Dennis Schofield
Dennis Schofield was apprenticed to Harry Wragg and rode his first winner, aged 16, on Tit Willow, the 11/8 favourite, in the Apprentices’ Plate at Newmarket on 14 April 1948. He also won that year's Great St Wilfrid Handicap on Private Affair.
Dennis Schofield was apprenticed to Harry Wragg and rode his first winner, aged 16, on Tit Willow, the 11/8 favourite, in the Apprentices’ Plate at Newmarket on 14 April 1948. He also won that year's Great St Wilfrid Handicap on Private Affair.
He achieved his biggest success later that season when winning the 1948 Cambridgeshire on the Pat ‘Rufus’ Beasley-trained Sterope, who carried just 7st 4lb. (Sterope must have been a ‘good thing’ for he won the race again the following year carrying 9st 5lb.).
He achieved his biggest success later that season when winning the 1948 Cambridgeshire on the Pat ‘Rufus’ Beasley-trained Sterope, who carried just 7st 4lb. (Sterope must have been a ‘good thing’ for he won the race again the following year carrying 9st 5lb.).
Dennis was based in Newmarket for a number of years and rode 16 winners on the Flat in Britain. He also rode winners abroad which resulted in him being unable to claim an allowance when he went jumping in the mid-1950s. He rode for four seasons over jumps as second jockey to trainer Doug Marks, Reg Akehurst being the first choice.
Dennis was based in Newmarket for a number of years and rode 16 winners on the Flat in Britain. He also rode winners abroad which resulted in him being unable to claim an allowance when he went jumping in the mid-1950s. He rode for four seasons over jumps as second jockey to trainer Doug Marks, Reg Akehurst being the first choice.
He rode just two winners over jumps, one in the 1954-55 season, and one in the 1956-57 campaign, the latter success being gained on Doug Marks’ selling hurdler Delmacare at Fontwell on February 18, 1957.
He rode just two winners over jumps, one in the 1954-55 season, and one in the 1956-57 campaign, the latter success being gained on Doug Marks’ selling hurdler Delmacare at Fontwell on February 18, 1957.
On a brilliant autumn afternoon, Dennis lands the 1948 Cambridgeshire on Sterope from Royal Tara.
On a brilliant autumn afternoon, Dennis lands the 1948 Cambridgeshire on Sterope from Royal Tara.
On the left of the photo, Patchouly and Impeccable dead-heat for third.
On the left of the photo, Patchouly and Impeccable dead-heat for third.
18-year-old Dennis, an ex-mill boy from Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, was riding his tenth winner, thus cutting his apprentice allowance.
18-year-old Dennis, an ex-mill boy from Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, was riding his tenth winner, thus cutting his apprentice allowance.