Peter Middleton
Amateur rider Peter Guilford Ben Middleton rode chiefly for his father, permit holder Cyril Middleton, who trained at Olney, in Buckinghamshire. Their best horse was Baked Alaska, on which Peter won the New Year (4yo) Hurdle at Stratford-on-Avon on January 3, 1953.
Amateur rider Peter Guilford Ben Middleton rode chiefly for his father, permit holder Cyril Middleton, who trained at Olney, in Buckinghamshire. Their best horse was Baked Alaska, on which Peter won the New Year (4yo) Hurdle at Stratford-on-Avon on January 3, 1953.
Peter’s next success came courtesy of Ross Lake, again for his father, in a Towcester novices’ chase on November 13, 1954. That was his sole success from 15 mounts that season.
Peter’s next success came courtesy of Ross Lake, again for his father, in a Towcester novices’ chase on November 13, 1954. That was his sole success from 15 mounts that season.
By then, Peter was starting to get a few outside rides. On Thursday, March 29, 1956 he rode one for trainer Doug Francis called Golden Rod in division one of the Juliet Novices’ Hurdle at Stratford.
By then, Peter was starting to get a few outside rides. On Thursday, March 29, 1956 he rode one for trainer Doug Francis called Golden Rod in division one of the Juliet Novices’ Hurdle at Stratford.
Golden Rod was on a confidence-boosting mission, having failed to complete in three starts over fences that season – a hunter chase and two novice chases. Unfortunately, even the hurdles proved too much for Golden Rod, who fell again. Unwisely, rather than lying still until the rest of the field had gone by, Peter Middleton got to his feet and was knocked over by a following horse. He fractured his skull and died in hospital the next day. He was 29.
Golden Rod was on a confidence-boosting mission, having failed to complete in three starts over fences that season – a hunter chase and two novice chases. Unfortunately, even the hurdles proved too much for Golden Rod, who fell again. Unwisely, rather than lying still until the rest of the field had gone by, Peter Middleton got to his feet and was knocked over by a following horse. He fractured his skull and died in hospital the next day. He was 29.