Jacqui Oliver
Jacqui Oliver was one of the pioneers of female professional jump jockeys, along with the likes of Lorna Vincent, Gee Armytage and Diane Clay. She was born in Worcestershire, the daughter of well-known amateur rider Henry Oliver, who was the son of a Droitwich horse trader. She began riding from a young age and was soon competing in point-to-point and novice events. She spent some time in Ireland working as a secretary but riding in her spare time.
Jacqui Oliver was one of the pioneers of female professional jump jockeys, along with the likes of Lorna Vincent, Gee Armytage and Diane Clay. She was born in Worcestershire, the daughter of well-known amateur rider Henry Oliver, who was the son of a Droitwich horse trader. She began riding from a young age and was soon competing in point-to-point and novice events. She spent some time in Ireland working as a secretary but riding in her spare time.
Sally Oliver (nee Goodwin), Jacqui’s stepmother, held a trainer’s licence at Suckley, near Worcester. However, in 1986 the Olivers relocated their expanding training operation to Himley Park, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. Their stable star was Aonoch, on whom Jacqui recorded a big race triumph in the Mecca Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on November 29, 1986.
Sally Oliver (nee Goodwin), Jacqui’s stepmother, held a trainer’s licence at Suckley, near Worcester. However, in 1986 the Olivers relocated their expanding training operation to Himley Park, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. Their stable star was Aonoch, on whom Jacqui recorded a big race triumph in the Mecca Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on November 29, 1986.
Still able to claim a 7lb allowance, Jacqui rode as the stable’s conditional jockey and won a pair of handicap chases on Eamon’s Owen. His new owner then invited her to ride the horse in the 1987 Grand National.
Still able to claim a 7lb allowance, Jacqui rode as the stable’s conditional jockey and won a pair of handicap chases on Eamon’s Owen. His new owner then invited her to ride the horse in the 1987 Grand National.
On the day itself, 45 minutes before the National, Jacqui scored a second big race triumph on Aonoch, this time in the Sandeman-sponsored Aintree Hurdle, so the adrenaline was running when the BBC interviewed her on Grandstand.
On the day itself, 45 minutes before the National, Jacqui scored a second big race triumph on Aonoch, this time in the Sandeman-sponsored Aintree Hurdle, so the adrenaline was running when the BBC interviewed her on Grandstand.
Eamon’s Owen was a small horse. standing no more than 16 hands, but he had a big heart and was a fluent jumper, so Jacqui was hopeful of a good ride. They were 200/1 outsiders to win the race and 33/1 to get round, but they managed to keep out of trouble early on. Belying their rank outsider status, they were prominent throughout until parting company at the Chair (photo below).
Eamon’s Owen was a small horse. standing no more than 16 hands, but he had a big heart and was a fluent jumper, so Jacqui was hopeful of a good ride. They were 200/1 outsiders to win the race and 33/1 to get round, but they managed to keep out of trouble early on. Belying their rank outsider status, they were prominent throughout until parting company at the Chair (photo below).
Four weeks later, she accepted a spare ride at Market Rasen which fell at the second flight and left Jacqui in a coma for three weeks. She kept watching the tape of her ride in the National and it helped her make a quick recovery. It was the first of three comas she suffered in her career.
Four weeks later, she accepted a spare ride at Market Rasen which fell at the second flight and left Jacqui in a coma for three weeks. She kept watching the tape of her ride in the National and it helped her make a quick recovery. It was the first of three comas she suffered in her career.
In April 1988 Jacqui won a Worcester bumper on Alaoui. She won on him again at Ludlow in September, by which time her surnamed had changed to Hayes, having married jump jockey Willie Hayes. She won four hurdle races on Alaoui during the 1989/90 campaign, twice on the all-weather at Southwell and at Chepstow and Hexham. At Hereford on Whit Monday she won a four-runner novices’ hurdle on Sally Oliver’s New Zealand-bred six-year-old Shu Fly.
In April 1988 Jacqui won a Worcester bumper on Alaoui. She won on him again at Ludlow in September, by which time her surnamed had changed to Hayes, having married jump jockey Willie Hayes. She won four hurdle races on Alaoui during the 1989/90 campaign, twice on the all-weather at Southwell and at Chepstow and Hexham. At Hereford on Whit Monday she won a four-runner novices’ hurdle on Sally Oliver’s New Zealand-bred six-year-old Shu Fly.
Shu Fly was to prove a good friend to Jacqui. She won a lady riders’ handicap hurdle at Stratford on him in September 1990. He was also the third leg of an Easter Monday 1991 treble at Uttoxeter, initiated by her mother’s novice chaser Bolshoi Boy and handicap hurdler Noble Ben. By that time, her marriage was over and she had reverted to her maiden name of Oliver.
Shu Fly was to prove a good friend to Jacqui. She won a lady riders’ handicap hurdle at Stratford on him in September 1990. He was also the third leg of an Easter Monday 1991 treble at Uttoxeter, initiated by her mother’s novice chaser Bolshoi Boy and handicap hurdler Noble Ben. By that time, her marriage was over and she had reverted to her maiden name of Oliver.
She began the 1991/92 season by winning twice within three days at the end of August on novice hurdler Tasman Oak, then won on Shu Fly at Wetherby in October. She ended the season with a pair of victories on King’s Shilling, including a lady riders’ handicap hurdle at Hereford.
She began the 1991/92 season by winning twice within three days at the end of August on novice hurdler Tasman Oak, then won on Shu Fly at Wetherby in October. She ended the season with a pair of victories on King’s Shilling, including a lady riders’ handicap hurdle at Hereford.
Her best season numerically was in 1992/93 with 11 winners, enjoying a particularly fruitful spring which included a brace of novice chases on Shu Fly in March at Taunton and Exeter, plus four wins on King’s Shilling, most notably in the Fred Rimell Handicap Hurdle at Hereford on March 6. She also won three handicap hurdles on Knights for Westbury-on-Severn trainer Chris Broad, for whom she finished that season with by winning a Cartmel selling hurdle on Invite D’Honneur.
Her best season numerically was in 1992/93 with 11 winners, enjoying a particularly fruitful spring which included a brace of novice chases on Shu Fly in March at Taunton and Exeter, plus four wins on King’s Shilling, most notably in the Fred Rimell Handicap Hurdle at Hereford on March 6. She also won three handicap hurdles on Knights for Westbury-on-Severn trainer Chris Broad, for whom she finished that season with by winning a Cartmel selling hurdle on Invite D’Honneur.
In stark contrast, the following season, 1993/94, produced just a single winner, Shu Fly in the Hugh Sumner Handicap Chase at Ludlow on December 6, 1993. She registered five wins in 1994/95, all for Chris Broad.
In stark contrast, the following season, 1993/94, produced just a single winner, Shu Fly in the Hugh Sumner Handicap Chase at Ludlow on December 6, 1993. She registered five wins in 1994/95, all for Chris Broad.
Jacqui then rode for her father, who had moved to stables at Newnham-on-Severn, some 10 miles south-west of Gloucester. Her four wins for the 1995/96 season were all courtesy of novice hurdler Fairy Park, two in September, two in November. She rode three winners in the 1996/97 campaign, the last of them on Super Sharp in a two-mile handicap chase at Warwick on November 2, 1996. She retired following a first flight fall on Red Oasis at Southwell on April 14, 1997.
Jacqui then rode for her father, who had moved to stables at Newnham-on-Severn, some 10 miles south-west of Gloucester. Her four wins for the 1995/96 season were all courtesy of novice hurdler Fairy Park, two in September, two in November. She rode three winners in the 1996/97 campaign, the last of them on Super Sharp in a two-mile handicap chase at Warwick on November 2, 1996. She retired following a first flight fall on Red Oasis at Southwell on April 14, 1997.
Having relocated to Worcestershire following her retirement from the saddle, Jacqui Oliver still lives in the shadow of the Malvern Hills.
Having relocated to Worcestershire following her retirement from the saddle, Jacqui Oliver still lives in the shadow of the Malvern Hills.