Cliff Wigham
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Born in 1953, Clifford Wigham is the son of National Hunt jockey and trainer Percy Wigham (1931-1998) and the elder brother of successful Yorkshire-based jockey Michael Wigham.
Born in 1953, Clifford Wigham is the son of National Hunt jockey and trainer Percy Wigham (1931-1998) and the elder brother of successful Yorkshire-based jockey Michael Wigham.
Cliff rode his first winner on Fredwin for Malton trainer Snowy Wainwright in the Tillietudlem Apprentice Handicap at Lanark on May 4, 1970. He rode four more winners that year including a double on Strip Dancer and Tuanwun at Thirsk on June 6.
Cliff rode his first winner on Fredwin for Malton trainer Snowy Wainwright in the Tillietudlem Apprentice Handicap at Lanark on May 4, 1970. He rode four more winners that year including a double on Strip Dancer and Tuanwun at Thirsk on June 6.
He then joined Newmarket trainer Paul Davey, who trained for David Robinson at Clarehaven, and rode more than 30 winners as an apprentice, his best season being in 1972 with a score of 21.
He then joined Newmarket trainer Paul Davey, who trained for David Robinson at Clarehaven, and rode more than 30 winners as an apprentice, his best season being in 1972 with a score of 21.
Cliff took his saddle and riding boots to Rome in 1975 with the intention of staying just one winter, but he ended up staying for 14 years and rode nearly 600 winners in Italy, including three Group races and three Classic trials.
Cliff took his saddle and riding boots to Rome in 1975 with the intention of staying just one winter, but he ended up staying for 14 years and rode nearly 600 winners in Italy, including three Group races and three Classic trials.
He returned to Britain in 1989 to try to re-establish his career in Britain, basing himself in Newmarket, where his career had begun, riding work for Luca Cumani. Unfortunately, he found it hard to build up new contacts and held a licence for just one season, in 1990.
He returned to Britain in 1989 to try to re-establish his career in Britain, basing himself in Newmarket, where his career had begun, riding work for Luca Cumani. Unfortunately, he found it hard to build up new contacts and held a licence for just one season, in 1990.