Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens

Article by Alan Trout

Mark Stevens rode nine winners over jumps between 1988 and 1994, twice looking likely to finish second before the leader capsized at the final obstacle. All of his wins were on horses trained by his father, Barry, whose stables were at Littleton, near Winchester.

Mark had his first ride in the Peter Gurney Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on March 12, 1986. His mount, Eastern Laughter, finished last. It was more than two years before he entered the winner’s enclosure, but he did so at Perth on April 13, 1988, after Flaming Pearl had taken the lead approaching the last flight and landed the Black Watch Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle by two and a half lengths. 

Some two and a half years elapsed before Mark struck again but he then had two wins on the chaser Solent Lad, the second coming at Folkestone when the partnership took advantage of the final fence fall of Skylark Wonder to beat the remounted nine-year-old by eight lengths. 

There were then three wins in the 1992/93 campaign, the last coming at Newton Abbot when Great Imposter, the mount of Warren Marston, fell at the last hurdle, thus gifting the race to Cobb Gate who beat the remounted Great Imposter by a distance. 

It was at Fontwell Park on April 21, 1994 that Mark had his third win of the season, the final one of his career, when Master Comedy beat eleven rivals to take the John Rogerson Memorial Challenge Trophy Handicap Chase by two and a half lengths, having been prominent throughout. The ten-year-old did not run again for over a year, and Mark, despite riding for at least two more seasons, had no further success. 

Mark Stevens’ winners were, in chronological order:

1. Flaming Pearl, Perth, April 13, 1988

2. Solent Lad, Windsor, November 19, 1990

3. Solent Lad, Folkestone, March 6, 1991

4. Alosaili, Ludlow, November 19, 1992

5. Alosaili, Taunton, February 18, 1993

6. Cobb Gate, Newton Abbot, April 30, 1993

7. Alosaili, Plumpton, November 1, 1993

8. Cobb Gate, Ludlow, January 19, 1994

9. Master Comedy, Fontwell Park, April 21, 1994