Jock Wilson

Glasgow-born John Murrin (Jock) Wilson remembers the 1965 Nunthorpe Stakes as if it were yesterday.

His mount, Polyfoto - trained by Eddie Reavey - started the 20/1 rank outsider.

Coming with a strong, late burst, he raced past Caterina and Granville Greta in the closing strides, winning by just half-a-length.

'Polyfoto was very fast but temperamental.' recalled jock. 'the following season I lost the ride after Eddie and I fell out. It was my fault. I took a ride for Jeremy Tree, then Eddie asked me to ride one for him. I couldn't get off so Eddie booked someone else to ride. I didn't for him anymore.'

Jock, born on August 16, 1933, the youngest son of a Tyneside riveter, left Glasgow in 1948, served his apprenticeship with Epsom trainer Jack Reardon.

Then he became stable jockey to Sir Gordon Richards and rode the trainer's first winner, The Saint, at Windsor in 1955.

Big winners:

1953: Midlands Cesarewitch – Eynsford

1955: Chester Vase – Daemon

1961: City of Birmingham Cup – Jacqueline Ann

1964: Totalisator Spring handicap – Smartie

1964: Northumberland Plate – Peter Piper

1964: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Hasty Cloud

1965: Nunthorpe Stakes – Polyfoto

1969: New (Norfolk) Stakes – Tribal Chief

1971: Royal Hunt Cup – Picture Boy

1973: Portland Handicap – Supreme Gift

Riding for trainer Brian Swift, he enjoyed multiple victories with both Decoy Boy and Tribal Chief.

Brian Swift once rang the clerk of the course at Chepstow saying: 'I will not be at the course today, so will you please have the cup presented to my travelling head lad.'

Brian had entered Bold Strings, with Jock on board, for that day's Chepstow Cup.

Jock rode a particularly confident race on the three-year-old, moving up rapidly with 300 yards to go and winning by three lengths.

In April, 1974, jock had his first ride for ill-fated trainer Doug Smith, winning the Aylesford Plate on Cedar Grove at Warwick.

Jock and Jimmy Lindley both escaped serious injury when their respective mounts, moss Royal and Wynavon Bay, fell at the half-point of the Maiden Stakes. Moss Royal, racing on the outside of the field, crossed her legs and lost her footing. She brought down Wynavon Bay. Lindley was severely shaken: Jock twisted a knee.

Then came a crashing fall on the gallops and his career was over. Specialists advised him that another fall would leave him dead or crippled.

Unable to ride out or take any sort of job in racing, Jock opened a grocer's shop near Tadworth. Then he ran The Red Cross, a pub in Reigate. It was a different ball game from racing, but he grew to like it.

He was there for 15 years before finally retiring in 1994.

Jock then spent his time with his five grandchildren and playing a round of golf.

And, just for old time's sake, he'd spend an odd day or two at the races.