Embedded Files
1936 – 2004
1936 – 2004
Denis Ryan was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, on May 2, 1936. After leaving school he became apprenticed to Royston trainer Willie Stephenson and spent his entire career with him, eventually riding some 350 winners.
Denis Ryan was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, on May 2, 1936. After leaving school he became apprenticed to Royston trainer Willie Stephenson and spent his entire career with him, eventually riding some 350 winners.
He first appeared on a racecard when riding Lady of Windsor for Stephenson at Birmingham on June 22, 1953, finishing ninth of 12 runners after leading early. He rode his first winner on the grey three-year-old Swept, also trained by Stephenson, in the Apprentice Stakes at Leicester on June 14, 1954. He won on Swept again at Birmingham later that season.
He first appeared on a racecard when riding Lady of Windsor for Stephenson at Birmingham on June 22, 1953, finishing ninth of 12 runners after leading early. He rode his first winner on the grey three-year-old Swept, also trained by Stephenson, in the Apprentice Stakes at Leicester on June 14, 1954. He won on Swept again at Birmingham later that season.
The following year, Denis celebrated his 19th birthday by winning Kempton’s Great Jubilee on Swept. He got the 100/9 outsider up by a short head from Prefect, ridden by Scobie Breasley. A length and a half back in third was that good handicapper, Durante, ridden by Doug Smith. Denis’s family, who then lived at Milbourne Terrace, Merthyr, crowded round the radio and cheered him on.
The following year, Denis celebrated his 19th birthday by winning Kempton’s Great Jubilee on Swept. He got the 100/9 outsider up by a short head from Prefect, ridden by Scobie Breasley. A length and a half back in third was that good handicapper, Durante, ridden by Doug Smith. Denis’s family, who then lived at Milbourne Terrace, Merthyr, crowded round the radio and cheered him on.
A week earlier, Denis – who weighed in at just seven stone – had won the final of a jockeys’ boxing tournament and had been presented with a silver statuette of a horse by the Duke of Norfolk.
A week earlier, Denis – who weighed in at just seven stone – had won the final of a jockeys’ boxing tournament and had been presented with a silver statuette of a horse by the Duke of Norfolk.
A journeyman jockey, he did not ride many big winners in Britain, but did win the Calcutta Derby two years running when riding in India. In the winter of 1971-72 he won 27 races there, including the Calcutta Derby, 2,000 Guineas and Champion Stakes. He returned to England on Friday, March 3, 1972.
A journeyman jockey, he did not ride many big winners in Britain, but did win the Calcutta Derby two years running when riding in India. In the winter of 1971-72 he won 27 races there, including the Calcutta Derby, 2,000 Guineas and Champion Stakes. He returned to England on Friday, March 3, 1972.
The highlight of his domestic career came courtesy of Articulate, who triumphed in the 1956 Chester Vase under 7st 6lb when Denis was still an apprentice.
The highlight of his domestic career came courtesy of Articulate, who triumphed in the 1956 Chester Vase under 7st 6lb when Denis was still an apprentice.
Recalling the horse, Denis said: “I was going to ride him in the Derby and had already walked the course when I was jocked-off in favour of Doug Smith. He had been due to ride Idle Rocks, owned by David Robinson, but something happened and the colt didn’t run. He was a quirky sort of horse, who’d stop at the canter, whip round and half-rear. Doug was frightened to death of him.” Articulate finished out of the frame.
Recalling the horse, Denis said: “I was going to ride him in the Derby and had already walked the course when I was jocked-off in favour of Doug Smith. He had been due to ride Idle Rocks, owned by David Robinson, but something happened and the colt didn’t run. He was a quirky sort of horse, who’d stop at the canter, whip round and half-rear. Doug was frightened to death of him.” Articulate finished out of the frame.
Denis took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1957/58 season but had just one ride. That was on Chef d’Oeuvre II in the Nuneaton Hurdle at Birmingham on November 18, 1957. The horse fell and Denis broke his nose and a collarbone. He vowed never to ride over jumps again and never did. Even so, he still rated Birmingham his favourite racecourse – for Flat racing, that is. He registered a treble there on Easter Monday 1963, including Blandford Lad in the Midlands Spring Handicap for Tarporley, Cheshire trainer Eric Cousins.
Denis took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1957/58 season but had just one ride. That was on Chef d’Oeuvre II in the Nuneaton Hurdle at Birmingham on November 18, 1957. The horse fell and Denis broke his nose and a collarbone. He vowed never to ride over jumps again and never did. Even so, he still rated Birmingham his favourite racecourse – for Flat racing, that is. He registered a treble there on Easter Monday 1963, including Blandford Lad in the Midlands Spring Handicap for Tarporley, Cheshire trainer Eric Cousins.
On Christmas Eve, 1959, he married Willie Stephenson’s daughter, Marshella Lavina. They had two sons, Bruce and William, and one daughter, Jacqueline.
On Christmas Eve, 1959, he married Willie Stephenson’s daughter, Marshella Lavina. They had two sons, Bruce and William, and one daughter, Jacqueline.
His career was at its peak in the early 1960s, riding more than 20 winners in four consecutive seasons, achieving a career best score of 25 in 1962.
His career was at its peak in the early 1960s, riding more than 20 winners in four consecutive seasons, achieving a career best score of 25 in 1962.
He rode in the Derby four times, all on outsiders and never finishing nearer than 14th. His first ride was on 50/1 chance Arctic Gittell in 1958 (unplaced after leading early); followed by 100/1 outsiders Ribobo in 1962 and Roquefeuil in 1964, and 50/1 shot Partigras in 1969.
He rode in the Derby four times, all on outsiders and never finishing nearer than 14th. His first ride was on 50/1 chance Arctic Gittell in 1958 (unplaced after leading early); followed by 100/1 outsiders Ribobo in 1962 and Roquefeuil in 1964, and 50/1 shot Partigras in 1969.
Denis was the jockey on board when Loot of India (100/8) landed a massive gamble at Redcar on September 20, 1969 when winning the Cub Hunters Nursery Handicap for Newmarket trainer Pat Moore.
Denis was the jockey on board when Loot of India (100/8) landed a massive gamble at Redcar on September 20, 1969 when winning the Cub Hunters Nursery Handicap for Newmarket trainer Pat Moore.
His tally of winners slumped in the 1970s, never once reaching double figures for a season, with a low of just three in 1971. He rode five winners in 1975. It should have been six but at Wolverhampton on August Bank Holiday Monday he admitted “an error of judgement” after he had been beaten on Fast Mover in the Spinney Selling Stakes. Fast Mover was caught in the last strides by Hula Warrior, the mount of Philip Waldron and beaten three-quarters of a length. The stewards accepted Denis’s explanation that he had dropped his hands and eased down prematurely.
His tally of winners slumped in the 1970s, never once reaching double figures for a season, with a low of just three in 1971. He rode five winners in 1975. It should have been six but at Wolverhampton on August Bank Holiday Monday he admitted “an error of judgement” after he had been beaten on Fast Mover in the Spinney Selling Stakes. Fast Mover was caught in the last strides by Hula Warrior, the mount of Philip Waldron and beaten three-quarters of a length. The stewards accepted Denis’s explanation that he had dropped his hands and eased down prematurely.
He rode five winners in 1976 and seven in 1977, the last of them on 50/1 outsider Touch Pirate, trained by Willie Stephenson, in the Pytchley Two-Year-Old Stakes at Leicester on November 1, 1977. That was the final victory of his career.
He rode five winners in 1976 and seven in 1977, the last of them on 50/1 outsider Touch Pirate, trained by Willie Stephenson, in the Pytchley Two-Year-Old Stakes at Leicester on November 1, 1977. That was the final victory of his career.
He retired the following season, having ridden a total of 292 winners in Britain, and moved to Cromer on the Norfolk coast where he became a publican.
He retired the following season, having ridden a total of 292 winners in Britain, and moved to Cromer on the Norfolk coast where he became a publican.
Recalling this, he said: “I bought The Pheasant in Heydon Road at Great Chishill, near Royston, the village where I lived. We worked hard and built it up and would get a few of the racing lads down occasionally.
Recalling this, he said: “I bought The Pheasant in Heydon Road at Great Chishill, near Royston, the village where I lived. We worked hard and built it up and would get a few of the racing lads down occasionally.
“Willie (his jockey son) would bring some of the jockeys over, and when Steve Cauthen, who was riding for Henry Cecil at the time, came for something to eat, he’d always want it steamed.”
“Willie (his jockey son) would bring some of the jockeys over, and when Steve Cauthen, who was riding for Henry Cecil at the time, came for something to eat, he’d always want it steamed.”
Denis admitted that 14 years in the licensed trade rewarded him more fruitfully than his previous racing career. “I would never have been able to retire from what I made riding.”
Denis admitted that 14 years in the licensed trade rewarded him more fruitfully than his previous racing career. “I would never have been able to retire from what I made riding.”
Although he never once sat on a horse after he retired, Denis still felt involved in the game he loved through his Derby-winning son.
Although he never once sat on a horse after he retired, Denis still felt involved in the game he loved through his Derby-winning son.
Speaking of him, he said: “Willie is as good as any jockey riding, but I suppose any father would say that about his son. Mind you, I'm his biggest critic. If I think Willie has ridden a bad race, I'm soon ringing him up to tell him!”'
Speaking of him, he said: “Willie is as good as any jockey riding, but I suppose any father would say that about his son. Mind you, I'm his biggest critic. If I think Willie has ridden a bad race, I'm soon ringing him up to tell him!”'
Denis Ryan died in May 2004, aged 68.
Denis Ryan died in May 2004, aged 68.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1955: Great Jubilee Handicap – Swept
1955: Great Jubilee Handicap – Swept
1956: Chester Vase – Articulate
1956: Chester Vase – Articulate
1963: Midlands Spring Handicap – Blandford Lad
1963: Midlands Spring Handicap – Blandford Lad
1964: Andy Capp Handicap – Philanderer
1964: Andy Capp Handicap – Philanderer
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse