my fall, everybody in the yard reckons I'm crazy.'