Ross Studholme
Dual-purpose jockey Ross Studholme was born on June 28, 1977. He began his career as an apprentice on the Flat with Graham Thorner in the mid-1990s but subsequently doubled up as a conditional jockey over hurdles.
Dual-purpose jockey Ross Studholme was born on June 28, 1977. He began his career as an apprentice on the Flat with Graham Thorner in the mid-1990s but subsequently doubled up as a conditional jockey over hurdles.
He rode winners on the Flat for a number of trainers including Alan Bailey, John Bridger, Gareth Charles-Jones and Graham McCourt. He enjoyed his most successful season in 1998 with 15 winners from 150 mounts.
He rode winners on the Flat for a number of trainers including Alan Bailey, John Bridger, Gareth Charles-Jones and Graham McCourt. He enjoyed his most successful season in 1998 with 15 winners from 150 mounts.
He was involved in a strange incident at Fakenham in March 1999 in which all 11 runners took the wrong course. The field jumped a hurdle they should have bypassed. Ross, riding Jamorin Dancer, realised his mistake, retraced his steps and bypassed the hurdle in the belief that this would get him the race. However, by the time he passed the winning post, the judge had already left his box and was unable to place the horse.
He was involved in a strange incident at Fakenham in March 1999 in which all 11 runners took the wrong course. The field jumped a hurdle they should have bypassed. Ross, riding Jamorin Dancer, realised his mistake, retraced his steps and bypassed the hurdle in the belief that this would get him the race. However, by the time he passed the winning post, the judge had already left his box and was unable to place the horse.
Ross rode his last National Hunt winner on the Graham McCourt-trained Princess Topaz in a Taunton selling handicap hurdle on October 12, 2000. His final ride over jumps in mainland Britain was on Lord Richfield for trainer Brian Baugh, coming home twelfth of the 14 finishers in a 19-runner handicap hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee on April 20, 2002.
Ross rode his last National Hunt winner on the Graham McCourt-trained Princess Topaz in a Taunton selling handicap hurdle on October 12, 2000. His final ride over jumps in mainland Britain was on Lord Richfield for trainer Brian Baugh, coming home twelfth of the 14 finishers in a 19-runner handicap hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee on April 20, 2002.
He announced his retirement shortly after winning a one-mile handicap at Windsor on Dollar Law, trained by Richard Price, on April 29, 2002. A letter from Gareth and Jessica Charles-Jones, for whom he had started riding when aged 17, weighing 7st 6lb, was published in the Racing Post the following week. It wished Ross and his wife Donna well for the future and praised his ability as a jockey. They stated how he “was one of those rare jockeys who was equally adept at riding a two-year-old at Bath and a novice chaser at Plumpton. He rode a nice finish on the Flat and was a fine horseman over obstacles.”
He announced his retirement shortly after winning a one-mile handicap at Windsor on Dollar Law, trained by Richard Price, on April 29, 2002. A letter from Gareth and Jessica Charles-Jones, for whom he had started riding when aged 17, weighing 7st 6lb, was published in the Racing Post the following week. It wished Ross and his wife Donna well for the future and praised his ability as a jockey. They stated how he “was one of those rare jockeys who was equally adept at riding a two-year-old at Bath and a novice chaser at Plumpton. He rode a nice finish on the Flat and was a fine horseman over obstacles.”
Three years later, Ross made a comeback. Following a couple of rides at Les Landes in Jersey, one over hurdles and a third-place finish on the Flat, he renewed his licence and had his first rides in Britain at Windsor on April 18, 2005.
Three years later, Ross made a comeback. Following a couple of rides at Les Landes in Jersey, one over hurdles and a third-place finish on the Flat, he renewed his licence and had his first rides in Britain at Windsor on April 18, 2005.
He rode mostly for trainer Michael Chapman but, sadly, failed to ride another winner, coming closest when second, beaten a neck, on Champagne Rossini at Thirsk on June 3, 2005.
He rode mostly for trainer Michael Chapman but, sadly, failed to ride another winner, coming closest when second, beaten a neck, on Champagne Rossini at Thirsk on June 3, 2005.
He had his final ride on Jousting for trainer Vince Smith in a three-year-old maiden at Wolverhampton on January 16, 2007, finishing a well-beaten last of eleven.
He had his final ride on Jousting for trainer Vince Smith in a three-year-old maiden at Wolverhampton on January 16, 2007, finishing a well-beaten last of eleven.