Michael Scudamore
1932 - 2014
1932 - 2014
The accident which put paid to Michel's career happened at Wolverhampton on November 1, 1966. He was riding a horse called Snakestone for Fred Rimell. Rounding a bend, the horse in front moved off a straight line.
The accident which put paid to Michel's career happened at Wolverhampton on November 1, 1966. He was riding a horse called Snakestone for Fred Rimell. Rounding a bend, the horse in front moved off a straight line.
Snakestone clipped its heels and crashed to the ground - so, too, did Nayfix and Timothy P.
Snakestone clipped its heels and crashed to the ground - so, too, did Nayfix and Timothy P.
Michael suffered a punctured lung, a broken jaw and cheekbone, a cracked skull and impaired vision of his left eye. Never again would he be able to pass a medical to ride.
Michael suffered a punctured lung, a broken jaw and cheekbone, a cracked skull and impaired vision of his left eye. Never again would he be able to pass a medical to ride.
Ironically, at the time of the accident, he had been a jump jockey for 16 years without breaking a limb.
Ironically, at the time of the accident, he had been a jump jockey for 16 years without breaking a limb.
Michael had finished second to Fred Winter in the jockeys' championship in 1954-55, and had won the 1956 King George Vl Chase at Kempton on Rose Park for Peter Cazalet. He had also won the 1957 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Linwell and, in 1959, had won the biggest prize of all, the Grand National, on Oxo, for Willie Stephenson.
Michael had finished second to Fred Winter in the jockeys' championship in 1954-55, and had won the 1956 King George Vl Chase at Kempton on Rose Park for Peter Cazalet. He had also won the 1957 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Linwell and, in 1959, had won the biggest prize of all, the Grand National, on Oxo, for Willie Stephenson.
Yet, that afternoon at Wolverhampton, his illustrious career had come to an end on the flat, riding a 20/1 chance, in a £340 handicap hurdle.
Yet, that afternoon at Wolverhampton, his illustrious career had come to an end on the flat, riding a 20/1 chance, in a £340 handicap hurdle.
His broken jaw and cheekbone supported by wire scaffolding, he was on liquidized food for three months: to top up his misery, he suffered from toothache which could not be attended to.
His broken jaw and cheekbone supported by wire scaffolding, he was on liquidized food for three months: to top up his misery, he suffered from toothache which could not be attended to.
Michael's father, Geoffrey, was brought up on a farm on the outskirts of Hoarwithy, near Hereford. Aged 17, he left home to work as a logger in Newfoundland, Canada. On his return, he began riding in point-to-points.
Michael's father, Geoffrey, was brought up on a farm on the outskirts of Hoarwithy, near Hereford. Aged 17, he left home to work as a logger in Newfoundland, Canada. On his return, he began riding in point-to-points.
It was this which sparked Michael's interest in racing.
It was this which sparked Michael's interest in racing.
Michael began training when no longer able to ride.
Michael began training when no longer able to ride.
He'd made his racecourse debut in the late forties when his father called him down from the stands to take a spare ride in a hunter chase at Hereford. In total, he rode 496 winners. He was the only jockey to ride in 16 consecutive Grand Nationals.
He'd made his racecourse debut in the late forties when his father called him down from the stands to take a spare ride in a hunter chase at Hereford. In total, he rode 496 winners. He was the only jockey to ride in 16 consecutive Grand Nationals.
Michael, aged 81, died on Monday, 7 July, 2014. He was born on 17 July, 1932.
Michael, aged 81, died on Monday, 7 July, 2014. He was born on 17 July, 1932.
Michael Scudamore
Michael Scudamore
Grand National winner: Oxo (1959)
Grand National winner: Oxo (1959)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Linwell (1957)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Linwell (1957)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1953: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Irish Lizard
1953: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Irish Lizard
1953: Withington Handicap Chase (Birmingham) – Glen Fire
1953: Withington Handicap Chase (Birmingham) – Glen Fire
1954: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Irish Lizard
1954: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Irish Lizard
1956: National Hunt Juvenile Chase – Segnor IV
1956: National Hunt Juvenile Chase – Segnor IV
1956: Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase – Amber Wave
1956: Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase – Amber Wave
1956: Triumph Hurdle – Square Dance
1956: Triumph Hurdle – Square Dance
1956: King George VI Chase – Rose Park
1956: King George VI Chase – Rose Park
1957: Broadway Novices’ Chase – Mandarin
1957: Broadway Novices’ Chase – Mandarin
1957: Welsh Grand National – Creola
1957: Welsh Grand National – Creola
1960: Henry VIII Chase – King’s Nephew
1960: Henry VIII Chase – King’s Nephew
1961: Mildmay Memorial Chase – Mac Joy
1961: Mildmay Memorial Chase – Mac Joy
1961: Grand Annual Handicap Chase – Barberyn
1961: Grand Annual Handicap Chase – Barberyn
1963: Topham Trophy Chase – Barberyn
1963: Topham Trophy Chase – Barberyn
1964: Cotswold Chase – Greektown
1964: Cotswold Chase – Greektown
1964: Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase – Panisse
1964: Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase – Panisse
1965: Withington Handicap Chase (Birmingham) – Honey End
1965: Withington Handicap Chase (Birmingham) – Honey End