Steve Wynne
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
All-weather hurdle races had a fairly short life, less than five years, before being scrapped by the authorities following a spate of equine fatalities. They’d begun with the advent of all-weather racing in November 1989, being held on Southwell’s Fibresand and Lingfield’s Equitrack surfaces, in parallel with Flat racing, but they weren’t universally popular, partly due to the type of hurdles used, which appeared to fall down on even the slightest contact.
All-weather hurdle races had a fairly short life, less than five years, before being scrapped by the authorities following a spate of equine fatalities. They’d begun with the advent of all-weather racing in November 1989, being held on Southwell’s Fibresand and Lingfield’s Equitrack surfaces, in parallel with Flat racing, but they weren’t universally popular, partly due to the type of hurdles used, which appeared to fall down on even the slightest contact.
However, during their brief existence there were a few low-grade horses who built successful careers as synthetic surface timber toppers, none more so than the Reg Hollinshead-trained Suluk, 18 of whose 20 all-weather victories were gained over hurdles. Gary Lyons was in the saddle for the first six of those hurdling successes; in the remaining dozen he was partnered by Steve Wynne.
However, during their brief existence there were a few low-grade horses who built successful careers as synthetic surface timber toppers, none more so than the Reg Hollinshead-trained Suluk, 18 of whose 20 all-weather victories were gained over hurdles. Gary Lyons was in the saddle for the first six of those hurdling successes; in the remaining dozen he was partnered by Steve Wynne.
Steve Wynne was born in Chester on September 6, 1972. His father rode as an amateur and Steve started off in point-to-points, having one winner from around 30 rides. That winner was gained at the Holcombe’s fixture, staged that year at Aintree Racecourse. Disappointingly for Steve, he did not experience the thrill of being led into that hallowed winner’s enclosure. Instead, the horses unsaddled in a makeshift area in the centre of the Mildmay course.
Steve Wynne was born in Chester on September 6, 1972. His father rode as an amateur and Steve started off in point-to-points, having one winner from around 30 rides. That winner was gained at the Holcombe’s fixture, staged that year at Aintree Racecourse. Disappointingly for Steve, he did not experience the thrill of being led into that hallowed winner’s enclosure. Instead, the horses unsaddled in a makeshift area in the centre of the Mildmay course.
When he was 17 he went to work for Reg Hollinshead at Upper Longdon, near Rugeley, starting off as an amateur and later turning
When he was 17 he went to work for Reg Hollinshead at Upper Longdon, near Rugeley, starting off as an amateur and later turning
professional. He rode his first winner for Hollinshead on the mare Kathy Cook (right) in a novices’ handicap hurdle on the Fibresand at Southwell on January 28, 1991 and followed up on her at the same venue four weeks later.
professional. He rode his first winner for Hollinshead on the mare Kathy Cook (right) in a novices’ handicap hurdle on the Fibresand at Southwell on January 28, 1991 and followed up on her at the same venue four weeks later.
He was with Hollinshead for five years and forged a highly successful partnership with all-weather hurdles specialist Suluk throughout the 1991/92 and 92/93 seasons, winning 12 times in 14 races. The two occasions on which Steve was beaten on Suluk was when he finished lame.
He was with Hollinshead for five years and forged a highly successful partnership with all-weather hurdles specialist Suluk throughout the 1991/92 and 92/93 seasons, winning 12 times in 14 races. The two occasions on which Steve was beaten on Suluk was when he finished lame.
He enjoyed what he called “steady seasons”, riding between ten and twelve winners, lost his claim, then moved to Captain Tim Forster at Ludlow. However, disaster struck not long after.
He enjoyed what he called “steady seasons”, riding between ten and twelve winners, lost his claim, then moved to Captain Tim Forster at Ludlow. However, disaster struck not long after.
On December 16, 1995, Steve had a bad fall from Lowther Barratt’s juvenile hurdler Mr Lowry (left) down the back at Haydock Park. It was a relatively light fall but the horses behind gave him a good kicking and one of them stood on his left calf. He gingerly picked himself up and walked to the ambulance, collected his bags from the weighing room and travelled down with a driver to Uttoxeter, where he had a ride later that afternoon.
On December 16, 1995, Steve had a bad fall from Lowther Barratt’s juvenile hurdler Mr Lowry (left) down the back at Haydock Park. It was a relatively light fall but the horses behind gave him a good kicking and one of them stood on his left calf. He gingerly picked himself up and walked to the ambulance, collected his bags from the weighing room and travelled down with a driver to Uttoxeter, where he had a ride later that afternoon.
When he reached the Uttoxeter weighing room he took his boot off and his calf immediately swelled up. There was a bad cut on the front, which the racecourse medical team stitched up and sent him straight to the local hospital. He then went home with his parents who took him to Wrexham Hospital that evening. There they x-rayed the leg and insisted he stayed in overnight as they were concerned about the swelling. Over the course of that weekend they tried various things to reduce the swelling but it wouldn’t go down. It transpired that there was a massive blood clot inside.
When he reached the Uttoxeter weighing room he took his boot off and his calf immediately swelled up. There was a bad cut on the front, which the racecourse medical team stitched up and sent him straight to the local hospital. He then went home with his parents who took him to Wrexham Hospital that evening. There they x-rayed the leg and insisted he stayed in overnight as they were concerned about the swelling. Over the course of that weekend they tried various things to reduce the swelling but it wouldn’t go down. It transpired that there was a massive blood clot inside.
By the Monday it had swollen so much that it had stopped the circulation in his ankle. There was no actual break but his ankle and toes wouldn’t move and the swelling was killing the nerves and damaging the muscles. On Monday afternoon they carried out a two-hour operation which, thankfully, remedied the problem. He was in hospital for a fortnight over Christmas and New Year, following which he spent a week at the sports rehabilitation facility at Lilleshall.
By the Monday it had swollen so much that it had stopped the circulation in his ankle. There was no actual break but his ankle and toes wouldn’t move and the swelling was killing the nerves and damaging the muscles. On Monday afternoon they carried out a two-hour operation which, thankfully, remedied the problem. He was in hospital for a fortnight over Christmas and New Year, following which he spent a week at the sports rehabilitation facility at Lilleshall.
Surprisingly, given the severity of the injury, he was only out of action for about five weeks and he won on his second ride back, Tim Forster’s Eastern River in a novices’ handicap chase at Leicester in February 1996.
Surprisingly, given the severity of the injury, he was only out of action for about five weeks and he won on his second ride back, Tim Forster’s Eastern River in a novices’ handicap chase at Leicester in February 1996.
As if to prove that triumph sometimes comes out of adversity, in May 1997 he won a race at Bangor-on-Dee on Mr Lowry, the horse that had given him that Haydock fall 18 months earlier. It may only have been a lowly maiden hurdle but it meant far more than that to Steve because, not only was it his local track, but several of the nurses who had treated him were there to see him win. Hopefully they had as few quid on Mr Lowry, for he started at 33/1!
As if to prove that triumph sometimes comes out of adversity, in May 1997 he won a race at Bangor-on-Dee on Mr Lowry, the horse that had given him that Haydock fall 18 months earlier. It may only have been a lowly maiden hurdle but it meant far more than that to Steve because, not only was it his local track, but several of the nurses who had treated him were there to see him win. Hopefully they had as few quid on Mr Lowry, for he started at 33/1!
Two years after the Haydock fall, Steve had a spill at Chepstow on a horse of Milton Bradley’s. He suffered another bang on the same calf, resulting in another blood clot. Over the next six months his toes started to curl up as he walked. That required another operation, which took longer to heal than the first one because he’s damaged the skin graft.
Two years after the Haydock fall, Steve had a spill at Chepstow on a horse of Milton Bradley’s. He suffered another bang on the same calf, resulting in another blood clot. Over the next six months his toes started to curl up as he walked. That required another operation, which took longer to heal than the first one because he’s damaged the skin graft.
When Henry Daly took over from Tim Forster, Steve spent two seasons with him before turning freelance. Among the friends he made at Daly’s was Tim Dennis, son of Walter Dennis, owner-trainer of the useful chaser Coome Hill, winner of the 1996 Hennessy Gold Cup. It was through that friendship that Steve ended up getting the ride on Coome Hill in the 1999 Grand National.
When Henry Daly took over from Tim Forster, Steve spent two seasons with him before turning freelance. Among the friends he made at Daly’s was Tim Dennis, son of Walter Dennis, owner-trainer of the useful chaser Coome Hill, winner of the 1996 Hennessy Gold Cup. It was through that friendship that Steve ended up getting the ride on Coome Hill in the 1999 Grand National.
They were bang up there for the first circuit, jumping from fence, but with a full circuit still to go, Steve observed that his mount was starting to struggle with his wind. He looked after him from thereon, getting round safely, albeit a distant last of the 18 finishers.
They were bang up there for the first circuit, jumping from fence, but with a full circuit still to go, Steve observed that his mount was starting to struggle with his wind. He looked after him from thereon, getting round safely, albeit a distant last of the 18 finishers.
After the race he told Walter Dennis about the wind problem. Coome Hill underwent an operation but, when he was coming round from the anaesthetic, he broke a bone in a knee as he got up. Sadly, the vets were unable to do anything for him and had no option but to put him down. It was a tragic blow for the Dennises as the horse was very much part of the family.
After the race he told Walter Dennis about the wind problem. Coome Hill underwent an operation but, when he was coming round from the anaesthetic, he broke a bone in a knee as he got up. Sadly, the vets were unable to do anything for him and had no option but to put him down. It was a tragic blow for the Dennises as the horse was very much part of the family.
Steve rode 23 winners during that 1998/99 campaign. He continued riding as a freelance and enjoyed a few more “steady seasons”, scoring 11 times in 2001/02, before calling time on his career soon after.
Steve rode 23 winners during that 1998/99 campaign. He continued riding as a freelance and enjoyed a few more “steady seasons”, scoring 11 times in 2001/02, before calling time on his career soon after.
He rode 174 winners between 1990 and 2002. Best season 1997-98 with 30 winners from 291 rides
He rode 174 winners between 1990 and 2002. Best season 1997-98 with 30 winners from 291 rides