Philip Makin

Yorkshire-based Flat jockey Phillip Makin was born on June 22, 1984. He was apprenticed initially to Roy Bowring and then to David Barron and began his riding career in 2002.

He went on to ride 951 winners in Britain, including the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot on Bapak Chinta for Kevin Ryan in 2011. He also scored at that level on Blaine in the 2012 Gimcrack Stakes and Tullius in the 2015 Sky Bet York Stakes.

Another career highlight came in July 2015, when he landed a 4,799-1 four-timer at York on Saturday, headed by the John Smith’s Cup on 14/1 shot Master Carpenter, trained by Rod Millman. His wins came for three different trainers with Millman following the lead of David O’Meara and Keith Dalgleish in securing Phillip’s services.

On June 22, 2016 he celebrated his birthday in style by riding a notable double for trainer Keith Dalgleish to win both the Carlisle Bell and the Cumberland Plate with 25-1 shot Edgar Balthazar and 5-1 chance Sindarban respectively.

On August 25, 2018, Phillip broke a bone in his neck and sustained fractures to his back, ribs and ankle in a horror fall from Eyecatcher in the final furlong at Redcar. His recovery was slow and painful. He’d already broken his back a few years previously but this was a much more serious injury. It ultimately led to him announcing his retirement from the saddle in March 2019.

However, he then stepped immediately into training, having been granted his Flat trainer’s licence that same month, based at Well Close Farm in Easingwold, North Yorkshire. Nor did it take him long to get off the mark, winning with just his ninth runner when Galloway Hills won a six-furlong handicap at Redcar on April 22, 2019, ridden by Sam James.

Big winners

2005: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Ice Planet

2012: Cecil Frail Stakes – Inetrobil

2011: Norfolk Stakes – Bapak Chinta

2012: Windsor Castle Stakes – Hototo

2015: John Smith’s Cup – Master Carpenter

2016: Carlisle Bell – Edgar Balthazar

2016: Cumberland Plate – Sinderban