Denis Rayson
Denis Rayson
Denis Rayson
1913-1986
1913-1986
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Born on March 18, 1913, Denis Rayson is probably best remembered as a dual-purpose trainer. However, prior to commencing training he had ridden winners on the Flat in Britain and Belgium and also under National Hunt rules.
Born on March 18, 1913, Denis Rayson is probably best remembered as a dual-purpose trainer. However, prior to commencing training he had ridden winners on the Flat in Britain and Belgium and also under National Hunt rules.
He was apprenticed to classic-winning trainer Joe Lawson at Manton, and had his first ride on Top Note, owned by Lord Astor, finishing unplaced in the Apprentices’ Handicap Plate at Newmarket on April 17, 1929. Thereafter there were rides but no winners, leading him to eventually take out a jump jockey’s licence in 1937 and combine riding under both codes for the next three years.
He was apprenticed to classic-winning trainer Joe Lawson at Manton, and had his first ride on Top Note, owned by Lord Astor, finishing unplaced in the Apprentices’ Handicap Plate at Newmarket on April 17, 1929. Thereafter there were rides but no winners, leading him to eventually take out a jump jockey’s licence in 1937 and combine riding under both codes for the next three years.
His first mount in over jumps, Bow And Arrow, finished down the field in the Saltdean Selling Hurdle at Plumpton on November 12, 1938, but just 14 days later he was able to enjoy his first success when Calamis won the Surrey Selling Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park. Trained by former jockey David Dale, Calamis beat Blandearna, the mount of Fred Gurney, by two lengths.
His first mount in over jumps, Bow And Arrow, finished down the field in the Saltdean Selling Hurdle at Plumpton on November 12, 1938, but just 14 days later he was able to enjoy his first success when Calamis won the Surrey Selling Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park. Trained by former jockey David Dale, Calamis beat Blandearna, the mount of Fred Gurney, by two lengths.
On December 8, the partnership scored again when winning the Horsham Selling Handicap Hurdle at Gatwick, beating 24 rivals and finishing three lengths ahead of Fred Rickaby on Eshton. The hat-trick was achieved at Leicester on January 9, 1939, when Calamis scored for the first time in non-selling company, narrowly winning the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle, beating future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Roman Hackle, ridden by six-time champion jockey Gerry Wilson, by a head.
On December 8, the partnership scored again when winning the Horsham Selling Handicap Hurdle at Gatwick, beating 24 rivals and finishing three lengths ahead of Fred Rickaby on Eshton. The hat-trick was achieved at Leicester on January 9, 1939, when Calamis scored for the first time in non-selling company, narrowly winning the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle, beating future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Roman Hackle, ridden by six-time champion jockey Gerry Wilson, by a head.
Those three wins on Calamis represented his sum total under National Hunt rules. He had his last ride over jumps when Chinchilla was unplaced in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Gatwick on March 2, 1940. Both Calamis and Chinchilla were owned by Arthur Budgett, destined many years later to be the breeder, owner and trainer of Derby winners Blakeney and Morston, those two half-brothers being named after neighbouring villages on the North Norfolk coast.
Those three wins on Calamis represented his sum total under National Hunt rules. He had his last ride over jumps when Chinchilla was unplaced in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Gatwick on March 2, 1940. Both Calamis and Chinchilla were owned by Arthur Budgett, destined many years later to be the breeder, owner and trainer of Derby winners Blakeney and Morston, those two half-brothers being named after neighbouring villages on the North Norfolk coast.
Denis served with the R.A.V.C. from 1940 to 1945. When the war was over, he rode winners in Belgium in 1945.
Denis served with the R.A.V.C. from 1940 to 1945. When the war was over, he rode winners in Belgium in 1945.
He finally won a race on the Flat in Britain when the four-year-old Jack Tack landed the Spa Selling Handicap at Bath on April 17, 1947, beating Under Canvas by a head, with champion jockey Gordon Richards two lengths back in third. One third place from four subsequent starts was the best the pair could manage thereafter, and Denis had to wait two and a half years for a second victory,
He finally won a race on the Flat in Britain when the four-year-old Jack Tack landed the Spa Selling Handicap at Bath on April 17, 1947, beating Under Canvas by a head, with champion jockey Gordon Richards two lengths back in third. One third place from four subsequent starts was the best the pair could manage thereafter, and Denis had to wait two and a half years for a second victory,
He won three races on the three-year-old Martinhoe in the autumn of 1950, ending the season with seven wins. He had five in 1951 and two the following year, both at Birmingham on the two-year-old Cabinet, the last of which was when emerging victorious from a protracted duel with Fragrant Nymph, ridden by Tommy Gosling, to land the Compton Wynyates Plate in September. That was his last win as a jockey.
He won three races on the three-year-old Martinhoe in the autumn of 1950, ending the season with seven wins. He had five in 1951 and two the following year, both at Birmingham on the two-year-old Cabinet, the last of which was when emerging victorious from a protracted duel with Fragrant Nymph, ridden by Tommy Gosling, to land the Compton Wynyates Plate in September. That was his last win as a jockey.
All of Denis’s 16 wins on the Flat were trained by Arthur Budgett.
All of Denis’s 16 wins on the Flat were trained by Arthur Budgett.
Denis trained with some success under both codes from 1962 onwards, based at Harraton Stables, Exning, including a Cheltenham Festival victory with Specify, ridden by Bob Davies, in the 1969 Mildmay of Flete Chase. Sadly, he was no longer training Specify when that horse registered his greatest triumph in the 1971 Grand National.
Denis trained with some success under both codes from 1962 onwards, based at Harraton Stables, Exning, including a Cheltenham Festival victory with Specify, ridden by Bob Davies, in the 1969 Mildmay of Flete Chase. Sadly, he was no longer training Specify when that horse registered his greatest triumph in the 1971 Grand National.
Denis Rayson died in 1986, aged 73.
Denis Rayson died in 1986, aged 73.
His British winners were, in chronological order.
His British winners were, in chronological order.
1. Calamis, Lingfield Park, November 26, 1938
1. Calamis, Lingfield Park, November 26, 1938
2. Calamis, Gatwick, December 8, 1938
2. Calamis, Gatwick, December 8, 1938
3. Calamis, Leicester, January 9, 1939
3. Calamis, Leicester, January 9, 1939
4. Jack Tack, Bath, April 17, 1947
4. Jack Tack, Bath, April 17, 1947
5. Barnacles, Newmarket, October 26, 1949
5. Barnacles, Newmarket, October 26, 1949
6. Barnacles, Lingfield Park, May 5, 1950
6. Barnacles, Lingfield Park, May 5, 1950
7. Holmbush, Birmingham, May 30, 1950
7. Holmbush, Birmingham, May 30, 1950
8. Cabin, Pontefract, August 10, 1950
8. Cabin, Pontefract, August 10, 1950
9. Martinhoe, Brighton, September 19, 1950
9. Martinhoe, Brighton, September 19, 1950
10. Last Resort, Nottingham, October 3, 1950
10. Last Resort, Nottingham, October 3, 1950
11. Martinhoe, Lingfield Park, October 4, 1950
11. Martinhoe, Lingfield Park, October 4, 1950
12. Martinhoe, Wolverhampton, October 17, 1950
12. Martinhoe, Wolverhampton, October 17, 1950
13. Hawkeridge, Birmingham, March 27, 1951
13. Hawkeridge, Birmingham, March 27, 1951
14. Copper Knob, Chepstow, May 12, 1951
14. Copper Knob, Chepstow, May 12, 1951
15. Her Excellency, Worcester, June 23, 1951
15. Her Excellency, Worcester, June 23, 1951
16. Kingham Vale, Lewes, September 4, 1950
16. Kingham Vale, Lewes, September 4, 1950
17. Chewton, Nottingham, November 12, 1951
17. Chewton, Nottingham, November 12, 1951
18. Cabinet, Birmingham, April 15, 1952
18. Cabinet, Birmingham, April 15, 1952
19. Cabinet, Birmingham, September 2, 1952
19. Cabinet, Birmingham, September 2, 1952
Denis Rayson's winner, Jack Tack
His final winner, Cabinet