Michael Rees
Born in 1929, Mick Rees was the elder brother of the royal jockey Bill Rees (1934-2013). While nothing like as successful as his younger brother, who rode almost 500 winners, Mick nonetheless accumulated more than 80 victories over jumps.
Born in 1929, Mick Rees was the elder brother of the royal jockey Bill Rees (1934-2013). While nothing like as successful as his younger brother, who rode almost 500 winners, Mick nonetheless accumulated more than 80 victories over jumps.
Christened John Michael Valentine Rees, he was always known by his second Christian name. He started out as an apprentice towards the end of 1943 with Walter Nightingall at Epsom and had a few winners on the Flat but quickly became too heavy, necessitating a career over jumps. He rode one of his earliest jumping winners on a selling hurdler named Uniformity at Plumpton on January 28, 1948.
Christened John Michael Valentine Rees, he was always known by his second Christian name. He started out as an apprentice towards the end of 1943 with Walter Nightingall at Epsom and had a few winners on the Flat but quickly became too heavy, necessitating a career over jumps. He rode one of his earliest jumping winners on a selling hurdler named Uniformity at Plumpton on January 28, 1948.
He had three winners during the 1948/49 campaign, all in selling hurdles, two on Insolate at Lingfield on January 15 and March 5, the other on Massifor at Towcester on Easter Monday. The following season delivered five more wins, the third of which – Industrious at Lingfield on February 8, 1950 – was the 15th winner of his career and resulted in him no longer being able to claim an allowance.
He had three winners during the 1948/49 campaign, all in selling hurdles, two on Insolate at Lingfield on January 15 and March 5, the other on Massifor at Towcester on Easter Monday. The following season delivered five more wins, the third of which – Industrious at Lingfield on February 8, 1950 – was the 15th winner of his career and resulted in him no longer being able to claim an allowance.
The 1950/51 campaign proved tough going with only two winners to show for it. However, the next season was his breakthrough one, notching what would be a career best score of 12. They included a three-mile handicap chase at Wolverhampton’s Christmas meeting on Brown Jack III – who later that season would carry his sporting owner the Duke of Alburquerque as far as Becher’s first time in the Grand National – and Lingfield’s Manifesto Chase on Brown Hall on March 1, 1952. Both horses were trained by Tom Yates at Letcombe Bassett.
The 1950/51 campaign proved tough going with only two winners to show for it. However, the next season was his breakthrough one, notching what would be a career best score of 12. They included a three-mile handicap chase at Wolverhampton’s Christmas meeting on Brown Jack III – who later that season would carry his sporting owner the Duke of Alburquerque as far as Becher’s first time in the Grand National – and Lingfield’s Manifesto Chase on Brown Hall on March 1, 1952. Both horses were trained by Tom Yates at Letcombe Bassett.
Mick only managed to scrape into double figures one more time, partnering 11 winners in the 1954/55 campaign. More typical was the 1956/57 season, in which he rode seven, including a double on chasers Honorless and Persistence at Nottingham on December 12, 1956.
Mick only managed to scrape into double figures one more time, partnering 11 winners in the 1954/55 campaign. More typical was the 1956/57 season, in which he rode seven, including a double on chasers Honorless and Persistence at Nottingham on December 12, 1956.
With the 1950s moving into the 60s, Mick’s winning scores fell to just one or two a season as his career began to wind down. He failed to register a solitary victory in 1966/67, the nearest he came to winning being a close third on Cold Henry at Plumpton in November.
With the 1950s moving into the 60s, Mick’s winning scores fell to just one or two a season as his career began to wind down. He failed to register a solitary victory in 1966/67, the nearest he came to winning being a close third on Cold Henry at Plumpton in November.
He had the final success when winning a Towcester selling hurdle on Portulac on October 7, 1967. He retired soon afterwards, bringing to an end his 25-year career in the saddle.
He had the final success when winning a Towcester selling hurdle on Portulac on October 7, 1967. He retired soon afterwards, bringing to an end his 25-year career in the saddle.