David Wonnacott

David Wonnacott

South-west based jockey David John Wonnacott rode three winners over jumps in the 1980s. Born on November 20, 1961, he began as an amateur and had one of his earliest rides under rules when finishing second, beaten four lengths, on Frivolity in a Newton Abbot hunter chase on May 18, 1983. The winning jockey that day was Richard Dunwoody, then at the start of what would become a distinguished career.

David turned professional at the start of the 1984/85 season and, following a blank first campaign in the paid ranks, had his first win at Devon & Exeter on September 25, 1985, when Getting Plenty came with a strong run on the flat to overhaul Morice and win the BBC Radio Devon Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle by half a length. He kept the ride on the six-year-old, trained by Frank Gorman, but only managed one third place from three starts.

He recorded his second success at Newton Abbot on November 26 when Info, trained by Trevor Hallett, challenged Celtic Crackle at the last flight and battled on to land the Malden Timber E.B.F. Novices’ Hurdle qualifier by a length. The five-year-old was making his debut over jumps and achieved one fourth place from two subsequent starts with David aboard.

He did not manage to ride a winner the following season (1986/87) but was unlucky in finishing second five times on the family-owned Lizzy Longstocking. Under the rules then in force he lost his right to claim an allowance in November due to reaching the age of 25.

He did, though, have one more win when Lizzy Longstocking led all the way and finished seven lengths clear of Golden Acre at the end of the Fresh Start Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Taunton on April 14, 1988. This was very much a family affair as the six-year-old mare was owned by David’s sister Linda Wonnacott and trained at Tavistock by his mother Mrs Joan Wonnacott. Lizzy Longstocking finished second on both her subsequent starts that season, beaten only a head at Wincanton on May 11, then by two lengths at Ludlow a fortnight later.

Lizzy Longstocking was also David’s final ride when finishing fourth of eleven runners in the Tote Girls Handicap Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on November 7, 1989, when he was obliged to put up 5lb overweight at 10st 5lb. The mare went on to win three more races for the family, ridden in two of those by David’s wife Claire Wonnacott.

David and Claire are the parents of jockey Millie Wonnacott, who started out over jumps but subsequently switched to riding on the Flat.

David Wonnacott’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Getting Plenty, Devon & Exeter, September 25, 1985

2. Info, Newton Abbot, November 26, 1985

3. Lizzy Longstocking, Taunton, April 14, 1988

Thanks to Alan Trout for providing the main part of this article.