Ray Still
Raymond Walter Still was born in Greenwich, London on December 4, 1946. Staring in 1962, he spent eight years under the not inconsiderable wing of Sam Armstrong and rode his first winner on Miss Sherluck in the Nostell Apprentice Stakes at Pontefract on September 22, 1965.
Raymond Walter Still was born in Greenwich, London on December 4, 1946. Staring in 1962, he spent eight years under the not inconsiderable wing of Sam Armstrong and rode his first winner on Miss Sherluck in the Nostell Apprentice Stakes at Pontefract on September 22, 1965.
On March 15, 1967 he became leading jockey for half an hour when winning the opening race of the Flat season, the First Apprentice Handicap, on the Sam Armstrong-trained Monkey Fire, a 9-1 chance, taking the lead inside the final furlong and scoring by a neck.
On March 15, 1967 he became leading jockey for half an hour when winning the opening race of the Flat season, the First Apprentice Handicap, on the Sam Armstrong-trained Monkey Fire, a 9-1 chance, taking the lead inside the final furlong and scoring by a neck.
The following month, Ray again made the papers in another apprentice contest, this time at Alexandra Park, but it wasn’t for winning the race. Trainer Fiddler Goodwill had an apprentice named Dylan Meredith – who now trains in California – who was having his first ride. Fiddler asked Ray to look after him. However, it was Ray who needed the help when his mount, Willow Red, took off with him just as the starter had called the runners into line. The horse charged the starting tapes, Ray hit them with his chest, which catapulted him into the air and flipped him over, coming down and landing on top of the tapes. A photograph of the incident appeared in several newspapers the following day and makes it look as though he’s walking a tightrope.
The following month, Ray again made the papers in another apprentice contest, this time at Alexandra Park, but it wasn’t for winning the race. Trainer Fiddler Goodwill had an apprentice named Dylan Meredith – who now trains in California – who was having his first ride. Fiddler asked Ray to look after him. However, it was Ray who needed the help when his mount, Willow Red, took off with him just as the starter had called the runners into line. The horse charged the starting tapes, Ray hit them with his chest, which catapulted him into the air and flipped him over, coming down and landing on top of the tapes. A photograph of the incident appeared in several newspapers the following day and makes it look as though he’s walking a tightrope.
As a 5lb claimer Ray won three major handicaps in 1968, landing the Timeform 21st Anniversary Cup for George Todd on Square Deal, the Bunbury Cup for Bill Payne on Swinging Minstrel and the November Handicap for Avril Vasey on 25-1 shot Zardia. However, the highlight of his career was winning the 1969 Ebor Handicap on Dave Hanley’s 40-1 outsider Big Hat.
As a 5lb claimer Ray won three major handicaps in 1968, landing the Timeform 21st Anniversary Cup for George Todd on Square Deal, the Bunbury Cup for Bill Payne on Swinging Minstrel and the November Handicap for Avril Vasey on 25-1 shot Zardia. However, the highlight of his career was winning the 1969 Ebor Handicap on Dave Hanley’s 40-1 outsider Big Hat.
Other important victories included the 1972 Victoria Cup on Heave To and the 1976 Zetland Gold Cup aboard Move Off.
Other important victories included the 1972 Victoria Cup on Heave To and the 1976 Zetland Gold Cup aboard Move Off.
Ray spent several winters riding in India, starting in 1971, and rode many big winners there, including all five classics during the 1973/74 season on Air Hostess.
Ray spent several winters riding in India, starting in 1971, and rode many big winners there, including all five classics during the 1973/74 season on Air Hostess.
However, India was also the location of his worst fall in the 1979/80 season. He was riding successfully in Bangalore, so successfully in fact that one of the other jockeys confided to Ray’s wife Mary that the local jockeys weren’t liking it and warned Ray to be careful. Later that same afternoon, as the field was coming to a bend, one of the jockeys cut right across him and brought him down, with the rest of the field using him as a doormat. He was in a coma for two weeks, having suffered brain damage.
However, India was also the location of his worst fall in the 1979/80 season. He was riding successfully in Bangalore, so successfully in fact that one of the other jockeys confided to Ray’s wife Mary that the local jockeys weren’t liking it and warned Ray to be careful. Later that same afternoon, as the field was coming to a bend, one of the jockeys cut right across him and brought him down, with the rest of the field using him as a doormat. He was in a coma for two weeks, having suffered brain damage.
Ray was out of racing for the next 18 months and found it hard to get going again. Between 1981 and 1983, he rode just seven winners. He found himself traveling the length of the country for one ride on a longshot. Once he’d paid for the petrol and the valet’s fees, it was costing him money to do it. He stuck at it for about a year before deciding to hang up his boots.
Ray was out of racing for the next 18 months and found it hard to get going again. Between 1981 and 1983, he rode just seven winners. He found himself traveling the length of the country for one ride on a longshot. Once he’d paid for the petrol and the valet’s fees, it was costing him money to do it. He stuck at it for about a year before deciding to hang up his boots.
He worked as assistant trainer to Sam Armstrong’s son Robert but later suffered another bad fall on the gallops when a stirrup iron broke during a routine canter. That marked the end of his time in the saddle. He was advised not to ride again, even for pleasure.
He worked as assistant trainer to Sam Armstrong’s son Robert but later suffered another bad fall on the gallops when a stirrup iron broke during a routine canter. That marked the end of his time in the saddle. He was advised not to ride again, even for pleasure.
Unable to get a job in any of the racing yards due to his inability to ride, he took various jobs, including training as an upholsterer, a driving job delivering parts for Mercedes, eventually ending up stacking shelves in the local branch of Tesco’s.
Unable to get a job in any of the racing yards due to his inability to ride, he took various jobs, including training as an upholsterer, a driving job delivering parts for Mercedes, eventually ending up stacking shelves in the local branch of Tesco’s.
A keen biker, he bought himself a Yamaha Virago 535. However, it was a short-lived episode as he had a fall when on a rally and managed to break most of the bones he hadn’t broken in racing. To add insult to injury, he was charged by the police for driving without due care and attention and had to pay for a sign he’d knocked down.
A keen biker, he bought himself a Yamaha Virago 535. However, it was a short-lived episode as he had a fall when on a rally and managed to break most of the bones he hadn’t broken in racing. To add insult to injury, he was charged by the police for driving without due care and attention and had to pay for a sign he’d knocked down.
Ray now lives a more sedate life in Newmarket with his wife Mary, the pair having been married on October 30, 1971.
Ray now lives a more sedate life in Newmarket with his wife Mary, the pair having been married on October 30, 1971.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1968: Timeform 21st Anniversary Cup (Doncaster) – Square Deal
1968: Timeform 21st Anniversary Cup (Doncaster) – Square Deal
1968: Bunbury Cup – Swinging Minstrel
1968: Bunbury Cup – Swinging Minstrel
1968: November Handicap – Zardia
1968: November Handicap – Zardia
1969: Ebor Handicap – Big Hat
1969: Ebor Handicap – Big Hat
1971: Ford Cortina Cup (York) – Heave To
1971: Ford Cortina Cup (York) – Heave To
1972: Victoria Cup – Heave To
1972: Victoria Cup – Heave To
1976: Glenlivet Handicap (Newmarket) – Fighting Lady
1976: Glenlivet Handicap (Newmarket) – Fighting Lady
1976: Zetland Gold Cup – Move Off
1976: Zetland Gold Cup – Move Off
Ray Still lands on the starting tapes after being ejected by his mount Willow Red at Alexandra Park in 1967.
Ray Still lands on the starting tapes after being ejected by his mount Willow Red at Alexandra Park in 1967.