Mark Ranger
Mark Ranger
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
After riding five winners as an amateur, Mark Ranger turned professional in the summer of 1992 and added another ten. All 15 were trained by Charles Smith.
After riding five winners as an amateur, Mark Ranger turned professional in the summer of 1992 and added another ten. All 15 were trained by Charles Smith.
His first success was at Hexham on September 2, 1991, when Bahrain Queen took the lead after the final flight and ran on strongly to take the Rising Sun Three-Year-Old Hurdle. He had finished second on the filly on her only previous start at Market Rasen two weeks earlier. Over the next three years he would win six more races on her.
His first success was at Hexham on September 2, 1991, when Bahrain Queen took the lead after the final flight and ran on strongly to take the Rising Sun Three-Year-Old Hurdle. He had finished second on the filly on her only previous start at Market Rasen two weeks earlier. Over the next three years he would win six more races on her.
All five of his wins as an amateur were gained against professional jockeys, and when he joined their ranks it was another filly, Mrs Jawleyford, who gave him his first success when landing the Rowena Coleman Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield on October 28, 1992, scoring by a length.
All five of his wins as an amateur were gained against professional jockeys, and when he joined their ranks it was another filly, Mrs Jawleyford, who gave him his first success when landing the Rowena Coleman Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield on October 28, 1992, scoring by a length.
Thanks mainly to those two fillies, Mark had seven more winners in the next three seasons. He then missed an entire campaign and had more than 30 rides in the 1996/97 season without a single success.
Thanks mainly to those two fillies, Mark had seven more winners in the next three seasons. He then missed an entire campaign and had more than 30 rides in the 1996/97 season without a single success.
However, he eventually managed three more wins. The last two came on Cheeka, who finally won a race at the 34th attempt at Southwell on May 4, 1998. Having at last achieved his maiden success, Cheeka doubled his score at Market Rasen on May 30 when landing the Lincolnshire Business Development Centre Handicap Chase by ten lengths.
However, he eventually managed three more wins. The last two came on Cheeka, who finally won a race at the 34th attempt at Southwell on May 4, 1998. Having at last achieved his maiden success, Cheeka doubled his score at Market Rasen on May 30 when landing the Lincolnshire Business Development Centre Handicap Chase by ten lengths.
That proved to be Mark’s final success. He rode for one more season before relinquishing his licence.
That proved to be Mark’s final success. He rode for one more season before relinquishing his licence.
Mark Ranger’s winners were, in chronological order:
Mark Ranger’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Bahrain Queen, Hexham, September 2, 1991
1. Bahrain Queen, Hexham, September 2, 1991
2. Mrs Jawleyford, Hexham, March 21, 1992
2. Mrs Jawleyford, Hexham, March 21, 1992
3. Mrs Jawleyford, Taunton, April 9, 1992
3. Mrs Jawleyford, Taunton, April 9, 1992
4. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, May 9, 1992
4. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, May 9, 1992
5. Bahrain Queen, Cartmel, May 27, 1992
5. Bahrain Queen, Cartmel, May 27, 1992
6. Mrs Jawleyford, Sedgefield, October 28, 1992
6. Mrs Jawleyford, Sedgefield, October 28, 1992
7. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, May 7, 1993
7. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, May 7, 1993
8. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, August 14, 1993
8. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, August 14, 1993
9. Moshajir, Ascot, October 30, 1993
9. Moshajir, Ascot, October 30, 1993
10. Trentside Mist, Market Rasen, April 23, 1994
10. Trentside Mist, Market Rasen, April 23, 1994
11. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, May 23, 1994
11. Bahrain Queen, Market Rasen, May 23, 1994
12. Bahrain Queen, Southwell, September 1, 1994
12. Bahrain Queen, Southwell, September 1, 1994
13. Blaster Watson, Market Rasen, September 21, 1997
13. Blaster Watson, Market Rasen, September 21, 1997
14. Cheeka, Southwell, May 4, 1998
14. Cheeka, Southwell, May 4, 1998
15. Cheeka, Market Rasen, May 30, 1998
15. Cheeka, Market Rasen, May 30, 1998
