Robert Winston
Robert Francis Winston was born in Finglas, Dublin on November 28, 1979. Finglas was a tough suburb of Dublin, and Robert was a daredevil bareback rider until he first started using a saddle at the age of 13.
Robert Francis Winston was born in Finglas, Dublin on November 28, 1979. Finglas was a tough suburb of Dublin, and Robert was a daredevil bareback rider until he first started using a saddle at the age of 13.
A graduate of the Irish Jockeys’ School, he emigrated to England in late 1995 to join trainer Richard Fahey at Malton and rode his first winner on The Butterwick Kid at Nottingham on April 21, 1997.
A graduate of the Irish Jockeys’ School, he emigrated to England in late 1995 to join trainer Richard Fahey at Malton and rode his first winner on The Butterwick Kid at Nottingham on April 21, 1997.
He achieved his first major success on Superior Premium in the 1998 Stewards’ Cup. He was crowned champion apprentice in 1999 with 49 winners. In 2004 he rode his first pattern race winner on Golden Nun in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes, run that year at Cork.
He achieved his first major success on Superior Premium in the 1998 Stewards’ Cup. He was crowned champion apprentice in 1999 with 49 winners. In 2004 he rode his first pattern race winner on Golden Nun in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes, run that year at Cork.
He achieved Group 1 glory on 40-1 shot Magical Romance in the 2004 Cheveley Park Stakes for trainer Brian Meehan. The following year he was leading the Flat jockeys’ championship and on course to land the title, having already won that year’s Lincoln Handicap on Stream Of Gold and Royal Ascot’s Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on Masta Plasta, when he suffered serious facial injuries in a fall at Ayr in early August, ruling him out for four months.
He achieved Group 1 glory on 40-1 shot Magical Romance in the 2004 Cheveley Park Stakes for trainer Brian Meehan. The following year he was leading the Flat jockeys’ championship and on course to land the title, having already won that year’s Lincoln Handicap on Stream Of Gold and Royal Ascot’s Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on Masta Plasta, when he suffered serious facial injuries in a fall at Ayr in early August, ruling him out for four months.
He achieved a career-best tally of 136 winners in 2006. However, in February 2007 his career suffered a major setback when he was one of four jockeys warned off, having been found guilty of for passing on information to a betting shop punter through a third party. He received a one-year ban from the BHA disciplinary panel.
He achieved a career-best tally of 136 winners in 2006. However, in February 2007 his career suffered a major setback when he was one of four jockeys warned off, having been found guilty of for passing on information to a betting shop punter through a third party. He received a one-year ban from the BHA disciplinary panel.
Having served his ban, Robert successfully rebuilt his career, first with Barry Hills and then with Dean Ivory. In 2008 he won a second Norfolk Stakes on South Central. He registered 120 winners in 2009. In 2010 he won two more Groups 2 races: the Duke of York Stakes on Prime Defender, and the Challenge Stakes on Barry Hills’ Red Jazz. In 2011 he won the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes on Caspar Netscher.
Having served his ban, Robert successfully rebuilt his career, first with Barry Hills and then with Dean Ivory. In 2008 he won a second Norfolk Stakes on South Central. He registered 120 winners in 2009. In 2010 he won two more Groups 2 races: the Duke of York Stakes on Prime Defender, and the Challenge Stakes on Barry Hills’ Red Jazz. In 2011 he won the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes on Caspar Netscher.
He tried moving to France in early 2011, but employment law red tape caused him to return after just a fortnight.
He tried moving to France in early 2011, but employment law red tape caused him to return after just a fortnight.
Through his association with Dean Ivory, Robert forged successful relationships with leading sprinters Caspian Sea and Librisa Breeze. In 2016 he won the Lester Award for Flat Ride of the Year for his ride on Librisa Breeze in the Totescoop6 Cup Handicap at Ascot.
Through his association with Dean Ivory, Robert forged successful relationships with leading sprinters Caspian Sea and Librisa Breeze. In 2016 he won the Lester Award for Flat Ride of the Year for his ride on Librisa Breeze in the Totescoop6 Cup Handicap at Ascot.
After a gap of 13 years, Robert gained a second Group 1 victory in the 2017 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Librisa Breeze, financially the biggest win of his career. In 2018 he won the Northumberland Plate on Roger Charlton’s five-year-old Withhold.
After a gap of 13 years, Robert gained a second Group 1 victory in the 2017 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Librisa Breeze, financially the biggest win of his career. In 2018 he won the Northumberland Plate on Roger Charlton’s five-year-old Withhold.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on Precious Plum at Wolverhampton on August 30, 2019. His final ride was when finishing fourth on Gary Moore’s King Of The Sand at Brighton 1m 2f handicap September 9.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on Precious Plum at Wolverhampton on August 30, 2019. His final ride was when finishing fourth on Gary Moore’s King Of The Sand at Brighton 1m 2f handicap September 9.
Having lost the mounts on the likes of Stratum, Withhold and Librisa Breeze for owner Tony Bloom, a fall at Newcastle earlier in the year had aggravated an old injury. Those factors, allied to the constant battle to keep his weight in check and an “amalgamation of reasons”, led to Robert announcing his retirement with immediate effect on September 11, 2019, to focus his attention on the business he had recently set up with his fiancée, rehabilitating horses.
Having lost the mounts on the likes of Stratum, Withhold and Librisa Breeze for owner Tony Bloom, a fall at Newcastle earlier in the year had aggravated an old injury. Those factors, allied to the constant battle to keep his weight in check and an “amalgamation of reasons”, led to Robert announcing his retirement with immediate effect on September 11, 2019, to focus his attention on the business he had recently set up with his fiancée, rehabilitating horses.
He rode a total of 1,627 winners in Britain during his 23-year career. His retirement was brief. He returned to race-riding in 2021.
He rode a total of 1,627 winners in Britain during his 23-year career. His retirement was brief. He returned to race-riding in 2021.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1998: Stewards' Cup – Surprise Premium
1998: Stewards' Cup – Surprise Premium
2004: John Smith’s Cup – Arcalis
2004: John Smith’s Cup – Arcalis
2004: Cheveley Park Stakes – Magical Romance
2004: Cheveley Park Stakes – Magical Romance
2005: Lincoln Handicap – Stream Of Gold
2005: Lincoln Handicap – Stream Of Gold
2005: Norfolk Stakes – Masta Plasta
2005: Norfolk Stakes – Masta Plasta
2008: Norfolk Stakes – South Central
2008: Norfolk Stakes – South Central
2010: Duke of York Stakes – Prime Defender
2010: Duke of York Stakes – Prime Defender
2010: Challenge Stakes – Red Jazz
2010: Challenge Stakes – Red Jazz
2011: Gimcrack Stakes – Caspar Netscher
2011: Gimcrack Stakes – Caspar Netscher
2018: British Champions Sprint Stakes – Librisa Breeze
2018: British Champions Sprint Stakes – Librisa Breeze
In Ireland
In Ireland
2004: Ballyogan Stakes – Holden Nun
2004: Ballyogan Stakes – Holden Nun