Larry Major
Larry Major
Larry Major
1930-1999
1930-1999
Born in Liverpool on September 24, 1930, Larry Major served his apprenticeship with Sam Armstrong between 1945 and 1952 and had a few rides on the Flat before he turned to jumping. He rode his first winner on 9-4 chance Anscot, trained by Tommy Shedden at Boston Spa, Yorkshire, in a juvenile hurdle at Southwell on September 5, 1955.
Born in Liverpool on September 24, 1930, Larry Major served his apprenticeship with Sam Armstrong between 1945 and 1952 and had a few rides on the Flat before he turned to jumping. He rode his first winner on 9-4 chance Anscot, trained by Tommy Shedden at Boston Spa, Yorkshire, in a juvenile hurdle at Southwell on September 5, 1955.
Like Shedden, Larry also lived in Boston Spa. He married Sheila Openshaw on March 24, 1956. They became the parents of a son, Peter James, and two daughters, Lynda and Louise Ann.
Like Shedden, Larry also lived in Boston Spa. He married Sheila Openshaw on March 24, 1956. They became the parents of a son, Peter James, and two daughters, Lynda and Louise Ann.
His breakthrough season was 1958/59 when he rode 11 winners. He had a mount in that season’s Scottish Grand National, won by future Grand National winner Merryman II. Larry rode Calydon III, who he described as “the biggest rogue out,” after he’d savaged another horse during the race.
His breakthrough season was 1958/59 when he rode 11 winners. He had a mount in that season’s Scottish Grand National, won by future Grand National winner Merryman II. Larry rode Calydon III, who he described as “the biggest rogue out,” after he’d savaged another horse during the race.
Larry rated Siracusa as the best he rode. He partnered the Bobby Renton-trained gelding on several occasions during the 1960/61 campaign, including when winning the Apollo Chase at Manchester, finishing second over Liverpool’s Mildmay fences, third in the valuable Wetherby Handicap Chase, and seventh in both the Mackeson Gold Cup and Great Yorkshire Chase.
Larry rated Siracusa as the best he rode. He partnered the Bobby Renton-trained gelding on several occasions during the 1960/61 campaign, including when winning the Apollo Chase at Manchester, finishing second over Liverpool’s Mildmay fences, third in the valuable Wetherby Handicap Chase, and seventh in both the Mackeson Gold Cup and Great Yorkshire Chase.
He had just one ride in the Grand National, in 1963, completing the course last of the (then) record 22 finishers, having been prominent early.
He had just one ride in the Grand National, in 1963, completing the course last of the (then) record 22 finishers, having been prominent early.
Larry rode 14 winners during the 1963/64 season, followed by a career-best score of 18 in 1964/65. The latter campaign included two consecutive Saturday trebles in February: at Newcastle on the 6th on Forecastle, Falls of Cruachan and Arrigle Valley; and at Wetherby on the 13th aboard Solabra, Arrigle Valley and Forecastle, all for trainer Neville Crump.
Larry rode 14 winners during the 1963/64 season, followed by a career-best score of 18 in 1964/65. The latter campaign included two consecutive Saturday trebles in February: at Newcastle on the 6th on Forecastle, Falls of Cruachan and Arrigle Valley; and at Wetherby on the 13th aboard Solabra, Arrigle Valley and Forecastle, all for trainer Neville Crump.
On March 19, 1965, a rare foray south brought him one of his most important victories on Sir Giles, trained by Fulke Walwyn, in the Select Four-Year-Hurdle at Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting.
On March 19, 1965, a rare foray south brought him one of his most important victories on Sir Giles, trained by Fulke Walwyn, in the Select Four-Year-Hurdle at Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting.
Latterly, Larry combined race-riding with his role as landlord at the Oak Tree Inn at Catterick, across the same village green as former weighing room colleague Tommy Foran’s pub, the Bay Horse. Still averaging 100 rides a season, it left him little time for his hobbies of match fishing, deep-sea fishing and pigeon racing.
Latterly, Larry combined race-riding with his role as landlord at the Oak Tree Inn at Catterick, across the same village green as former weighing room colleague Tommy Foran’s pub, the Bay Horse. Still averaging 100 rides a season, it left him little time for his hobbies of match fishing, deep-sea fishing and pigeon racing.
Having ridden only three winners in the 1965/66 National Hunt season and just one in 1966/67, he was persuaded by Yorkshire trainer Dennis Yeoman to take out a licence under Jockey Club Rules for the 1967 Flat campaign. Yeoman duly supplied him with his first success on the Flat at Teesside Park on May 26, 1967 aboard Golden Goldie in the Greatham Selling Handicap.
Having ridden only three winners in the 1965/66 National Hunt season and just one in 1966/67, he was persuaded by Yorkshire trainer Dennis Yeoman to take out a licence under Jockey Club Rules for the 1967 Flat campaign. Yeoman duly supplied him with his first success on the Flat at Teesside Park on May 26, 1967 aboard Golden Goldie in the Greatham Selling Handicap.
He managed to ride four winners from 58 rides that season, the last of them on Tower Of Refuge for Malton handler Ernie Davey, in the Goathland Maiden Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings at Redcar on August 12, 1967. But that would turn out to be his final success.
He managed to ride four winners from 58 rides that season, the last of them on Tower Of Refuge for Malton handler Ernie Davey, in the Goathland Maiden Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings at Redcar on August 12, 1967. But that would turn out to be his final success.
Larry’s ‘ride-anything’ reputation meant that he was in regular touch with the northern hospital casualty wards. Two broken backs, two broken jaws, six broken noses, five broken collarbones, a broken arm, broken ankle, all his teeth kicked out, a punctured lung, crushed chest, two kneecaps knocked off, and every rib smashed.
Larry’s ‘ride-anything’ reputation meant that he was in regular touch with the northern hospital casualty wards. Two broken backs, two broken jaws, six broken noses, five broken collarbones, a broken arm, broken ankle, all his teeth kicked out, a punctured lung, crushed chest, two kneecaps knocked off, and every rib smashed.
On Tuesday, October 24, 1967, Larry suffered a particularly bad fall from Mariquita in a Nottingham hurdle race, in which he fractured his skull, broke his neck and his ribs. But it was not until he had another fall at Catterick on November 18 that the full extent of the damage caused by the Nottingham fall was revealed. It ended a career that had produced a total of 81 winners, 77 over jumps, plus four on the Flat.
On Tuesday, October 24, 1967, Larry suffered a particularly bad fall from Mariquita in a Nottingham hurdle race, in which he fractured his skull, broke his neck and his ribs. But it was not until he had another fall at Catterick on November 18 that the full extent of the damage caused by the Nottingham fall was revealed. It ended a career that had produced a total of 81 winners, 77 over jumps, plus four on the Flat.
The Injured Jockeys Fund stepped in. He was advised to see a London brain specialist and he spent five and a half months in hospital. He suffered from epilepsy, his marriage broke down, and he was forced to give up running the pub.
The Injured Jockeys Fund stepped in. He was advised to see a London brain specialist and he spent five and a half months in hospital. He suffered from epilepsy, his marriage broke down, and he was forced to give up running the pub.
By the mid-1970s, however, Larry was working behind the counter of his Liverpool hardware store and had married again. His new wife, Joyce, even sold her caravan to help finance a pigeon loft so he could pursue one of his hobbies.
By the mid-1970s, however, Larry was working behind the counter of his Liverpool hardware store and had married again. His new wife, Joyce, even sold her caravan to help finance a pigeon loft so he could pursue one of his hobbies.
Larry Major died in 1999, aged 69.
Larry Major died in 1999, aged 69.
Sir Giles, ridden by Larry Major, wins the Select Hurdle at Sandown
Sir Giles, ridden by Larry Major, wins the Select Hurdle at Sandown