Keith Temple-Nidd
Born on June 27, 1934, Adrian Keith Temple-Nidd lived at Anchor Farm Stud, Herringswell Road, Kentford, Newmarket.
Born on June 27, 1934, Adrian Keith Temple-Nidd lived at Anchor Farm Stud, Herringswell Road, Kentford, Newmarket.
He was apprenticed to Arthur Budgett and Richard Perryman and had his first ride in public on Drusus at Birmingham on Monday June 23, 1952. He rode his first winner, Derimar, on April 18, 1953 at Warwick.
He was apprenticed to Arthur Budgett and Richard Perryman and had his first ride in public on Drusus at Birmingham on Monday June 23, 1952. He rode his first winner, Derimar, on April 18, 1953 at Warwick.
His last ride was on Charnos for W. O'Gorman on Saturday May 13 1972.
His last ride was on Charnos for W. O'Gorman on Saturday May 13 1972.
Two years later, he fell foul of the authorities.
Two years later, he fell foul of the authorities.
Recalling the incident he said: "In the winter of 1974 the racing man from the News of the World rang up, saying he wanted to talk about racing generally, and he asked me if I had pulled any horses.
Recalling the incident he said: "In the winter of 1974 the racing man from the News of the World rang up, saying he wanted to talk about racing generally, and he asked me if I had pulled any horses.
"So I said, `Well, if you are talking about fat horses, or horses who are not fit, I've pulled hundreds'.
"So I said, `Well, if you are talking about fat horses, or horses who are not fit, I've pulled hundreds'.
"And what happens? That weekend in the News of the World there was the headline `Temple-Nidd pulled hundreds!' It was right out of context."
"And what happens? That weekend in the News of the World there was the headline `Temple-Nidd pulled hundreds!' It was right out of context."
Out of context it may have been, but that did not stop the repercussions.
Out of context it may have been, but that did not stop the repercussions.
"I lost my job with Bruce Hobbs because the owners wouldn't put me up - it wasn't Bruce Hobbs himself. When I applied for my licence the following February, the Jockey Club turned me down."
"I lost my job with Bruce Hobbs because the owners wouldn't put me up - it wasn't Bruce Hobbs himself. When I applied for my licence the following February, the Jockey Club turned me down."
Temple-Nidd continued to ride out in Newmarket, and it was here he found himself in the wars again.
Temple-Nidd continued to ride out in Newmarket, and it was here he found himself in the wars again.
He recalls: "I was riding out for Peter Robinson on a filly who reared up and rolled on me. I broke my right arm and two ribs.
He recalls: "I was riding out for Peter Robinson on a filly who reared up and rolled on me. I broke my right arm and two ribs.
"They thought I had damaged my kidneys because I had a hole in my left side and something was hanging out of it. I was in a mess.
"They thought I had damaged my kidneys because I had a hole in my left side and something was hanging out of it. I was in a mess.
"It took me five years to recover, and then the insurance would not pay. As I had been refused a licence they did not classify me as a jockey, so I missed out on a technicality. I thought it was all wrong and I was very bitter about it.
"It took me five years to recover, and then the insurance would not pay. As I had been refused a licence they did not classify me as a jockey, so I missed out on a technicality. I thought it was all wrong and I was very bitter about it.
"The man who owned the filly never rang me. He didn't even send me a postcard when I was in hospital. My livelihood had been taken away, and it probably cost me about £100,000, all on a technicality."
"The man who owned the filly never rang me. He didn't even send me a postcard when I was in hospital. My livelihood had been taken away, and it probably cost me about £100,000, all on a technicality."
Temple-Nidd adds: "When I got better I rode out for Michael Jarvis for a while, and then I went on to Paul Kelleway as assistant trainer.
Temple-Nidd adds: "When I got better I rode out for Michael Jarvis for a while, and then I went on to Paul Kelleway as assistant trainer.
"I rode out for him, and took Madam Gay to the US in 1981 when she was one of two British runners in the first Arlington Million and finished third to John Henry. She was a bit of a madam, but I got on with her and I always rode her work.
"I rode out for him, and took Madam Gay to the US in 1981 when she was one of two British runners in the first Arlington Million and finished third to John Henry. She was a bit of a madam, but I got on with her and I always rode her work.
"I still keep in contact with the Kelleways, and I went out to stay with Gillian [Paul's widow] in Spain last year, but my ambition was always to be involved in building.
"I still keep in contact with the Kelleways, and I went out to stay with Gillian [Paul's widow] in Spain last year, but my ambition was always to be involved in building.
"I bought a plot of land behind Bruce Hobbs in Saxon Street in Newmarket and built a beautiful cottage, but then as soon as I had finished the house I developed prostate cancer.
"I bought a plot of land behind Bruce Hobbs in Saxon Street in Newmarket and built a beautiful cottage, but then as soon as I had finished the house I developed prostate cancer.
"The first operation was not successful, but then one of the top doctors said I had a one-in-three chance of being cured. He did the operation and put me back on the road. Now I've got to have a hip replacement."
"The first operation was not successful, but then one of the top doctors said I had a one-in-three chance of being cured. He did the operation and put me back on the road. Now I've got to have a hip replacement."
You could forgive Temple-Nidd if he felt that racing had not done him many favours, but he looks back on the good days with pleasure and still follows the sport keenly.
You could forgive Temple-Nidd if he felt that racing had not done him many favours, but he looks back on the good days with pleasure and still follows the sport keenly.
He adds: "I was a jockey for 20 years, being apprenticed in 1952. I was maybe a bit of a 'job' jockey, and I reckon I rode about 200 winners. The highlight of it all was riding Ruby's Princess, who was third to Long Look in the 1965 Oaks. She was an outstanding filly and the best I rode."
He adds: "I was a jockey for 20 years, being apprenticed in 1952. I was maybe a bit of a 'job' jockey, and I reckon I rode about 200 winners. The highlight of it all was riding Ruby's Princess, who was third to Long Look in the 1965 Oaks. She was an outstanding filly and the best I rode."
Keith was married on June 22, 1958, to Gillian Margaret Wigg: she gave him two daughters, Rowena Berenice and Karen Louise.
Keith was married on June 22, 1958, to Gillian Margaret Wigg: she gave him two daughters, Rowena Berenice and Karen Louise.
Keith once underwent a successful cure for asthma.
Keith once underwent a successful cure for asthma.
The son of a Lieutenant-Paymaster in the Navy, Keith came from Portsmouth and was the only member of his family not to go to sea.
The son of a Lieutenant-Paymaster in the Navy, Keith came from Portsmouth and was the only member of his family not to go to sea.
Keith Temple-Nidd
Keith Temple-Nidd
Big winners:
Big winners:
1955: Welsh Cesarewitch – Dessin
1955: Welsh Cesarewitch – Dessin
1957: Midland Spring Handicap – Honiton
1957: Midland Spring Handicap – Honiton
1961: Liverpool Autumn Cup – British Legionnaire
1961: Liverpool Autumn Cup – British Legionnaire
1962: Welsh Stewards Cup – Nerium
1962: Welsh Stewards Cup – Nerium
1964: Festival Stakes (Birmingham) – Sylvan Prince
1964: Festival Stakes (Birmingham) – Sylvan Prince
1964: Chepstow Cup – Flash Of Dawn
1964: Chepstow Cup – Flash Of Dawn