Flat jockey Adrian Warwick Thornley was born on November 12, 1950. He served his apprenticeship with Sam Armstrong at Newmarket but rode his first winner for Dunbar trainer George Boyd on Burning Bright in a Carlisle apprentice race on July 6, 1967.
Unable to make the grade in Britain, Adrian moved his tack to America where he enjoyed limited success as a journeyman jockey, riding 57 winners in the 1970/71 season. His biggest wins included the Owners Handicap plus conditional handicaps in America and Canada.
He returned to Britain and took out a jockey’s licence in 1974 but rode no winners. He also held a licence in 1977 and 1978 but, again, failed to ride a winner in either year.