Derek Oldham
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Derek Oldham achieved the unusual distinction of riding winners on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences both as an amateur and a professional.
Derek Oldham achieved the unusual distinction of riding winners on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences both as an amateur and a professional.
Derek Wilson Oldham was born on March 26, 1954. He rode his first winner on Dardanella Lady, trained by Steve Norton, in a Southwell selling hurdle on December 2, 1974, his only winner that season.
Derek Wilson Oldham was born on March 26, 1954. He rode his first winner on Dardanella Lady, trained by Steve Norton, in a Southwell selling hurdle on December 2, 1974, his only winner that season.
He rode primarily for Maurice Camacho but also for others including Basil Richmond, for whom he rode Grecian Fighter to win the Leisure Caravan Parks Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on November 12, 1977.
He rode primarily for Maurice Camacho but also for others including Basil Richmond, for whom he rode Grecian Fighter to win the Leisure Caravan Parks Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on November 12, 1977.
He had a highly successful season in 1978/79, beginning with Maurice Camacho’s novice hurdler Manton Castle at Newcastle on November 17. Seven days later he rode a double at Wetherby aboard another Camacho-trained novice hurdler, Jonathan’s Choice, and Robert Johnson’s handicap chaser Arrigle Boy. He won on Manton Castle again at Newcastle in December and on yet another Camacho-trained novice hurdler, French Art, at Wetherby’s Christmas meeting.
He had a highly successful season in 1978/79, beginning with Maurice Camacho’s novice hurdler Manton Castle at Newcastle on November 17. Seven days later he rode a double at Wetherby aboard another Camacho-trained novice hurdler, Jonathan’s Choice, and Robert Johnson’s handicap chaser Arrigle Boy. He won on Manton Castle again at Newcastle in December and on yet another Camacho-trained novice hurdler, French Art, at Wetherby’s Christmas meeting.
He won on three more of Camacho’s novice hurdlers during March 1979, namely Prelate at Catterick, Bourgeois at Sedgefield and Quay Man at Teesside Park. He then scored a high-profile victory on Camacho’s six-year-old Mayhem in the Colt Celeste Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Liverpool on Grand National day, March 31, 1979. On the Tuesday of Wetherby’s Easter meeting he rode Manton Castle to win the valuable Montague Handicap Hurdle. The following week won another race on French Art at Catterick.
He won on three more of Camacho’s novice hurdlers during March 1979, namely Prelate at Catterick, Bourgeois at Sedgefield and Quay Man at Teesside Park. He then scored a high-profile victory on Camacho’s six-year-old Mayhem in the Colt Celeste Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Liverpool on Grand National day, March 31, 1979. On the Tuesday of Wetherby’s Easter meeting he rode Manton Castle to win the valuable Montague Handicap Hurdle. The following week won another race on French Art at Catterick.
Derek turned professional at the start of the 1979/80 season and continued to ride for Maurice Camacho. Probably the best horse he rode for him was the smart chaser Saint Fillans, on whom he won three in a row in May 1981, at Newcastle on May 4, Wetherby on May 25 and Market Rasen on May 30. He also won three races that season on handicap hurdler Go On Joe for Darlington permit trainer Jim Richardson.
Derek turned professional at the start of the 1979/80 season and continued to ride for Maurice Camacho. Probably the best horse he rode for him was the smart chaser Saint Fillans, on whom he won three in a row in May 1981, at Newcastle on May 4, Wetherby on May 25 and Market Rasen on May 30. He also won three races that season on handicap hurdler Go On Joe for Darlington permit trainer Jim Richardson.
The following season he won on Saint Fillans at Newcastle in October and followed up in a Lambert & Butler Premier Chase Qualifier, also at Newcastle, on November 14, 1981. However, this was followed by a fall when taking on Wayward Lad and company in the Tote Silver Trophy Chase at Ascot.
The following season he won on Saint Fillans at Newcastle in October and followed up in a Lambert & Butler Premier Chase Qualifier, also at Newcastle, on November 14, 1981. However, this was followed by a fall when taking on Wayward Lad and company in the Tote Silver Trophy Chase at Ascot.
His victories in the 1982/83 campaign included the Bruce Carr Memorial Trophy Novices’ Chase at Market Rasen’s Christmas meeting on Maurice Camacho’s Mustapha.
His victories in the 1982/83 campaign included the Bruce Carr Memorial Trophy Novices’ Chase at Market Rasen’s Christmas meeting on Maurice Camacho’s Mustapha.
Derek then spent a couple of years as a dual-purpose jockey, riding winners on the Flat and over jumps. He retired from race riding at the end of the 1985 Flat season.
Derek then spent a couple of years as a dual-purpose jockey, riding winners on the Flat and over jumps. He retired from race riding at the end of the 1985 Flat season.