John Ricketts
Article by Alan Trout
John Michael Ricketts was a conditional jockey with Jenny Pitman and it was on her veteran Artistic Prince that he had his first ride when the 12-year-old was beaten a long way in the Abingdon Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on New Year’s Eve 1982.
John Michael Ricketts was a conditional jockey with Jenny Pitman and it was on her veteran Artistic Prince that he had his first ride when the 12-year-old was beaten a long way in the Abingdon Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on New Year’s Eve 1982.
It was on January 24, 1983 that he had his first success when the five-year-old Lucky Scene, also trained by Mrs Pitman, was pushed clear to beat Claymore, the mount of future champion trainer Paul Nicholls, by a length and a half in the Brooke Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. They were unable to follow up their victory, although they looked to be holding every chance when falling two out at Ludlow in March.
It was on January 24, 1983 that he had his first success when the five-year-old Lucky Scene, also trained by Mrs Pitman, was pushed clear to beat Claymore, the mount of future champion trainer Paul Nicholls, by a length and a half in the Brooke Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. They were unable to follow up their victory, although they looked to be holding every chance when falling two out at Ludlow in March.
Basil Richmond supplied John’s other winner that season when Little Tyrant was driven out to land the Abbots Ripton Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on April 16.
Basil Richmond supplied John’s other winner that season when Little Tyrant was driven out to land the Abbots Ripton Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on April 16.
John failed to ride a winner for the next two seasons but did manage a third, and final, winner at Fontwell Park on October 3, 1985. By the following season he was riding as a conditional for Nicky Henderson, and it was on his 11-year-old Running Comment that he made all to land the Billingshurst Novices’ Hurdle by 15 lengths.
John failed to ride a winner for the next two seasons but did manage a third, and final, winner at Fontwell Park on October 3, 1985. By the following season he was riding as a conditional for Nicky Henderson, and it was on his 11-year-old Running Comment that he made all to land the Billingshurst Novices’ Hurdle by 15 lengths.
John had his last ride when pulling up on Jim Brown in the Bridstow Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle at Hereford on December 3, 1985.
John had his last ride when pulling up on Jim Brown in the Bridstow Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle at Hereford on December 3, 1985.
