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Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Plenty of people claim they feel on top of the world. Not many can claim to live on the roof of it. Jock Wilkinson could. His Tadworth, Surrey address in 1973 was ‘Roof of the World, Box Hill’.
Plenty of people claim they feel on top of the world. Not many can claim to live on the roof of it. Jock Wilkinson could. His Tadworth, Surrey address in 1973 was ‘Roof of the World, Box Hill’.
William Pheely Wilkinson, better known as Jock, hailed from the Scottish town of Cowdenbeath, where he was born on April 11, 1946. He began his apprenticeship with Ian Benstead in 1964 but when Benstead retired in the early part of 1967, Jock’s indentures were transferred to Brian Swift. He rode his first winner on Swift’s Noirmont Buoy in a Goodwood apprentices’ race on September 11, 1967. It was Jock’s first ride for Swift since joining his yard.
William Pheely Wilkinson, better known as Jock, hailed from the Scottish town of Cowdenbeath, where he was born on April 11, 1946. He began his apprenticeship with Ian Benstead in 1964 but when Benstead retired in the early part of 1967, Jock’s indentures were transferred to Brian Swift. He rode his first winner on Swift’s Noirmont Buoy in a Goodwood apprentices’ race on September 11, 1967. It was Jock’s first ride for Swift since joining his yard.
He rode three winners in 1968 and 1969 and then joined Staff Ingham’s stable. Having had another three-winner campaign in 1970, he soared to 19 winners in 1971, four of which were gained on Ingham’s filly Sofonisba, which Jock later recalled as the best he ever rode.
He rode three winners in 1968 and 1969 and then joined Staff Ingham’s stable. Having had another three-winner campaign in 1970, he soared to 19 winners in 1971, four of which were gained on Ingham’s filly Sofonisba, which Jock later recalled as the best he ever rode.
Having completed his apprenticeship, he found winners hard to come by, just one from a mere 13 rides in 1972.
Having completed his apprenticeship, he found winners hard to come by, just one from a mere 13 rides in 1972.
He won on the Gavin Hunter-trained Conscience Money in a five-furlong two-year-old seller at Chepstow on Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday, May 28, 1973. Two further wins came on The Trader in the Redmile Maiden Stakes (Div. 2) at Leicester on 26th April 1980 and La Rue Royal in the St John Stakes at Chepstow on 26th May 1980.
He won on the Gavin Hunter-trained Conscience Money in a five-furlong two-year-old seller at Chepstow on Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday, May 28, 1973. Two further wins came on The Trader in the Redmile Maiden Stakes (Div. 2) at Leicester on 26th April 1980 and La Rue Royal in the St John Stakes at Chepstow on 26th May 1980.
By then he was combining life as a jockey with working as a postman in Ashtead sorting office and making his deliveries in and around Epsom. “My heart is still in racing but I can’t face going back to being a stable lad,” he said. “As a postman I am earning more and have plenty of free time. When I was an apprentice, I had just one day off a fortnight.
By then he was combining life as a jockey with working as a postman in Ashtead sorting office and making his deliveries in and around Epsom. “My heart is still in racing but I can’t face going back to being a stable lad,” he said. “As a postman I am earning more and have plenty of free time. When I was an apprentice, I had just one day off a fortnight.
“What I’m always waiting for is an opportunity to ride a really fancied horse. My weight has stayed the same and, although I’m getting a bit desperate now, I still hope something will turn up.”
“What I’m always waiting for is an opportunity to ride a really fancied horse. My weight has stayed the same and, although I’m getting a bit desperate now, I still hope something will turn up.”
It didn’t in 1974 when he failed to make the frame on any of his 18 rides. He handed in his licence at the end of the year. He made a comeback in 1979 and rode occasionally until 1984.
It didn’t in 1974 when he failed to make the frame on any of his 18 rides. He handed in his licence at the end of the year. He made a comeback in 1979 and rode occasionally until 1984.
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