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John Robson
John Robson
John Mark Robson was born in Swindon and rode as a conditional, based with former leading jump jockey Jeff King during the 1980s, and rode two winners. But that was not the only string to his bow.
John Mark Robson was born in Swindon and rode as a conditional, based with former leading jump jockey Jeff King during the 1980s, and rode two winners. But that was not the only string to his bow.
His racing career began in 1981 at Fulke Walwyn’s Saxon House yard in Lambourn, where he looked after future dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner Crimson Embers. But it wasn’t until he joined Jeff King’s stable the following year that he had his first ride in public. That was at Southwell on December 6, 1982, when Onarun finished tailed off in the Christmas Party Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle.
His racing career began in 1981 at Fulke Walwyn’s Saxon House yard in Lambourn, where he looked after future dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner Crimson Embers. But it wasn’t until he joined Jeff King’s stable the following year that he had his first ride in public. That was at Southwell on December 6, 1982, when Onarun finished tailed off in the Christmas Party Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle.
More than a year passed before his gained his first success at Plumpton on March 19, 1984, when Veleso, trained by Jeff King, led at the second last flight and, despite being eased prematurely in the final strides, just held on to beat Romana Mia by a short head. The race was the Don Butchers Challenge Trophy, a handicap hurdle, and the runner-up was ridden by amateur Richard Dunwoody, then at the start of his illustrious career.
More than a year passed before his gained his first success at Plumpton on March 19, 1984, when Veleso, trained by Jeff King, led at the second last flight and, despite being eased prematurely in the final strides, just held on to beat Romana Mia by a short head. The race was the Don Butchers Challenge Trophy, a handicap hurdle, and the runner-up was ridden by amateur Richard Dunwoody, then at the start of his illustrious career.
John only had a few rides over the next two seasons but he had plenty to keep him busy during that time, for he combined working at King’s Broad Hinton yard with running his own antiques business.
John only had a few rides over the next two seasons but he had plenty to keep him busy during that time, for he combined working at King’s Broad Hinton yard with running his own antiques business.
John’s father was an antiques expert and had got his son hooked on the subject at an early age. His double life necessitated starting his days riding out for Jeff King, grabbing a hasty lunch and heading for his shop in Swindon where he spent the afternoons buying and selling his wares. By late afternoon he was on his way back to Broad Hinton for evening stables. In the evenings he returned to the antique shop, applying wax polish to his treasures, taking one evening off a week to attend an antiques repairing course.
John’s father was an antiques expert and had got his son hooked on the subject at an early age. His double life necessitated starting his days riding out for Jeff King, grabbing a hasty lunch and heading for his shop in Swindon where he spent the afternoons buying and selling his wares. By late afternoon he was on his way back to Broad Hinton for evening stables. In the evenings he returned to the antique shop, applying wax polish to his treasures, taking one evening off a week to attend an antiques repairing course.
Eventually, John recorded his second, and final, victory, that coming at Hexham on Whit Monday, May 26, 1986. By this time he was riding for Mrs Barbara Waring, who trained at Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, and it was on her Rajens Air that he landed the Causy Hill Selling Hurdle, the nine-year-old coming with a strong run to beat the favourite Starshot by half a length.
Eventually, John recorded his second, and final, victory, that coming at Hexham on Whit Monday, May 26, 1986. By this time he was riding for Mrs Barbara Waring, who trained at Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, and it was on her Rajens Air that he landed the Causy Hill Selling Hurdle, the nine-year-old coming with a strong run to beat the favourite Starshot by half a length.
He rode for two more seasons but had no further success in the saddle. While racing was very much his first love, he knew that if he failed to get the breaks, he could always go full-time into antiques, a path he eventually chose.
He rode for two more seasons but had no further success in the saddle. While racing was very much his first love, he knew that if he failed to get the breaks, he could always go full-time into antiques, a path he eventually chose.
John Robson's first winner, Veleso, came at Plumpton on March 19, 1984
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