Joe Tizzard
Born on December 13, 1979, Joe Colin Leslie Tizzard is the son of Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Colin Tizzard. He rode as stable jockey to his father while combining the role as assistant trainer until announcing his retirement from the saddle in March 2015, aged 34.
Born on December 13, 1979, Joe Colin Leslie Tizzard is the son of Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Colin Tizzard. He rode as stable jockey to his father while combining the role as assistant trainer until announcing his retirement from the saddle in March 2015, aged 34.
He began his riding career as an amateur. The horse that got him going was The Jogger, on whom Joe won point-to-points at Cothelstone and Charlton Horethorne in the spring of 1996. The Jogger also provided Joe with his first winner under National Hunt rules when landing a Wincanton hunters’ chase on May 7, 1996. They followed up at Chepstow seven days later. The following season they combined to win the Corinthian Hunters’ Chase at Kempton on February 21,1997 and finish seventh in that year’s Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase.
He began his riding career as an amateur. The horse that got him going was The Jogger, on whom Joe won point-to-points at Cothelstone and Charlton Horethorne in the spring of 1996. The Jogger also provided Joe with his first winner under National Hunt rules when landing a Wincanton hunters’ chase on May 7, 1996. They followed up at Chepstow seven days later. The following season they combined to win the Corinthian Hunters’ Chase at Kempton on February 21,1997 and finish seventh in that year’s Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase.
Joe recorded his first Cheltenham Festival victory on Earthmover in the 1998 Foxhunters’ Chase. He turned
Joe recorded his first Cheltenham Festival victory on Earthmover in the 1998 Foxhunters’ Chase. He turned
professional the following season and rode for Paul Nicholls, in the years before the trainer took over from Martin Pipe as the dominant force in National Hunt racing. In November 1998 he won the Haldon Gold Cup on Lake Kariba. The following month he landed Chepstow’s Rehearsal Chase on See More Business.
professional the following season and rode for Paul Nicholls, in the years before the trainer took over from Martin Pipe as the dominant force in National Hunt racing. In November 1998 he won the Haldon Gold Cup on Lake Kariba. The following month he landed Chepstow’s Rehearsal Chase on See More Business.
Joe built up a strong partnership with the outstanding two-mile chaser Flagship Uberalles, winning three Grade One events including the Arkle Trophy at the 1999 Cheltenham Festival and the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree a few weeks later. Joe finished that 1998-99 season as champion conditional jockey, winning a total of 91 races.
Joe built up a strong partnership with the outstanding two-mile chaser Flagship Uberalles, winning three Grade One events including the Arkle Trophy at the 1999 Cheltenham Festival and the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree a few weeks later. Joe finished that 1998-99 season as champion conditional jockey, winning a total of 91 races.
The following season (1999-2000) Joe and Flagship Uberalles teamed up win the Haldon Gold Cup (left) at Exeter, the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, and the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Joe added another Grade One to his record the same season when Rockforce took the Ascot Chase.
The following season (1999-2000) Joe and Flagship Uberalles teamed up win the Haldon Gold Cup (left) at Exeter, the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, and the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Joe added another Grade One to his record the same season when Rockforce took the Ascot Chase.
The 1998-99 campaign proved to be the best of Joe’s career. The increasing significance of Ruby Walsh as the leading rider at the Nicholls yard left him short of opportunities at the highest level after losing his claim. Furthermore, Joe spent nearly a year on the sidelines after suffering a serious spinal injury in a fall in March 2002. Later on, he was lucky to escape with his life after being sucked into a hay-baling machine at his brother-in-law’s farm in 2008.
The 1998-99 campaign proved to be the best of Joe’s career. The increasing significance of Ruby Walsh as the leading rider at the Nicholls yard left him short of opportunities at the highest level after losing his claim. Furthermore, Joe spent nearly a year on the sidelines after suffering a serious spinal injury in a fall in March 2002. Later on, he was lucky to escape with his life after being sucked into a hay-baling machine at his brother-in-law’s farm in 2008.
The Tizzards’ farming operation, on the borders of Somerset and Dorset, gradually diversified into racehorse training. Whereas Colin Tizzard’s profile had been that of a farmer-trainer, the training side was now taking priority. Joe became the stable jockey and soon became a regular player in major races again, beginning with victory on his father’s Joe Lively in the Grade One Feltham Novice Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2007. They also won the 2012 Classic Chase at Warwick with Hey Big Spender.
The Tizzards’ farming operation, on the borders of Somerset and Dorset, gradually diversified into racehorse training. Whereas Colin Tizzard’s profile had been that of a farmer-trainer, the training side was now taking priority. Joe became the stable jockey and soon became a regular player in major races again, beginning with victory on his father’s Joe Lively in the Grade One Feltham Novice Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2007. They also won the 2012 Classic Chase at Warwick with Hey Big Spender.
But it was Joe’s association with stable star Cue Card for which he is best known, winning four Grade One races on him between March 2010 and November 2013. The first of those was the 2010 Cheltenham Bumper at odds of 40-1. In 2013 they won the Ascot Chase and followed up in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. They scored an emotional success in November that year when beating an outstanding field in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, before the pair finished second to Silviniaco Conti in the King George VI Chase.
But it was Joe’s association with stable star Cue Card for which he is best known, winning four Grade One races on him between March 2010 and November 2013. The first of those was the 2010 Cheltenham Bumper at odds of 40-1. In 2013 they won the Ascot Chase and followed up in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. They scored an emotional success in November that year when beating an outstanding field in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, before the pair finished second to Silviniaco Conti in the King George VI Chase.
Joe rode his final winner aboard Gentleman Jon at Wincanton on March 6, 2014. He announced his retirement from the saddle later that month to concentrate on assisting his father in the family's training and dairy farming business.
Joe rode his final winner aboard Gentleman Jon at Wincanton on March 6, 2014. He announced his retirement from the saddle later that month to concentrate on assisting his father in the family's training and dairy farming business.