Chris Warren
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Ever had one of those days when you wished you’d stayed in bed? Jump jockey Chris Warren had one on Saturday, November 26, 1988 – Hennessy Gold Cup day at Newbury.
Ever had one of those days when you wished you’d stayed in bed? Jump jockey Chris Warren had one on Saturday, November 26, 1988 – Hennessy Gold Cup day at Newbury.
Chris was looking forward to his comeback ride on Tim Muggeridge’s Allied Force in division one of the novices’ hurdle. He’d been off for five weeks with a broken left collarbone, the result of a fall while schooling a horse at home, and had been counting the days to getting back on the racecourse. By the end of the day he wished he hadn’t bothered.
Chris was looking forward to his comeback ride on Tim Muggeridge’s Allied Force in division one of the novices’ hurdle. He’d been off for five weeks with a broken left collarbone, the result of a fall while schooling a horse at home, and had been counting the days to getting back on the racecourse. By the end of the day he wished he hadn’t bothered.
The day started badly when the police rang to say they had found his car wrecked six miles away after being stolen overnight by joy-riders. Fortunately, they had not touched his riding gear, but by the time Chris had retrieved it and arranged a lift to Newbury, he was already late and arrived to find another jockey already in his colours.
The day started badly when the police rang to say they had found his car wrecked six miles away after being stolen overnight by joy-riders. Fortunately, they had not touched his riding gear, but by the time Chris had retrieved it and arranged a lift to Newbury, he was already late and arrived to find another jockey already in his colours.
Grabbing the silks, he quickly changed and dashed into the paddock for his only mount of the day. But Allied Force fell at the first flight and the hapless pilot ended up in hospital, having smashed the same collarbone he’d broken five weeks earlier. It meant another lengthy spell hors de combat.
Grabbing the silks, he quickly changed and dashed into the paddock for his only mount of the day. But Allied Force fell at the first flight and the hapless pilot ended up in hospital, having smashed the same collarbone he’d broken five weeks earlier. It meant another lengthy spell hors de combat.
It was the nadir of a desperate season that had yielded just one winner. He could hardly be blamed for thinking that someone was trying to tell him something.
It was the nadir of a desperate season that had yielded just one winner. He could hardly be blamed for thinking that someone was trying to tell him something.
Christopher Iain Warren was born in Frimley, Surrey in 1962 and, though not from a racing family, he had his own ponies when a lad and competed with much success in local gymkhanas and in the showjumping ring.
Christopher Iain Warren was born in Frimley, Surrey in 1962 and, though not from a racing family, he had his own ponies when a lad and competed with much success in local gymkhanas and in the showjumping ring.
On leaving school, he became apprenticed to Captain Ryan Price at Findon but soon found himself too heavy for the Flat. Moving to Epsom, he joined Arthur Pitt and later Philip Mitchell. It was for Pitt that he had his first ride in public, in a three-year-old hurdle race at Fontwell on December 30, 1980. His mount, Sign Centre Again, was also making his debut, but those pundits who warned of the dangers of a novice riding a novice were silenced for once, as the combination ran on well from two out to finish a creditable sixth of 18.
On leaving school, he became apprenticed to Captain Ryan Price at Findon but soon found himself too heavy for the Flat. Moving to Epsom, he joined Arthur Pitt and later Philip Mitchell. It was for Pitt that he had his first ride in public, in a three-year-old hurdle race at Fontwell on December 30, 1980. His mount, Sign Centre Again, was also making his debut, but those pundits who warned of the dangers of a novice riding a novice were silenced for once, as the combination ran on well from two out to finish a creditable sixth of 18.
His first winner was on 20/1 outsider Aspen Flare, in a Plumpton selling chase on March 1, 1983. That was the first ‘up’ of a riding career which saw more than its share of downs.
His first winner was on 20/1 outsider Aspen Flare, in a Plumpton selling chase on March 1, 1983. That was the first ‘up’ of a riding career which saw more than its share of downs.
On New Year’s Eve 1983, Chris opened his account for the season when winning on Space Bridge at Worcester. Just seven days later a fall from Stevies Queen at Sandown left him with a leg broken in three places – the tibia, the fibula and a spiral fracture of the ankle.
On New Year’s Eve 1983, Chris opened his account for the season when winning on Space Bridge at Worcester. Just seven days later a fall from Stevies Queen at Sandown left him with a leg broken in three places – the tibia, the fibula and a spiral fracture of the ankle.
He won three races on the Albert Neaves-trained hurdler Allardo during the 1985/86 season, the first occasion being at Plumpton after having briefly been concussed in a fall earlier that afternoon, to the effect that he couldn’t even remember riding his winner.
He won three races on the Albert Neaves-trained hurdler Allardo during the 1985/86 season, the first occasion being at Plumpton after having briefly been concussed in a fall earlier that afternoon, to the effect that he couldn’t even remember riding his winner.
He once had a bad fall at Chepstow, and then on the journey home he fell asleep at the wheel on the M4, crashed his car, writing it off, and biting through his tongue.
He once had a bad fall at Chepstow, and then on the journey home he fell asleep at the wheel on the M4, crashed his car, writing it off, and biting through his tongue.
On the upside, he rated that dour stayer Memberson as the best horse he rode, the highlight of his career being when finishing fifth on him in the 1986 Whitbread Gold Cup.
On the upside, he rated that dour stayer Memberson as the best horse he rode, the highlight of his career being when finishing fifth on him in the 1986 Whitbread Gold Cup.
He enjoyed a good month in February 1987. Apart from losing his 7lb claim by winning on Hall’s Prince at Fontwell, he scored on 50/1 outsider Bride at Plumpton, left, and rode a 33/1 winner on Martyn Meade’s Tropical Mist at Hereford. It was as a result of that win that Meade offered Chris the ride on La Bambino in the 1987 Grand National. Although a forlorn 500/1 no-hoper, Chris did at least complete one full circuit of the course before pulling up. He was even able to offer fellow jockey Charlie Mann, who had fallen at the same fence on the first circuit, a lift on the back of his horse to the weighing room.
He enjoyed a good month in February 1987. Apart from losing his 7lb claim by winning on Hall’s Prince at Fontwell, he scored on 50/1 outsider Bride at Plumpton, left, and rode a 33/1 winner on Martyn Meade’s Tropical Mist at Hereford. It was as a result of that win that Meade offered Chris the ride on La Bambino in the 1987 Grand National. Although a forlorn 500/1 no-hoper, Chris did at least complete one full circuit of the course before pulling up. He was even able to offer fellow jockey Charlie Mann, who had fallen at the same fence on the first circuit, a lift on the back of his horse to the weighing room.
Chris lost his right to claim an allowance when reaching the age of 26, so found life tough thereafter. Although he had been passed fit by the doctor and was keen to resume following that Hennessy Gold Cup day debacle at Newbury, it was not long before he heeded the warnings, accepted the inevitable and drew stumps on his riding career.
Chris lost his right to claim an allowance when reaching the age of 26, so found life tough thereafter. Although he had been passed fit by the doctor and was keen to resume following that Hennessy Gold Cup day debacle at Newbury, it was not long before he heeded the warnings, accepted the inevitable and drew stumps on his riding career.
During his absences from the saddle, he’d had plenty to occupy his time at his Stuccles Farm home at Twineham, Sussex, where he had horses at livery, and that would be the direction his career path would take following his retirement.
During his absences from the saddle, he’d had plenty to occupy his time at his Stuccles Farm home at Twineham, Sussex, where he had horses at livery, and that would be the direction his career path would take following his retirement.