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When Beechy Bank sprang a 200-1 shock by winning at Warwick on September 21, 2002, she became the longest priced winner on the Flat for 180 years. Not since Theodore had defied equivalent odds of 200-1 to lead home three stablemates in the 1822 St Leger had any horse obliged on the level at such huge odds.
When Beechy Bank sprang a 200-1 shock by winning at Warwick on September 21, 2002, she became the longest priced winner on the Flat for 180 years. Not since Theodore had defied equivalent odds of 200-1 to lead home three stablemates in the 1822 St Leger had any horse obliged on the level at such huge odds.
The jockey on Beechy Bank that day was Vince Slattery, one of the few jockeys to combine successful careers on the Flat and over jumps. He won her again at Nottingham in July 2003.
The jockey on Beechy Bank that day was Vince Slattery, one of the few jockeys to combine successful careers on the Flat and over jumps. He won her again at Nottingham in July 2003.
Christened John Vincent Slattery but always known as Vince, he was born in Ireland on September 30, 1968. He started his racing career as an apprentice with Frank Dunne before joining Arthur Moore, for whom he had a few rides over jumps. He moved to England as a conditional jockey and teamed up with Owen O’Neill at Cheltenham.
Christened John Vincent Slattery but always known as Vince, he was born in Ireland on September 30, 1968. He started his racing career as an apprentice with Frank Dunne before joining Arthur Moore, for whom he had a few rides over jumps. He moved to England as a conditional jockey and teamed up with Owen O’Neill at Cheltenham.
He went on to ride for 25 years from the mid-1980s. Probably the best horse he rode was Shu Fly, on whom he won a Lingfield novices’ hurdle on March 5, 1990. However, his most high profile victory came at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2000 when winning a valuable sponsored handicap hurdle, below, on Flagship Colm.
He went on to ride for 25 years from the mid-1980s. Probably the best horse he rode was Shu Fly, on whom he won a Lingfield novices’ hurdle on March 5, 1990. However, his most high profile victory came at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2000 when winning a valuable sponsored handicap hurdle, below, on Flagship Colm.
He never rode a really decent Flat horse, but he partnered Lunar Mist to two of her six victories – which included five nurseries – in 1995.
He never rode a really decent Flat horse, but he partnered Lunar Mist to two of her six victories – which included five nurseries – in 1995.
Vince announced his retirement in September 2010, the month of his 42nd birthday, just days after having been crowned Channel Islands champion jockey in Jersey. He’d only had 36 rides during that Flat season, but it was more down to business and family commitments that led him to announce he would not be renewing his licence when it expired. By then he was running a livery yard and had a successful building business, while he was also involved running the family’s stud-cum-farm in Ireland during his father’s illness.
Vince announced his retirement in September 2010, the month of his 42nd birthday, just days after having been crowned Channel Islands champion jockey in Jersey. He’d only had 36 rides during that Flat season, but it was more down to business and family commitments that led him to announce he would not be renewing his licence when it expired. By then he was running a livery yard and had a successful building business, while he was also involved running the family’s stud-cum-farm in Ireland during his father’s illness.
Although he hadn’t ridden any big winners, he could claim the rare distinction of having ridden at every racecourse in Britain, Flat and jumps.
Although he hadn’t ridden any big winners, he could claim the rare distinction of having ridden at every racecourse in Britain, Flat and jumps.
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