You’re unlikely to have heard of Terry Vosper. He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence for just one season, 1962/63, and had about half a dozen rides but no winners.
Terence John Vosper was born in Exeter on July 2, 1940. He began his career as an apprentice with Peter Hastings-Bass at Kingsclere. There he looked after Perfect Knight, who won the Warren Stakes at Epsom in 1961 and ran in that year’s Derby.
Hastings-Bass was not noted for providing race-riding opportunities for his apprentices, so Terry returned to his south-west roots and joined Devon permit holder Gilbert Retter, looking after his four-horse string and having the occasional ride. The first of those came on novice hurdler Le Brave at Devon & Exeter on August 8, 1962, finishing ninth of the 13 runners. That, unfortunately, was as close as he ever came to making the frame.
The following month he rode the hooded Free Agent for Retter at Newton Abbot but they were slowly into stride and never in touch. Free Agent was also Terry’s last ride, at Wincanton on the first day of November, pulling up two out when out of contention.
Having decided that he would not make the grade as a jump jockey, Terry headed to Newmarket and joined Atty Corbett at Le Grange Stables as a lad. Among the horses he looked after was Brief Case, who won many races for the year during an eight-year career.
He eventually returned to Kingsclere, where he now lives.
He underwent a successful operation for oesophagus cancer in 2017.