Stuart Webster
Stuart Graham Webster was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on February 19, 1957 and was apprenticed to Tommy (Squeak) Fairhurst.
Stuart Graham Webster was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on February 19, 1957 and was apprenticed to Tommy (Squeak) Fairhurst.
Recalling his first winner, Hei'land Jamie on May 20, 1974, at Pontefract, he said " I can still remember feeling excited cantering down to the start, confident I was going to win. I had ridden Hei'land Jamie the time before when finishing second at York and really fancied my chances. It's as clear as day . . . I can recall owner Bill Paul buying me my first riding saddle for winning."
Recalling his first winner, Hei'land Jamie on May 20, 1974, at Pontefract, he said " I can still remember feeling excited cantering down to the start, confident I was going to win. I had ridden Hei'land Jamie the time before when finishing second at York and really fancied my chances. It's as clear as day . . . I can recall owner Bill Paul buying me my first riding saddle for winning."
Stuart spent the next 25 years in the saddle, eventually riding some 400 winners, including 60 abroad.
Stuart spent the next 25 years in the saddle, eventually riding some 400 winners, including 60 abroad.
The best horses he rode were David Chapman's Glencroft and top sprinter Blyton Lad. Stuart won six listed races on Blyton Lad, including the Rous Stakes at Newmarket three times. He also finished second on Blyton Lad in the 1994 King's Stand Stakes.
The best horses he rode were David Chapman's Glencroft and top sprinter Blyton Lad. Stuart won six listed races on Blyton Lad, including the Rous Stakes at Newmarket three times. He also finished second on Blyton Lad in the 1994 King's Stand Stakes.
On 14 September 1994, after a driving finish at Beverley, he was dragged from his mount Sailormaite by fiery-tempered fellow jockey Kieran Fallon.
On 14 September 1994, after a driving finish at Beverley, he was dragged from his mount Sailormaite by fiery-tempered fellow jockey Kieran Fallon.
Afterward, the two jockeys fought in the weighing room which resulted in Stuart receiving a broken nose.
Afterward, the two jockeys fought in the weighing room which resulted in Stuart receiving a broken nose.
The person who tried to bring them together was Charlie Moore, the clerk of the course at Nottingham, where the jockeys appeared together for the first time since the incident.
The person who tried to bring them together was Charlie Moore, the clerk of the course at Nottingham, where the jockeys appeared together for the first time since the incident.
Moore said: 'Members of the press suggested that I ask the pair if they wished to come out together from the weighing room and shake hands to take the sting out of the issue.
Moore said: 'Members of the press suggested that I ask the pair if they wished to come out together from the weighing room and shake hands to take the sting out of the issue.
'Kieran Fallon said that he would have been happy to shake hands but Stuart Webster said he would rather not. He's in a different position to Fallon and, understandably, told me that he did not wish to cloud the issue. He wants the matter to go to Portman Square as it stands.'
'Kieran Fallon said that he would have been happy to shake hands but Stuart Webster said he would rather not. He's in a different position to Fallon and, understandably, told me that he did not wish to cloud the issue. He wants the matter to go to Portman Square as it stands.'
Kieran Fallon was found guilty of violent and improper conduct on a racecourse. He received a six months ban - one of the stiffest sentences ever handed out by the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club, the governing body for British horse racing.
Kieran Fallon was found guilty of violent and improper conduct on a racecourse. He received a six months ban - one of the stiffest sentences ever handed out by the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club, the governing body for British horse racing.
Stuart received a devastating blow after quitting the saddle. A brain scan revealed that he was suffering from diminutive brain disease, brought on by a build-up of blows to the head. He had been knocked out several times when falling whilst race riding.
Stuart received a devastating blow after quitting the saddle. A brain scan revealed that he was suffering from diminutive brain disease, brought on by a build-up of blows to the head. He had been knocked out several times when falling whilst race riding.
At Southwell he had been thrown to the ground and, unconscious, had swallowed his tongue. A stall handler released it.
At Southwell he had been thrown to the ground and, unconscious, had swallowed his tongue. A stall handler released it.
He said at the time: "There is no cure and I just have to live with it. But I'm learning how to cope and still enjoy life. I survive on a set routine in which everything has to be put into its place so that I know where to find it next time.
He said at the time: "There is no cure and I just have to live with it. But I'm learning how to cope and still enjoy life. I survive on a set routine in which everything has to be put into its place so that I know where to find it next time.
"I always carry a notepad and pen around and write every task down so that I won't forget to do something. But I don't always remember to look at my notes. The other day I was supposed to take my daughter Christmas shopping and clean forgot.
"I always carry a notepad and pen around and write every task down so that I won't forget to do something. But I don't always remember to look at my notes. The other day I was supposed to take my daughter Christmas shopping and clean forgot.
"It's scary at times. I go into a shop and if there's more than one room I can get lost - I don't remember how to get out and panic sets in.
"It's scary at times. I go into a shop and if there's more than one room I can get lost - I don't remember how to get out and panic sets in.
"It's very confusing, especially in unfamiliar surroundings. Airports and railway stations are particularly frightening places."
"It's very confusing, especially in unfamiliar surroundings. Airports and railway stations are particularly frightening places."
Girlfriend Dawn Bedford needed constantly to remind him of what he should be doing next.
Girlfriend Dawn Bedford needed constantly to remind him of what he should be doing next.
Stuart said "Dawn is a carer for me and I am quite ashamed. She already has enough on, looking after her 12-year-old son in a wheelchair - I feel I'm just an extra burden.
Stuart said "Dawn is a carer for me and I am quite ashamed. She already has enough on, looking after her 12-year-old son in a wheelchair - I feel I'm just an extra burden.
"But I won't let it get me down. I went into racing to do a job and get somewhere in life and I enjoyed every minute, so I have no regrets."
"But I won't let it get me down. I went into racing to do a job and get somewhere in life and I enjoyed every minute, so I have no regrets."
Stuart Webster lived in Skipton on £75 per month from his jockey's pension. The Injured Jockey's Fund paid for the brain scan.
Stuart Webster lived in Skipton on £75 per month from his jockey's pension. The Injured Jockey's Fund paid for the brain scan.
Stuart took a job at a local supermarket, working two days a week. He also took a part-time job at his sister's fish & chip shop, peeling potatoes.
Stuart took a job at a local supermarket, working two days a week. He also took a part-time job at his sister's fish & chip shop, peeling potatoes.
He added: "When I'm pushing trolleys on a cold, wet, miserable day I sometimes think `What on earth am I doing here?' But then I help an old lady unload her shopping into the car and get a warm `thank you', which makes my day.
He added: "When I'm pushing trolleys on a cold, wet, miserable day I sometimes think `What on earth am I doing here?' But then I help an old lady unload her shopping into the car and get a warm `thank you', which makes my day.
"I get more thanks in one day at the supermarket than I ever did in 25 years in racing!
"I get more thanks in one day at the supermarket than I ever did in 25 years in racing!
"It's just my short-term memory that is affected. For example, six months after buying my own little house I couldn't remember where it was."
"It's just my short-term memory that is affected. For example, six months after buying my own little house I couldn't remember where it was."
Stuart rode 336 winners plus about another 60 abroad.
Stuart rode 336 winners plus about another 60 abroad.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1983: Andy Capp Handicap – Dragonlea
1983: Andy Capp Handicap – Dragonlea
1990: Rous Stakes – Blyton Lad
1990: Rous Stakes – Blyton Lad
1991: Rous Stakes – Blyton Lad
1991: Rous Stakes – Blyton Lad
1992: Rous Stakes – Blyton Lad
1992: Rous Stakes – Blyton Lad
1992: Remembrance Day Stakes – Blyton Lad
1992: Remembrance Day Stakes – Blyton Lad
1993: Remembrance Day Stakes – Blyton Lad
1993: Remembrance Day Stakes – Blyton Lad