Chris Young
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Nowadays, a jockey must have ridden a certain number of winners over jumps in order to tackle the Aintree fences, at least 15 before they are allowed to ride in the Grand National itself.
Nowadays, a jockey must have ridden a certain number of winners over jumps in order to tackle the Aintree fences, at least 15 before they are allowed to ride in the Grand National itself.
There used to be no restrictions on who could ride in the Grand National, leaving the way for all manner of sporting and hapless of amateurs to try their luck. Usually, they didn’t get very far. Following a few well-publicised and shameful examples, regulations were finally put in place to prevent the more inexperienced – and sometimes downright dangerous – riders from taking part in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
There used to be no restrictions on who could ride in the Grand National, leaving the way for all manner of sporting and hapless of amateurs to try their luck. Usually, they didn’t get very far. Following a few well-publicised and shameful examples, regulations were finally put in place to prevent the more inexperienced – and sometimes downright dangerous – riders from taking part in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Occasionally, when riding 15 winners constituted a bigger achievement than it does today with so much more racing, a relatively unknown professional jockey would also get to ride in the Grand National, despite their relative lack of experience riding over fences.
Occasionally, when riding 15 winners constituted a bigger achievement than it does today with so much more racing, a relatively unknown professional jockey would also get to ride in the Grand National, despite their relative lack of experience riding over fences.
To do so in what would turn out to be one of the most sensational Grand Nationals of all time, and to actually complete the course, constitutes an even more remarkable achievement. But that’s what happened to Chris Young, who, on just his fifth ride in public, steered Bob-a-Job to finish twelfth in the 1967 ‘Foinavon’ Grand National.
To do so in what would turn out to be one of the most sensational Grand Nationals of all time, and to actually complete the course, constitutes an even more remarkable achievement. But that’s what happened to Chris Young, who, on just his fifth ride in public, steered Bob-a-Job to finish twelfth in the 1967 ‘Foinavon’ Grand National.
Christopher Dennis Young was one of three sons and two daughters of former National Hunt jockey Ron Young, who trained a small string of horses at Etchinghill, near Folkestone. Bob-a-Job was among them. He was just an old selling chaser but he was a sound jumper who could be relied upon to ‘find a leg’ on the rare occasions he made a mistake. He was an ideal schoolmaster for an inexperienced rider.
Christopher Dennis Young was one of three sons and two daughters of former National Hunt jockey Ron Young, who trained a small string of horses at Etchinghill, near Folkestone. Bob-a-Job was among them. He was just an old selling chaser but he was a sound jumper who could be relied upon to ‘find a leg’ on the rare occasions he made a mistake. He was an ideal schoolmaster for an inexperienced rider.
Chris wasn’t originally going to ride Bob-a-Job in the Grand National. He’d ridden him twice at Plumpton’s Easter meeting a fortnight earlier, finishing unplaced in a selling chase on the Saturday and also in the Abergavenny Challenge Cup on the Monday, but the more experienced Dave Patrick, who’d once been Ron Young’s head lad, was due to partner him at Aintree.
Chris wasn’t originally going to ride Bob-a-Job in the Grand National. He’d ridden him twice at Plumpton’s Easter meeting a fortnight earlier, finishing unplaced in a selling chase on the Saturday and also in the Abergavenny Challenge Cup on the Monday, but the more experienced Dave Patrick, who’d once been Ron Young’s head lad, was due to partner him at Aintree.
Ironically, Dave Patrick had been offered the ride on Foinavon, having ridden him at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, but had turned him down as he’d already committed to riding Bob-a-Job, as he thought he’d have a good chance of getting round. But just a few days before the race, Ron Young changed his mind and gave the ride to his son Chris, despite him having only ridden in four races.
Ironically, Dave Patrick had been offered the ride on Foinavon, having ridden him at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, but had turned him down as he’d already committed to riding Bob-a-Job, as he thought he’d have a good chance of getting round. But just a few days before the race, Ron Young changed his mind and gave the ride to his son Chris, despite him having only ridden in four races.
The story of how only 100/1 shot Foinavon escaped the melee at the 23rd fence and went on to win the 1967 Grand National is well enough known not to need repeating here. Suffice to say, Bob-a-Bob, a similarly unlikely 100/1 chance, plodded round in his own time under Chris Young to finish twelfth.
The story of how only 100/1 shot Foinavon escaped the melee at the 23rd fence and went on to win the 1967 Grand National is well enough known not to need repeating here. Suffice to say, Bob-a-Bob, a similarly unlikely 100/1 chance, plodded round in his own time under Chris Young to finish twelfth.
That’s probably the occasion for which Chris is most remembered. But what about the rest of his career?
That’s probably the occasion for which Chris is most remembered. But what about the rest of his career?
After that 1967 Grand National, he rode Bob-a-Job in three more races that season, and in another three during the autumn of 1967. The best they managed was third in a Plumpton selling chase in which the combined ages of the first three totalled 41 years!
After that 1967 Grand National, he rode Bob-a-Job in three more races that season, and in another three during the autumn of 1967. The best they managed was third in a Plumpton selling chase in which the combined ages of the first three totalled 41 years!
Chris joined Peter Supple’s stable in 1969 and rode his first winner for him on Ina’s Last in the two-mile Buckinghamshire Handicap Chase at Windsor on November 15, 1969, more than two and a half years after that Grand National ride. The following month he won Sandown’s Pond Handicap Chase on the same horse, returning to Windsor in January to score again. In March he won on Supple’s novice hurdlers Caesar’s Palace at Wye and Maedas at Folkestone.
Chris joined Peter Supple’s stable in 1969 and rode his first winner for him on Ina’s Last in the two-mile Buckinghamshire Handicap Chase at Windsor on November 15, 1969, more than two and a half years after that Grand National ride. The following month he won Sandown’s Pond Handicap Chase on the same horse, returning to Windsor in January to score again. In March he won on Supple’s novice hurdlers Caesar’s Palace at Wye and Maedas at Folkestone.
He won a race on Supple’s selling hurdler Fire Chief early the following season but that proved to be his sole success of the campaign, and there was none the next. He re-emerged a couple of years later riding for Verly Bewicke and scored on his good chaser Money Market at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day 1972. He won in on him again over the same course and distance a fortnight later, those being Chris’s only winners that season.
He won a race on Supple’s selling hurdler Fire Chief early the following season but that proved to be his sole success of the campaign, and there was none the next. He re-emerged a couple of years later riding for Verly Bewicke and scored on his good chaser Money Market at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day 1972. He won in on him again over the same course and distance a fortnight later, those being Chris’s only winners that season.
There was then another gap of more than two years before Chris, by now based with Newmarket trainer Brian Lunness, returned to the winner’s enclosure on selling hurdler Comic at Fontwell in November 1975. Later that season, Chris won twice on Lunness’ useful chaser Even Dawn at Nottingham and Doncaster, but they proved to be his last wins. He finished his riding career with Jimmy Harris in 1978/79.
There was then another gap of more than two years before Chris, by now based with Newmarket trainer Brian Lunness, returned to the winner’s enclosure on selling hurdler Comic at Fontwell in November 1975. Later that season, Chris won twice on Lunness’ useful chaser Even Dawn at Nottingham and Doncaster, but they proved to be his last wins. He finished his riding career with Jimmy Harris in 1978/79.
Given the quality of some of the mounts with which he was entrusted, such as Money Market and Even Dawn, it is perhaps surprising that he wasn’t given the opportunity to exceed his total of 11 winners. Yet, despite having completed the course in a Grand National, he retired more than 10 years later still claiming a 7lb allowance.
Given the quality of some of the mounts with which he was entrusted, such as Money Market and Even Dawn, it is perhaps surprising that he wasn’t given the opportunity to exceed his total of 11 winners. Yet, despite having completed the course in a Grand National, he retired more than 10 years later still claiming a 7lb allowance.
Chris Young’s winners were, in chronological order:
Chris Young’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Ina’s Last, Windsor, November 15, 1969
1. Ina’s Last, Windsor, November 15, 1969
2. Ina’s Last, Sandown Park, December 13, 1969
2. Ina’s Last, Sandown Park, December 13, 1969
3. Ina’s Last, Windsor, January 21, 1970
3. Ina’s Last, Windsor, January 21, 1970
4. Caesar’s Palace, Wye, March 16, 1970
4. Caesar’s Palace, Wye, March 16, 1970
5. Maedas, Folkestone, March 23, 1970
5. Maedas, Folkestone, March 23, 1970
6. Fire Chief, Plumpton, September 9, 1970
6. Fire Chief, Plumpton, September 9, 1970
7. Money Market, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1972
7. Money Market, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1972
8. Money Market, Wolverhampton, January 8, 1973
8. Money Market, Wolverhampton, January 8, 1973
9. Comic, Fontwell Park, November 19, 1975
9. Comic, Fontwell Park, November 19, 1975
10. Even Dawn, Nottingham, February 23, 1976
10. Even Dawn, Nottingham, February 23, 1976
11. Even Dawn, Doncaster, March 2, 1976
11. Even Dawn, Doncaster, March 2, 1976