Peter Skelton
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Peter John Skelton spent all bar the last two years of his career with Epsom trainer Ron Smyth. He rode two winners as an apprentice on the Flat and 24 over jumps.
Peter John Skelton spent all bar the last two years of his career with Epsom trainer Ron Smyth. He rode two winners as an apprentice on the Flat and 24 over jumps.
His first winner was gained on Smyth’s good sprint handicapper Ron at ‘home course’ Epsom in the six-furlong Chessington Handicap on August 30, 1966. His only other Flat winner was Palladian in an Ascot apprentices’ race on the last day of March 1967.
His first winner was gained on Smyth’s good sprint handicapper Ron at ‘home course’ Epsom in the six-furlong Chessington Handicap on August 30, 1966. His only other Flat winner was Palladian in an Ascot apprentices’ race on the last day of March 1967.
Rising weight led Peter to take out a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1969. His first winner over jumps was Ron Smyth’s Lucky Edgar in the Oak Open Handicap Hurdle at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting on March 14, 1970. He won on him again at Folkestone the next month. Lucky Edgar also gave him his first winning ride over fences when landing a handicap chase at Windsor in March 1972.
Rising weight led Peter to take out a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1969. His first winner over jumps was Ron Smyth’s Lucky Edgar in the Oak Open Handicap Hurdle at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting on March 14, 1970. He won on him again at Folkestone the next month. Lucky Edgar also gave him his first winning ride over fences when landing a handicap chase at Windsor in March 1972.
Peter enjoyed his best season in 1972/73, riding a dozen winners, all bar two of them trained by Ron Smyth. They included Sandown’s Toll House Juvenile Hurdle and Newbury’s Stroud Green Hurdle on Glorious Fifteenth. He rode two doubles for Smyth in December 1972, on Historic Myth and Travabond at Wye, and on Historic Myth and Lucky Edgar at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.
Peter enjoyed his best season in 1972/73, riding a dozen winners, all bar two of them trained by Ron Smyth. They included Sandown’s Toll House Juvenile Hurdle and Newbury’s Stroud Green Hurdle on Glorious Fifteenth. He rode two doubles for Smyth in December 1972, on Historic Myth and Travabond at Wye, and on Historic Myth and Lucky Edgar at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.
Surprisingly, he rode only two more winners, both on Ron Smyth’s useful juvenile Supreme Halo in November 1973. The second of those victories was in Ascot’s Aurelius Hurdle, which he won in a canter by a distance. He then finished fifth on him in the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham and second in the Benson and Hedges Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Sandown in December. They were the last occasions on which he rode Supreme Halo.
Surprisingly, he rode only two more winners, both on Ron Smyth’s useful juvenile Supreme Halo in November 1973. The second of those victories was in Ascot’s Aurelius Hurdle, which he won in a canter by a distance. He then finished fifth on him in the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham and second in the Benson and Hedges Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Sandown in December. They were the last occasions on which he rode Supreme Halo.
It appears that Peter left Ron Smyth soon afterwards and joined fellow Epsom trainer Arthur Pitt. However, he failed to ride any more winners and hung up his boots in 1975.
It appears that Peter left Ron Smyth soon afterwards and joined fellow Epsom trainer Arthur Pitt. However, he failed to ride any more winners and hung up his boots in 1975.
Peter Skelton’s winners were, in chronological order:
Peter Skelton’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Ron, Epsom, August 30, 1966
1. Ron, Epsom, August 30, 1966
2. Palladian, Ascot, March 31, 1967
2. Palladian, Ascot, March 31, 1967
3. Lucky Edgar, Sandown Park, March 13, 1970
3. Lucky Edgar, Sandown Park, March 13, 1970
4. Lucky Edgar, Folkestone, April 7, 1970
4. Lucky Edgar, Folkestone, April 7, 1970
5. Kyrios, Plumpton, August 31, 1970
5. Kyrios, Plumpton, August 31, 1970
6. Kyrios, Plumpton, October 13, 1970
6. Kyrios, Plumpton, October 13, 1970
7. Fleet Fox, Sandown Park, November 7, 1970
7. Fleet Fox, Sandown Park, November 7, 1970
8. Super Imp, Lingfield Park, November 24, 1970
8. Super Imp, Lingfield Park, November 24, 1970
9. Super Imp, Lingfield Park, March 4, 1971
9. Super Imp, Lingfield Park, March 4, 1971
10. Fascination, Fakenham, October 8, 1971
10. Fascination, Fakenham, October 8, 1971
11. Hey Ho, Lingfield Park, March 2, 1972
11. Hey Ho, Lingfield Park, March 2, 1972
12. Lucky Edgar, Windsor, March 7, 1972
12. Lucky Edgar, Windsor, March 7, 1972
13. Running Fire, Plumpton, August 16, 1972
13. Running Fire, Plumpton, August 16, 1972
14. Glorious Fifteenth, Sandown Park, (run at Kempton) November 4, 1972
14. Glorious Fifteenth, Sandown Park, (run at Kempton) November 4, 1972
15. Jumbo Jet, Windsor, November 8, 1972
15. Jumbo Jet, Windsor, November 8, 1972
16. Copperless, Fontwell, November 22, 1972
16. Copperless, Fontwell, November 22, 1972
17. Whindamus, Kempton Park, December 1, 1972
17. Whindamus, Kempton Park, December 1, 1972
18. Historic Myth, Wye, December 11, 1972
18. Historic Myth, Wye, December 11, 1972
19. Travabond, Wye, December 11, 1972
19. Travabond, Wye, December 11, 1972
20. Historic Myth, Kempton Park, December 27, 1972
20. Historic Myth, Kempton Park, December 27, 1972
21. Lucky Edgar, Kempton Park, December 27, 1972
21. Lucky Edgar, Kempton Park, December 27, 1972
22. Joe Grace, Plumpton, February 5, 1973
22. Joe Grace, Plumpton, February 5, 1973
23. Glorious Fifteenth, Newbury, February 9, 1973
23. Glorious Fifteenth, Newbury, February 9, 1973
24. General Imp, Lingfield Park, March 16, 1973
24. General Imp, Lingfield Park, March 16, 1973
25. Supreme Halo, Lingfield Park, November 6, 1973
25. Supreme Halo, Lingfield Park, November 6, 1973
26. Supreme Halo, Ascot, November 17, 1973
26. Supreme Halo, Ascot, November 17, 1973