Ian Shoemark
Ian William Shoemark was born on August 26, 1966, the son of National Hunt jockey Bill Shoemark. He was apprenticed to Ian Balding and made the perfect start to his racing career, riding the Queen’s Insular to victory in an apprentices’ race at Newmarket on September 30, 1983 on his very first ride in public, thus becoming one of the few jockeys to have ridden their first winner in the royal colours.
Ian William Shoemark was born on August 26, 1966, the son of National Hunt jockey Bill Shoemark. He was apprenticed to Ian Balding and made the perfect start to his racing career, riding the Queen’s Insular to victory in an apprentices’ race at Newmarket on September 30, 1983 on his very first ride in public, thus becoming one of the few jockeys to have ridden their first winner in the royal colours.
However, rising weight dictated that Ian’s time as a Flat jockey would be limited. Like his father, his future lay over jumps. He enjoyed a successful season in 1987/88, partnering winners for Epsom trainers Bill Wightman, Reg Akehurst, Brooke Sanders and Tony Ingham, as well as the likes of Peter Hedger, Owen O’Neill, Gerry Enright and David Gandolfo. Ian gained his two most important victories in January 1989, winning Windsor’s New Year’s Day Hurdle and Sandown’s Tolworth Hurdle on Ron Smyth’s horse Wishlon,
However, rising weight dictated that Ian’s time as a Flat jockey would be limited. Like his father, his future lay over jumps. He enjoyed a successful season in 1987/88, partnering winners for Epsom trainers Bill Wightman, Reg Akehurst, Brooke Sanders and Tony Ingham, as well as the likes of Peter Hedger, Owen O’Neill, Gerry Enright and David Gandolfo. Ian gained his two most important victories in January 1989, winning Windsor’s New Year’s Day Hurdle and Sandown’s Tolworth Hurdle on Ron Smyth’s horse Wishlon,
Sadly, his career did not really progress from there. He was leading jockey for half an hour when winning the first race of the 1991/92 season, a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee on the Ken White-trained Snooker Table, and followed up by winning on him again in non-selling company at Worcester eight days later. The remainder of the season was a comparative disappointment, although he rounded it off with a pair of wins on Guy Harwood’s handicap hurdler Hunting Ground.
Sadly, his career did not really progress from there. He was leading jockey for half an hour when winning the first race of the 1991/92 season, a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee on the Ken White-trained Snooker Table, and followed up by winning on him again in non-selling company at Worcester eight days later. The remainder of the season was a comparative disappointment, although he rounded it off with a pair of wins on Guy Harwood’s handicap hurdler Hunting Ground.
The 1992/93 campaign yielded just four winners, two for Pat Rodford and two for Brian Forsey. The last of those was Forsey’s handicap hurdler Mister Lawson in the Melody Man Challenge Cup at Taunton. On April 23, 1993.
The 1992/93 campaign yielded just four winners, two for Pat Rodford and two for Brian Forsey. The last of those was Forsey’s handicap hurdler Mister Lawson in the Melody Man Challenge Cup at Taunton. On April 23, 1993.
The story behind the Melody Man Cup goes back to 1940. French wine importer Major M. A. J. Rihal, escaped with British troops from Dunkirk, joined the British army on his arrival here and did part of his training at Taunton. He grew to like the area and made up his mind to come back and win a race at Taunton. After 23 years he finally achieved this ambition when his Melody Man broke the course record when winning at the Somerset track in 1963. Rihal donated a trophy to be run thereafter in memory of his horse.
The story behind the Melody Man Cup goes back to 1940. French wine importer Major M. A. J. Rihal, escaped with British troops from Dunkirk, joined the British army on his arrival here and did part of his training at Taunton. He grew to like the area and made up his mind to come back and win a race at Taunton. After 23 years he finally achieved this ambition when his Melody Man broke the course record when winning at the Somerset track in 1963. Rihal donated a trophy to be run thereafter in memory of his horse.
Mister Lawson was also Ian’s last winner when landing a Newton Abbot handicap hurdle on August 12, 1993. That was his sole success of a bleak season in which he had few rides. The closest he came to another victory was a short head defeat on Brian Forsey’s Fresh-Mint at Fontwell on May 2, 1994. He had his final mount 17 days later when finishing eighth on Pat Rodford’s Draw Lots at Exeter.
Mister Lawson was also Ian’s last winner when landing a Newton Abbot handicap hurdle on August 12, 1993. That was his sole success of a bleak season in which he had few rides. The closest he came to another victory was a short head defeat on Brian Forsey’s Fresh-Mint at Fontwell on May 2, 1994. He had his final mount 17 days later when finishing eighth on Pat Rodford’s Draw Lots at Exeter.
Having retired from the saddle he followed his father into the fish and chip game. His sons Conor and Kieran are both successful jockeys, Kieran on the Flat and Conor over jumps, thereby maintaining a third generation of Shoemarks in the weighing room.
Having retired from the saddle he followed his father into the fish and chip game. His sons Conor and Kieran are both successful jockeys, Kieran on the Flat and Conor over jumps, thereby maintaining a third generation of Shoemarks in the weighing room.