Stuart Turner
Northern-based jump jockey Stuart Turner was born on September 30, 1967, the son of former jump jockey Mac Turner.
Northern-based jump jockey Stuart Turner was born on September 30, 1967, the son of former jump jockey Mac Turner.
He enjoyed his best season in 1988/89 when he rode 29 winners from 360 mounts and was joint champion conditional jockey.
He enjoyed his best season in 1988/89 when he rode 29 winners from 360 mounts and was joint champion conditional jockey.
Stuart served a three-year apprenticeship with Middleham trainer George Moore and rode his first winner on High Barn in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Hexham on December 4, 1985 (right). His breakthrough season came in 1987/88 during which he rode 14 winners for a variety of trainers, including two bumpers on Chris Thornton’s Sioux Be It and a pair of handicap hurdles on Bill Haigh’s Mossberry Fair.
Stuart served a three-year apprenticeship with Middleham trainer George Moore and rode his first winner on High Barn in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Hexham on December 4, 1985 (right). His breakthrough season came in 1987/88 during which he rode 14 winners for a variety of trainers, including two bumpers on Chris Thornton’s Sioux Be It and a pair of handicap hurdles on Bill Haigh’s Mossberry Fair.
He began the following season as he meant to go on, winning the opening race of the campaign on Kevin Morgan’s selling hurdler Fingers Crossed at Market Rasen on Saturday, July 30, 1988. He won on Fingers Crossed again over course and distance on August 13 and completed a double that day by winning on Michael Chapman’s novice chaser Vulnerable. He then won a Racing Post Novices’ Chase qualifier on Vulnerable at Cartmel on August Bank Holiday Monday.
He began the following season as he meant to go on, winning the opening race of the campaign on Kevin Morgan’s selling hurdler Fingers Crossed at Market Rasen on Saturday, July 30, 1988. He won on Fingers Crossed again over course and distance on August 13 and completed a double that day by winning on Michael Chapman’s novice chaser Vulnerable. He then won a Racing Post Novices’ Chase qualifier on Vulnerable at Cartmel on August Bank Holiday Monday.
More winners soon followed, including a double at Sedgefield on November 4. Later that month he won twice on Hatsu-Girie, including the Dick Brewitt Memorial Chase at Sedgefield. More doubles followed, at Edinburgh on December 12, at Catterick on New Year’s Eve, Wetherby on January 13 and Ayr on February 10. Before long he had ridden out his claim, finishing the season with a score of 29 winner and sharing the title of champion conditional jockey alongside Derek Byrne and Richard Fahey.
More winners soon followed, including a double at Sedgefield on November 4. Later that month he won twice on Hatsu-Girie, including the Dick Brewitt Memorial Chase at Sedgefield. More doubles followed, at Edinburgh on December 12, at Catterick on New Year’s Eve, Wetherby on January 13 and Ayr on February 10. Before long he had ridden out his claim, finishing the season with a score of 29 winner and sharing the title of champion conditional jockey alongside Derek Byrne and Richard Fahey.
The first season riding without a claim is usually a tough one but Stuart did well, notching 25 wins in 1989/90. They included a high-profile success on November 11, 1989, when winning the Whitbread White Label Handicap Hurdle on Cheltenham’s Mackeson Gold Cup day card (below). He notched a double at Ayr on December 17 and had a Boxing Day winner at Wetherby courtesy of Richard Whitaker’s handicap hurdler African Spirit.
The first season riding without a claim is usually a tough one but Stuart did well, notching 25 wins in 1989/90. They included a high-profile success on November 11, 1989, when winning the Whitbread White Label Handicap Hurdle on Cheltenham’s Mackeson Gold Cup day card (below). He notched a double at Ayr on December 17 and had a Boxing Day winner at Wetherby courtesy of Richard Whitaker’s handicap hurdler African Spirit.
His winning tally fell to five for the 1990/91 season but he had better luck the following campaign, thanks largely to Dick Woodhouse’s chaser Mr Boston, on whom Stuart won four times, comprising the Neville Crump Handicap Chase at Catterick on New Year’s Eve, the Cement City Challenge Cup at Wolverhampton on January 6, 1992 and a brace of Nottingham chases in February. He rated Mr Boston as the best he rode during his career.
His winning tally fell to five for the 1990/91 season but he had better luck the following campaign, thanks largely to Dick Woodhouse’s chaser Mr Boston, on whom Stuart won four times, comprising the Neville Crump Handicap Chase at Catterick on New Year’s Eve, the Cement City Challenge Cup at Wolverhampton on January 6, 1992 and a brace of Nottingham chases in February. He rated Mr Boston as the best he rode during his career.
Stuart rode as a freelance and, sadly, was unable to maintain that level of success. His rode just four winners in both the 1992/93 and 93/94 campaigns. He relinquished his licence the following season.
Stuart rode as a freelance and, sadly, was unable to maintain that level of success. His rode just four winners in both the 1992/93 and 93/94 campaigns. He relinquished his licence the following season.