Len Stephens
1930 - 1992
1930 - 1992
Len 'Clippy' Stephens started his working life in a Cheltenham garage before becoming a National Hunt jockey. Although based in Britain, he enjoyed his two biggest successes in Ireland, winning both the Irish Grand National and Galway Plate on Alberoni in 1952.
Len 'Clippy' Stephens started his working life in a Cheltenham garage before becoming a National Hunt jockey. Although based in Britain, he enjoyed his two biggest successes in Ireland, winning both the Irish Grand National and Galway Plate on Alberoni in 1952.
Leonard Albert Stephens was born at Stow-on-the-Wold on September 20, 1930 and was apprenticed to Gerald Wilson. He made a bright start to his career, riding his first winner on Wilson’s handicap hurdler Passifyoucan at Newton Abbot on August 20, 1948. He won on him again five days later at Devon & Exeter, at Hereford and Fontwell in October, and at Chepstow in November. He went on to ride a highly respectable total of 13 winners that season, including a Whit Monday 1949 double at Towcester aboard chaser Jacksdale and hurdler Fariaco.
Leonard Albert Stephens was born at Stow-on-the-Wold on September 20, 1930 and was apprenticed to Gerald Wilson. He made a bright start to his career, riding his first winner on Wilson’s handicap hurdler Passifyoucan at Newton Abbot on August 20, 1948. He won on him again five days later at Devon & Exeter, at Hereford and Fontwell in October, and at Chepstow in November. He went on to ride a highly respectable total of 13 winners that season, including a Whit Monday 1949 double at Towcester aboard chaser Jacksdale and hurdler Fariaco.
He began the 1949/50 campaign with victory on Wilson’s useful chaser Morning Cover at Hereford on October 6, then rode out his claim when registering his 15th victory aboard Angel Hill at Chepstow later that month. The lack of an allowance did little to halt his progress, for he went on to notch 14 winners. They included the four-mile Stayers’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 28, 1949 aboard Angel Hill and, in March 1950, Kempton’s Coventry Chase on Printers’ Pie and Liverpool’s Coronation Hurdle on Stormness, all for Gerry Wilson.
He began the 1949/50 campaign with victory on Wilson’s useful chaser Morning Cover at Hereford on October 6, then rode out his claim when registering his 15th victory aboard Angel Hill at Chepstow later that month. The lack of an allowance did little to halt his progress, for he went on to notch 14 winners. They included the four-mile Stayers’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 28, 1949 aboard Angel Hill and, in March 1950, Kempton’s Coventry Chase on Printers’ Pie and Liverpool’s Coronation Hurdle on Stormness, all for Gerry Wilson.
Following those successful first two seasons, he moved north and rode for Neville Crump’s Middleham stable. However, his scores fell to just five in 1950/51 and three in 51/52. He rode Crump’s 100/1 outsider Traveller’s Pride in the 1952 Grand National but fell at Becher’s on the second circuit.
Following those successful first two seasons, he moved north and rode for Neville Crump’s Middleham stable. However, his scores fell to just five in 1950/51 and three in 51/52. He rode Crump’s 100/1 outsider Traveller’s Pride in the 1952 Grand National but fell at Becher’s on the second circuit.
Two days before that Grand National mount, Len had come in for a winning ride on Vincent O’Brien’s chaser Alberoni at Limerick Junction, seemingly at the owner’s insistence. Len kept the ride and, two weeks later, won the 1952 Irish Grand National on him. Three months later the partnership won the Galway Plate by a short head from stable companion Lucky Dome, then Len won on him again at Naas in November.
Two days before that Grand National mount, Len had come in for a winning ride on Vincent O’Brien’s chaser Alberoni at Limerick Junction, seemingly at the owner’s insistence. Len kept the ride and, two weeks later, won the 1952 Irish Grand National on him. Three months later the partnership won the Galway Plate by a short head from stable companion Lucky Dome, then Len won on him again at Naas in November.
Len was by that time one of the lesser lights and, surprisingly, Alberoni was the only horse he ever rode in Ireland. It would have been good if those successes had revitalised his career in Britain but that wasn’t the case. Having drawn a blank in two consecutive seasons, Fred Rimell’s chaser High Level finally ended the drought when winning at Hereford on Easter Monday 1955. Len won on him again at Woore next time out the following month, but those two wins were all he had to show for the season.
Len was by that time one of the lesser lights and, surprisingly, Alberoni was the only horse he ever rode in Ireland. It would have been good if those successes had revitalised his career in Britain but that wasn’t the case. Having drawn a blank in two consecutive seasons, Fred Rimell’s chaser High Level finally ended the drought when winning at Hereford on Easter Monday 1955. Len won on him again at Woore next time out the following month, but those two wins were all he had to show for the season.
He returned north and rode just one more winner, novice hurdler Doonaha at Sedgefield on March 9, 1957. He hung up his riding boots the following season.
He returned north and rode just one more winner, novice hurdler Doonaha at Sedgefield on March 9, 1957. He hung up his riding boots the following season.
Len was the father of jockey Michael Stephens.
Len was the father of jockey Michael Stephens.
Len Stephens died in December 1992, aged 62.
Len Stephens died in December 1992, aged 62.