Kevin Stone had the good fortune to be associated with the stable of the legendary Lambourn trainer Fulke Walwyn in the early 1970s. Of the 15 winners he rode under National Hunt rules, the first ten were trained by the Saxon House maestro.
Kevin had his first ride at Plumpton on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28, 1972, when the seven-year-old Kernal Marty finished a distant second of five runners, beaten 15 lengths by Greendown Paul in the Shaef Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for novice riders.
Thirty days later cane his first success when Spitzbergen got up in the final strides to beat Gipsy Boy, ridden by Richard Evans, at the end of the Abberley Handicap Hurdle at Worcester. His next win saw him take revenge on Plumpton conqueror Greendown Paul, beaten into second place by Black Andrew in the Nailsworth Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in October.
Kevin added four more wins before the season ended, then had a further three victories in 1973/74 and four in 1974/75. By then he was winning for other trainers, including Dave Hanley who supplied Kevin with his last winner when Niswyth landed the Shylock Selling Hurdle at Stratford on September 4, 1976, beating Fiffa by a short head after a prolonged duel from the final flight.
It was on another of Dave Hanley’s horses that Kevin had his final ride when Black Ray was unplaced in the Walton Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at |Kempton Park on January 22, 1977.
Kevin Stone’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Spitsbergen, Worcester, September 27, 1972
2. Black Andrew, Cheltenham, October 11, 1972
3. Night And Day, Lingfield Park, March 1, 1973
4. Well Oiled, Newbury, March 3, 1973
5. Frango, Chepstow, March 17, 1973
6. Frango, Stratford-on-Avon, April 5, 1973
7. Menehall, Cheltenham, November 9, 1973
8. Kingrullah, Leicester, November 20, 1973
9. Zellaman, Wincanton, April 15, 1974
10. Zellaman, Chepstow, October 5, 1974
11. Dear Papa, Stratford-on-Avon, November 14, 1974
12. Star Beauty, Chepstow, December 21, 1974
13. Georgie Stephens, Worcester, May 12, 1975
14. Georgie Stephens, Fontwell Park, August 27, 1975
15. Niswyth, Stratford-on-Avon, September 4, 1976
Kevin Stone rode seven winners in Ireland before coming to England.