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Arthur Stephenson
Arthur Stephenson
1920 - 1992
1920 - 1992
Before becoming one of the leading National Hunt trainers of the second half of the 20th century, William Arthur Stephenson, always known by his second name, rode as an amateur on northern courses with considerable success for almost 15 years. In that time he rode 27 winners, all owned and trained by himself.
Before becoming one of the leading National Hunt trainers of the second half of the 20th century, William Arthur Stephenson, always known by his second name, rode as an amateur on northern courses with considerable success for almost 15 years. In that time he rode 27 winners, all owned and trained by himself.
The son of a County Durham farming family and a cousin of the famous Flat race jockey and trainer Willie Stephenson, Arthur was born at Leasingthorne, near Bishop Auckland, on April 7, 1920.
The son of a County Durham farming family and a cousin of the famous Flat race jockey and trainer Willie Stephenson, Arthur was born at Leasingthorne, near Bishop Auckland, on April 7, 1920.
He had his first ride under NH rules when Silver Wedding was a faller in the Easby Novices’ Chase at Catterick on February 10, 1945. More than a year elapsed before he scored for the first time, courtesy of the six-year old T.O.D., defeating 12 rivals in the Whitsuntide Open Hunters’ Chase at Hexham on June 8, 1946.
He had his first ride under NH rules when Silver Wedding was a faller in the Easby Novices’ Chase at Catterick on February 10, 1945. More than a year elapsed before he scored for the first time, courtesy of the six-year old T.O.D., defeating 12 rivals in the Whitsuntide Open Hunters’ Chase at Hexham on June 8, 1946.
Arthur was to win six more races on T.O.D., while the hunter chaser J’Arrive would prove successful seven times towards the end of Arthur’s time in the saddle. His last victory came at Perth on April 23, 1959, when Eric’s Star led all the way to land the Crieff Novices’ Chase by three lengths. He had his final ride the following month when Brown Moss was beaten a length in the Cartmel Town Hurdle at that Cumbrian venue on May 18.
Arthur was to win six more races on T.O.D., while the hunter chaser J’Arrive would prove successful seven times towards the end of Arthur’s time in the saddle. His last victory came at Perth on April 23, 1959, when Eric’s Star led all the way to land the Crieff Novices’ Chase by three lengths. He had his final ride the following month when Brown Moss was beaten a length in the Cartmel Town Hurdle at that Cumbrian venue on May 18.
Having up to then trained with a permit, he took out a full trainer’s licence later that year. He had his first big race victory in the 1961 Scottish Grand National with Kinmont Wullie, followed by the Welsh Grand National three years later with Rainbow Battle. He won the Haydock Grand National Trial in 1966 with The Ringer. In the same year, he won the Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham with Pawnbroker.
Having up to then trained with a permit, he took out a full trainer’s licence later that year. He had his first big race victory in the 1961 Scottish Grand National with Kinmont Wullie, followed by the Welsh Grand National three years later with Rainbow Battle. He won the Haydock Grand National Trial in 1966 with The Ringer. In the same year, he won the Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham with Pawnbroker.
Although regarded as more of a National Hunt trainer, he also enjoyed plenty of success on the Flat, obtaining his first important successes with Forlorn River in the Nunthorpe Stakes, the July Cup and the Challenge Stakes in 1967.
Although regarded as more of a National Hunt trainer, he also enjoyed plenty of success on the Flat, obtaining his first important successes with Forlorn River in the Nunthorpe Stakes, the July Cup and the Challenge Stakes in 1967.
Five years later, he trained Forlorn River’s son Rapid River to win the Gimcrack Stakes, the Harry Rosebery Challenge Trophy at Ayr, the Seaton Delaval Stakes and another race at Newcastle from six appearances as a two-year-old. The same year, he won the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket with Tudenham.
Five years later, he trained Forlorn River’s son Rapid River to win the Gimcrack Stakes, the Harry Rosebery Challenge Trophy at Ayr, the Seaton Delaval Stakes and another race at Newcastle from six appearances as a two-year-old. The same year, he won the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket with Tudenham.
He was equally good with hurdlers, the best he trained being Celtic Gold, winner of the Cheltenham Trial Hurdle and the Wills Hurdle in 1969. In 1969/70 he became the first jumps trainer to record 100 winners in a season. His victories the following season included Rigton Prince in the 1971 Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences. .
He was equally good with hurdlers, the best he trained being Celtic Gold, winner of the Cheltenham Trial Hurdle and the Wills Hurdle in 1969. In 1969/70 he became the first jumps trainer to record 100 winners in a season. His victories the following season included Rigton Prince in the 1971 Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences. .
He won the 1973 Gran Pardubice steeplechase in Czechoslovakia with Stephen’s Society, ridden by his amateur owner, Chris Collins, the first Englishman for more than 50 years to win what was then known as the ‘Iron Curtain Grand National’. He also trained the prolific hunter chaser Credit Call for Collins, their many victories including both the Cheltenham and Liverpool Foxhunters in 1972.
He won the 1973 Gran Pardubice steeplechase in Czechoslovakia with Stephen’s Society, ridden by his amateur owner, Chris Collins, the first Englishman for more than 50 years to win what was then known as the ‘Iron Curtain Grand National’. He also trained the prolific hunter chaser Credit Call for Collins, their many victories including both the Cheltenham and Liverpool Foxhunters in 1972.
He never won the Grand National, although he twice finished second with Durham Edition in 1988 and 1990, ridden on both occasions by Chris Grant. He was also third with O’Malley Point in 1961, Hawa’s Song in 1963 and The Thinker in 1989.
He never won the Grand National, although he twice finished second with Durham Edition in 1988 and 1990, ridden on both occasions by Chris Grant. He was also third with O’Malley Point in 1961, Hawa’s Song in 1963 and The Thinker in 1989.
His greatest achievement was winning the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup with The Thinker, ridden by Ridley Lamb, a race remembered for the snowstorm prior to the race. Just as the jockeys were mounting, it began to snow. By the time they reached the start it was a full-scale storm and the snow was settling. The runners were called back to the paddock. Telephone calls with local villages assured the Cheltenham stewards that it would soon pass through. Scheduled for 3.30, the race eventually started at 4.51 - 81 minutes late – and resulted in The Thinker beating fellow northern challenger Cybrandian by a length and a half.
His greatest achievement was winning the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup with The Thinker, ridden by Ridley Lamb, a race remembered for the snowstorm prior to the race. Just as the jockeys were mounting, it began to snow. By the time they reached the start it was a full-scale storm and the snow was settling. The runners were called back to the paddock. Telephone calls with local villages assured the Cheltenham stewards that it would soon pass through. Scheduled for 3.30, the race eventually started at 4.51 - 81 minutes late – and resulted in The Thinker beating fellow northern challenger Cybrandian by a length and a half.
Typical of the trainer, Arthur was not at Cheltenham that day for the occasion of his greatest triumph. He was saddling his runners at Hexham instead. When asked about his decision to go there he famously replied, “Little fish are sweet”.
Typical of the trainer, Arthur was not at Cheltenham that day for the occasion of his greatest triumph. He was saddling his runners at Hexham instead. When asked about his decision to go there he famously replied, “Little fish are sweet”.
Arthur Stephenson died in Middlesbrough on 3 December 1992.
Arthur Stephenson died in Middlesbrough on 3 December 1992.
His winners as an amateur rider were, in chronological order:
His winners as an amateur rider were, in chronological order:
1. T.O.D., Hexham, June 8, 1946
1. T.O.D., Hexham, June 8, 1946
2. T.O.D., Hexham, September 29, 1947
2. T.O.D., Hexham, September 29, 1947
3. T.O.D., Wetherby, October 15, 1947
3. T.O.D., Wetherby, October 15, 1947
4. Casa Pepe, Carlisle, March 27, 1948
4. Casa Pepe, Carlisle, March 27, 1948
5. T.O.D., Carlisle, April 16, 1949
5. T.O.D., Carlisle, April 16, 1949
6. Rochford Bridge, Hexham, June 6, 1949
6. Rochford Bridge, Hexham, June 6, 1949
7. T.O.D., Wetherby, April 10, 1950
7. T.O.D., Wetherby, April 10, 1950
8. Claire Marcus, Wetherby, April 11, 1950
8. Claire Marcus, Wetherby, April 11, 1950
9. Duke’s Place, Hexham, May 6, 1950
9. Duke’s Place, Hexham, May 6, 1950
10. Duke’s Place, Woore, May 11, 1950
10. Duke’s Place, Woore, May 11, 1950
11. T.O.D., Market Rasen, September 23, 1950
11. T.O.D., Market Rasen, September 23, 1950
12. T.O.D., Wetherby, October 7, 1950
12. T.O.D., Wetherby, October 7, 1950
13. Duke’s Place, Carlisle, April 12, 1952
13. Duke’s Place, Carlisle, April 12, 1952
14. Meysey Hampton, Hexham, June 5, 1954
14. Meysey Hampton, Hexham, June 5, 1954
15. Mr Gay, Stratford-on-Avon, April 19, 1956
15. Mr Gay, Stratford-on-Avon, April 19, 1956
16. Mr Gay, Perth, April 26, 1956
16. Mr Gay, Perth, April 26, 1956
17. J’Arrive, Perth, April 18, 1957
17. J’Arrive, Perth, April 18, 1957
18. J’Arrive, Bogside, April 27, 1957
18. J’Arrive, Bogside, April 27, 1957
19. J’Arrive, Ayr, March 17, 1958
19. J’Arrive, Ayr, March 17, 1958
20. Red Robin, Doncaster, March 18, 1958
20. Red Robin, Doncaster, March 18, 1958
21. J’Arrive, Rothbury, April 12, 1958
21. J’Arrive, Rothbury, April 12, 1958
22. Casa’s Image, Perth, April 24, 1958
22. Casa’s Image, Perth, April 24, 1958
23. J’Arrive, Kelso, May 1, 1958
23. J’Arrive, Kelso, May 1, 1958
24. J’Arrive, Sedgefield, May 10, 1958
24. J’Arrive, Sedgefield, May 10, 1958
25. J’Arrive, Market Rasen, May 17, 1958
25. J’Arrive, Market Rasen, May 17, 1958
26. Eric’s Star, Bogside, April 17, 1959
26. Eric’s Star, Bogside, April 17, 1959
27. Eric’s Star, Perth, April 23, 1959
27. Eric’s Star, Perth, April 23, 1959
Thanks to Alan Trout for contributing part of this article and also providing the list of wins as an amateur rider.
Thanks to Alan Trout for contributing part of this article and also providing the list of wins as an amateur rider.
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