Gerald Russell
Gerald Russell. 1942 - 2019
Gerald Russell. 1942 - 2019
Born in 1942, Gerald Russell held a National Hunt jockey's licence for the seasons 1962/63, 63/64, 65/66 & 66/67. He did not ride a winner in any of those years, but then, in fairness, he did not have many rides, and those that he had were mostly no-hopers.
Born in 1942, Gerald Russell held a National Hunt jockey's licence for the seasons 1962/63, 63/64, 65/66 & 66/67. He did not ride a winner in any of those years, but then, in fairness, he did not have many rides, and those that he had were mostly no-hopers.
He was apprenticed to Major Geoffrey Champneys at Lambourn, who trained plenty of good steeplechasers including Amber Wave, Rum Chicken, and The Edwardian. He also worked for Nicky Pinch in Chard, Somerset.
He was apprenticed to Major Geoffrey Champneys at Lambourn, who trained plenty of good steeplechasers including Amber Wave, Rum Chicken, and The Edwardian. He also worked for Nicky Pinch in Chard, Somerset.
However, the bulk of his career as a jockey took place while working with Frank Pullen in Fleet, Hampshire. Joe Guest was the stable jockey and Gerald rode the second-string horses. He rode in races at Fontwell Park, Sandown, Wincanton, Buckfastleigh, Worcester, Brighton, and Plumpton among others.
However, the bulk of his career as a jockey took place while working with Frank Pullen in Fleet, Hampshire. Joe Guest was the stable jockey and Gerald rode the second-string horses. He rode in races at Fontwell Park, Sandown, Wincanton, Buckfastleigh, Worcester, Brighton, and Plumpton among others.
He had his share of falls, two of them within a month in 1966 on a seven-year-old grey gelding named Brutus, trained by Stan Clarke, who was then training a small string before going on to form the highly successful Northern Racing company. After being brought down in a novice chase at Worcester on 26 March, Gerald rode Brutus in a conditional jockeys' chase at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, April 12 and was one of two fallers.
He had his share of falls, two of them within a month in 1966 on a seven-year-old grey gelding named Brutus, trained by Stan Clarke, who was then training a small string before going on to form the highly successful Northern Racing company. After being brought down in a novice chase at Worcester on 26 March, Gerald rode Brutus in a conditional jockeys' chase at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, April 12 and was one of two fallers.
Having failed to make the grade on home soil, Gerald emigrated to America in the late 1960s, where he rode in some of the most prestigious steeplechases in the United States. He then went on to train, based in Kentucky, and saddled horses that competed in the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.
Having failed to make the grade on home soil, Gerald emigrated to America in the late 1960s, where he rode in some of the most prestigious steeplechases in the United States. He then went on to train, based in Kentucky, and saddled horses that competed in the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.
The horse he trained that ran in the Kentucky Derby was So Vague, who finished 11th in 1984 under Patty Cooksey, only the second female jockey to ride in America’s most famous horse race.
The horse he trained that ran in the Kentucky Derby was So Vague, who finished 11th in 1984 under Patty Cooksey, only the second female jockey to ride in America’s most famous horse race.
Gerald also spent many years operating a travel business in which he brought groups of racing fans from America to England for events like Royal Ascot, and also brought British racing fans to America for events such as the Kentucky Derby and Arlington Million.
Gerald also spent many years operating a travel business in which he brought groups of racing fans from America to England for events like Royal Ascot, and also brought British racing fans to America for events such as the Kentucky Derby and Arlington Million.
He has spent the rest of his life in Kentucky. He suffered a stroke in 2016, from which he recovered, but he also had to deal with dementia on a daily basis, a condition quite possibly related to concussions and head injuries he experienced while a National Hunt jockey.
He has spent the rest of his life in Kentucky. He suffered a stroke in 2016, from which he recovered, but he also had to deal with dementia on a daily basis, a condition quite possibly related to concussions and head injuries he experienced while a National Hunt jockey.
Gerald Russell died on Sunday November 24, 2019 in Madistoneville, Kentucky.
Gerald Russell died on Sunday November 24, 2019 in Madistoneville, Kentucky.
