Pat Upton
Patrick John Upton was born on February 11, 1931. He served with the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers between 1952 and 1958 and attained the rank of Captain.
Patrick John Upton was born on February 11, 1931. He served with the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers between 1952 and 1958 and attained the rank of Captain.
He rode as an amateur in Germany and England from 1950 to 1961 and registered a total of 26 winners. They included Sid Warren’s grey chaser K.E. at Stratford on May 21, 1960, beating Terry Biddlecombe on Verneuil II by three lengths.
He rode as an amateur in Germany and England from 1950 to 1961 and registered a total of 26 winners. They included Sid Warren’s grey chaser K.E. at Stratford on May 21, 1960, beating Terry Biddlecombe on Verneuil II by three lengths.
He rode five winners during the 1960/61 season, his last and most successful in Britain. By coincidence, the first of these was on the aforementioned Verneuil II, in the Rosy Brook Amateur Riders Handicap Chase at Newbury on October 20, 1960. In December he won a brace of novice hurdles at Chepstow and Taunton on Brother Billy for Wells-based trainer Herbert Payne. He won on Verneuil II again at Newbury on December 30 and gained his final victory on another of Payne’s novice hurdlers, Highway, at Windsor on March 2, 1961.
He rode five winners during the 1960/61 season, his last and most successful in Britain. By coincidence, the first of these was on the aforementioned Verneuil II, in the Rosy Brook Amateur Riders Handicap Chase at Newbury on October 20, 1960. In December he won a brace of novice hurdles at Chepstow and Taunton on Brother Billy for Wells-based trainer Herbert Payne. He won on Verneuil II again at Newbury on December 30 and gained his final victory on another of Payne’s novice hurdlers, Highway, at Windsor on March 2, 1961.
In June 1960 he married Philippa, daughter of trainer Captain W. K. McMullen, and took out his own trainer’s licence the following year, based at Sparsholt, near Wantage. His racing colours were black, white collar and sleeves, orange cap with white hoop.
In June 1960 he married Philippa, daughter of trainer Captain W. K. McMullen, and took out his own trainer’s licence the following year, based at Sparsholt, near Wantage. His racing colours were black, white collar and sleeves, orange cap with white hoop.
He enjoyed a fair measure of success as a trainer between 1961 and 1978. His best horses were Dancing Rain, who won twice over Liverpool’s Mildmay fences with Gene Kelly aboard during the 1961/62 season and also won Haydock’s Sundew Chase in 1962 and Wolverhampton’s Shrewsbury Challenge Cup in 1964; and Fighting Taffy, who won the Sovereign Hurdle at Newbury in 1974 and the valuable Benson and Hedges Handicap Hurdle at Sandown the following year.
He enjoyed a fair measure of success as a trainer between 1961 and 1978. His best horses were Dancing Rain, who won twice over Liverpool’s Mildmay fences with Gene Kelly aboard during the 1961/62 season and also won Haydock’s Sundew Chase in 1962 and Wolverhampton’s Shrewsbury Challenge Cup in 1964; and Fighting Taffy, who won the Sovereign Hurdle at Newbury in 1974 and the valuable Benson and Hedges Handicap Hurdle at Sandown the following year.