John Woodman

1879 -1950

South-west based National Hunt jockey John Townsend Blanchard Woodman rode a total of 157 winners over jumps during a career that spanned the last five years of the 19th century to the early 1920s. He rode the winner of the first race at Devon & Exeter’s inaugural meeting in 1898.

John’s first success came on the mare Marie Lloyd at Totnes on September 11, 1895, landing the Hempstone Vale Handicap Chase “easily” by 16 lengths.

Three years later, Devon & Exeter staged its first ever meeting under National Hunt rules at Haldon Racecourse, a two-day fixture beginning on August 21, 1898. The first race on the opening day’s card was the Powderham Hurdle, which John Woodman won on the 5-2 on favourite Hill Green. Later that afternoon he completed a double when winning the Western Counties Hurdle on Donar. The following day he won again on Hill Green and finished second on Donar.

John was one of the leading jockeys on the south-west circuit. During his career he rode 20 winners at Newton Abbot, 15 at Torquay, and 14 at both Buckfastleigh and Devon & Exeter. He registered 15 wins in 1906 including a treble at Buckfastleigh’s annual Whit Monday fixture on June 12, winning the Dart Vale Selling Hurdle on Seven, the Licensed Victuallers Chase on Poetry, and the South Devon Handicap Hurdle on Keraz.

He enjoyed his most successful year in 1908 with 28 wins, placing him fifth in that year’s National Hunt jockeys’ championship. His victories included doubles at Buckfastleigh and Devon & Exeter and wins at Torquay, Totnes and Plymouth.

John continued to ride after World War One and also began training. He rode his last winner on 5-4 favourite Freddie B – who he also trained – in the Town Selling Hurdle at Monmouth on October 19, 1921, scoring narrowly by half a length. Monmouth was also the venue for his final ride when finishing unplaced on Myram Style in the Drybridge Selling Handicap Hurdle on March 31, 1922.

John Woodman died on April 7, 1950, aged 70.