National Hunt jockey Peter Michael Rotherforth – he went by his second Christian name of Michael, or Mick, when riding – was based with Pontefract trainer Fred Wiles throughout his career and rode eight winners, seven of them trained by Wiles.
The first of those came on Rose & Crown in the two-mile Watch Currock Handicap Chase at Hexham on Whit Monday, June 10, 1957. Rose & Crown also gave him his second win, in a Wetherby selling chase on December 28. His third came courtesy of Lo Spero in the Charles Vickery Memorial Cup Handicap Chase at Catterick in January 1958.
Michael rode just one winner in both of the next two seasons, both of them in chases at Southwell and both of them trained by Fred Wiles.
The highlight of his career came at Wetherby on Saturday, November 12, 1960, when he landed a double, winning the first two races on the card, the first leg being Frejus in Division 1 of the Thorparch Novices’ Hurdle, the second leg being Spring Heather in the Clifford Selling Handicap Chase. Spring Heather was also his last winner when scoring over course and distance at Wetherby in February 1961. He continued to ride for two more seasons but had no further wins.
Michael Rotherforth's winners were, in chronological order:
1. Rose & Crown, Hexham, June 10, 1957
2. Rose & Crown, Wetherby, December 28, 1957
3. Lo Spero, Catterick Bridge, January 11, 1958
4. Spring Heather, Southwell, September 8, 1958
5. Jamesfield, Southwell, December 21, 1959
6. Frejus, Wetherby, November 12, 1960
7. Spring Heather, Wetherby, November 12, 1960
8. Spring Heather, Wetherby, February 25, 1961