David Verco

Article by Chris Pitt

David was born on 27 October 1961.

At 43 David Verco was among the weighing room’s senior members when quitting the saddle in 2005. He’d started riding in races when in his teens so it was a long career, albeit punctuated by a spell in the Royal Navy.

He began as an amateur, via hunting and point-to-points, riding for local West Midland trainers including Bryan McMahon, Martin Charles, Christopher Trietline, Wilmer Mann and Bernard Wells. Though he had several point-to-point successes to his credit, he failed to register a winner under National Hunt Rules.

He then spent six years in the Navy from 1979 to 1985. He served on seagoing ships and travelled all over the world including the Middle East, the Mediterranean and North America, and was in the Falkland Islands in 1982. He described the experience as “a fabulous institution for guys like myself, particularly those who were always into sport.”

However, when he came out of the Navy he found it difficult trying to start again in racing and opportunities were few and far between. He finally achieved his first winner under Rules on March 13, 1989, on a horse called Sir Ben in a Southwell hunters’ chase for (then) permit holder Charles Pogson.

The decision to turn professional in 1997 was effectively made for him, being pushed into it by the rules governing amateurs. He’d had so many rides that the Jockey Club asked him what his future plans were. When an amateur had had a certain number of rides, the owner had to pay a fee, but as an amateur he didn’t get the fee, it went straight to the Jockey Club, so it made sense for him to turn professional, hence he took the plunge, somewhat later in the life than most jockeys.

David spent four years in Scotland as stable jockey to Donal Nolan. It was a period he thoroughly enjoyed and he became well acquainted with most of the northern tracks.

Being a small fish in a big pond, it proved impossible to survive on race riding fees alone, so he supplemented his income by riding out and schooling. In addition, his fiancée ran a successful pre-training and breaking yard, located close to Eccleshall, near Stafford, catering for young racehorses and those in need of rest and recuperation, so David became involved with that. He rode mostly for more Staffordshire trainers, principally Jenny Candlish, Chris Kellet and Brian Baugh, as well as local permit holders Louise Davis at Penkridge and Pat Johnson at Cannock.

The five-length victory of Brian Baugh’s Arribilo in the Huntingdon Selling Handicap Hurdle on Easter Monday 2003 gave David his first winner for 681 days. His previous success had been achieved on Andy Streeter’s Vert Espere at Worcester in June 2001. Arribilo’s Huntingdon victory proved to be the final one of his career, although he soldiered on for a couple more years before finally hanging up his boots. However, he has stayed within the confines of the weighing room and now operates as a jockey’s valet.

Having had only 35 rides in the 22 months separating his last two winners, it was hardly surprising that the name of David Verco was unfamiliar to most racegoers. And with a total of around 30 winners to his name, he never threatened record breakers like McCoy and Johnson. But as he said after riding what turned out to be his last winner: “I’ve had a smashing career and still retain the enthusiasm for it. I thoroughly enjoy race riding and I love the game. I’m so lucky to still be doing what I do.”

He does, though, hold one particular record that’s unlikely to be taken away – unless that is, Dunstall Park decides to reintroduce jumping, which they abandoned in July 2002. David Verco finished last in the last race at the last jumps meeting at Wolverhampton. One for ‘Question of Sport’ perhaps!