Pete Rose
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Unless you were a friend, work colleague or relative, you won’t have heard of Pete Rose. There’s no reason why you should. He had just two rides in public 60 years ago and left racing not long after to seek other forms of employment. But the beauty of Jockeypedia is that it exists not just to pay homage to the likes of Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Fred Winter but also to remember those who plied their trade at less rarefied levels of the sport, no matter for how long or short a time.
Unless you were a friend, work colleague or relative, you won’t have heard of Pete Rose. There’s no reason why you should. He had just two rides in public 60 years ago and left racing not long after to seek other forms of employment. But the beauty of Jockeypedia is that it exists not just to pay homage to the likes of Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Fred Winter but also to remember those who plied their trade at less rarefied levels of the sport, no matter for how long or short a time.
Peter Silman Rose was born in Boston on March 6, 1938. Aged 17, he became apprenticed to John Waugh at Chilton, near Didcot, in 1955. He had his first ride in public on a two-year-old filly named Thumbalina at Lewes on Monday, July 16, 1956, finishing eighth of 13 behind the Doug Smith-ridden favourite Full Mouth, who led throughout and won unchallenged by three lengths.
Peter Silman Rose was born in Boston on March 6, 1938. Aged 17, he became apprenticed to John Waugh at Chilton, near Didcot, in 1955. He had his first ride in public on a two-year-old filly named Thumbalina at Lewes on Monday, July 16, 1956, finishing eighth of 13 behind the Doug Smith-ridden favourite Full Mouth, who led throughout and won unchallenged by three lengths.
Other riders in that race included Harry Carr, Geoff Lewis, Eph Smith, Manny Mercer and Ken Gethin.
Other riders in that race included Harry Carr, Geoff Lewis, Eph Smith, Manny Mercer and Ken Gethin.
Pete had his second mount the following month, on Feragamo (below) in a Salisbury apprentices’ handicap on Thursday, August 16. This time he finished third of six, beaten seven lengths behind the 9/4 favourite Nordlys, ridden by Charlie Patton. That was to be his final ride.
Pete had his second mount the following month, on Feragamo (below) in a Salisbury apprentices’ handicap on Thursday, August 16. This time he finished third of six, beaten seven lengths behind the 9/4 favourite Nordlys, ridden by Charlie Patton. That was to be his final ride.
A knee injury necessitated him having cartilages removed in 1957, which effectively ended his aspirations of becoming a jockey. He started work at White’s Garage in Boston and then enrolled on a car mechanic’s training course in Leicester. Meanwhile, he kept an involvement with racing by riding out for Horncastle trainer Jim Cartwright.
A knee injury necessitated him having cartilages removed in 1957, which effectively ended his aspirations of becoming a jockey. He started work at White’s Garage in Boston and then enrolled on a car mechanic’s training course in Leicester. Meanwhile, he kept an involvement with racing by riding out for Horncastle trainer Jim Cartwright.
Having successfully completed the training course he joined the Post Office as a mechanic, maintaining the company’s fleet of vehicles but subsequently transferred to the engineering side. When the Post Office became Post Office Telecommunications and then split into separate businesses, Pete duly became a Boston-based British Telecom employee and remained with them until taking voluntary retirement in 1993.
Having successfully completed the training course he joined the Post Office as a mechanic, maintaining the company’s fleet of vehicles but subsequently transferred to the engineering side. When the Post Office became Post Office Telecommunications and then split into separate businesses, Pete duly became a Boston-based British Telecom employee and remained with them until taking voluntary retirement in 1993.
In retirement he was always active in a variety of capacities and a was regular visitor to Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. Sadly, Pete died on February 19, 2016, a fortnight short of his 78th birthday, leaving a wife, Jean, and a son, Gary.
In retirement he was always active in a variety of capacities and a was regular visitor to Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. Sadly, Pete died on February 19, 2016, a fortnight short of his 78th birthday, leaving a wife, Jean, and a son, Gary.
Having first got to know him in the mid-1970s when our paths crossed at Boston Telephone Engineering Centre, we kept in touch over the years. In addition to meeting up at Newmarket, my ‘better half’ Mary and I would make the occasional foray to Boston and join Pete and Jean for a meal at a local pub, something we did as recently as August 2015.
Having first got to know him in the mid-1970s when our paths crossed at Boston Telephone Engineering Centre, we kept in touch over the years. In addition to meeting up at Newmarket, my ‘better half’ Mary and I would make the occasional foray to Boston and join Pete and Jean for a meal at a local pub, something we did as recently as August 2015.
Pete Rose may not have left a major impression on the world of racing but he was typical of those thousands who came – and still come – into the game as apprentices, don’t make the grade due to rising weight, injury, lack of opportunity, poor wages, or a multitude of other reasons, and leave to forge successful careers in other spheres, while never losing their love of the sport.
Pete Rose may not have left a major impression on the world of racing but he was typical of those thousands who came – and still come – into the game as apprentices, don’t make the grade due to rising weight, injury, lack of opportunity, poor wages, or a multitude of other reasons, and leave to forge successful careers in other spheres, while never losing their love of the sport.
What’s more, Pete was a good bloke, one that Mary and I were proud to call a friend.
What’s more, Pete was a good bloke, one that Mary and I were proud to call a friend.
Pete's first ride.
Pete's first ride.