Christine Young
Christine Young (green jacket) on Canio
Christine Young (green jacket) on Canio
South-west conditional jockey Christine Margaret Louise Young (now Mrs Christine Gray) held a National Hunt jockey’s licence during the 1980s. She began her career with Betty Kennard before joining Ron Hodges, who trained at Langport, in Somerset.
South-west conditional jockey Christine Margaret Louise Young (now Mrs Christine Gray) held a National Hunt jockey’s licence during the 1980s. She began her career with Betty Kennard before joining Ron Hodges, who trained at Langport, in Somerset.
She rode one of her first winners on Canio, trained by Hodges, in the Citizens of Birmingham Handicap Hurdle on Worcester’s sponsored Mitchells and Butlers Brewery card on Saturday, October 30, 1982. In December she rode Canio to victory in the Doug Barrott Handicap Hurdle at Sandown, the race run in memory of the former jump jockey who had died in 1973 following a fall in the Whitbread Gold Cup, staged that year at Newcastle.
She rode one of her first winners on Canio, trained by Hodges, in the Citizens of Birmingham Handicap Hurdle on Worcester’s sponsored Mitchells and Butlers Brewery card on Saturday, October 30, 1982. In December she rode Canio to victory in the Doug Barrott Handicap Hurdle at Sandown, the race run in memory of the former jump jockey who had died in 1973 following a fall in the Whitbread Gold Cup, staged that year at Newcastle.
Canio was a well-bred horse by Welsh Pageant out of Nedda, who had won Ayr’s Doonside Cup and finished second in both Royal Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes and the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. He was bred by Jockey Club member Tom Blackwell at his Langham Hall Stud in Suffolk. Mr Blackwell’s breeding policy was to retain the fillies and sell the colts, hence Canio was bought initially by Jim Joel, for whom he won Newbury’s Donnington Castle Stakes and finished second in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old. He was also a half-brother to Princess Eboli, winner of the Cheshire Oaks and Lancashire Oaks.
Canio was a well-bred horse by Welsh Pageant out of Nedda, who had won Ayr’s Doonside Cup and finished second in both Royal Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes and the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. He was bred by Jockey Club member Tom Blackwell at his Langham Hall Stud in Suffolk. Mr Blackwell’s breeding policy was to retain the fillies and sell the colts, hence Canio was bought initially by Jim Joel, for whom he won Newbury’s Donnington Castle Stakes and finished second in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old. He was also a half-brother to Princess Eboli, winner of the Cheshire Oaks and Lancashire Oaks.
Later that season, Christine won twice on another of Ron Hodges’ horses, the chestnut mare Miss Saddler, landing selling hurdles at Plumpton in April and Fontwell in May.
Later that season, Christine won twice on another of Ron Hodges’ horses, the chestnut mare Miss Saddler, landing selling hurdles at Plumpton in April and Fontwell in May.
The 1983/84 season started well, with three winners, two seconds and a third from her first eight rides. Miss Saddler started the ball rolling by winning a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Devon & Exeter on August 18, following up at Fontwell next time out.
The 1983/84 season started well, with three winners, two seconds and a third from her first eight rides. Miss Saddler started the ball rolling by winning a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Devon & Exeter on August 18, following up at Fontwell next time out.
A prolonged dry spell had rendered the ground descriptions ‘firm’ or even ‘hard’ pretty much throughout the country. Christine journeyed northwards to Bangor-on-Dee on Saturday, September 17 for three rides. The first of them, Restless Captain, finished second, beaten a length, in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. She then rode Estralita to victory in the Haig Whisky Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier. An hour later, she lined up on Miss Saddler for the two-mile four-furlong Redbrook Handicap Hurdle. The mare made headway to lie in second place with two flights to jump. She held every chance and Christine was hopeful of recording a double. But then Miss Saddler misjudged the jump, nosedived onto the rock-hard ground and jettisoned Christine from the saddle.
A prolonged dry spell had rendered the ground descriptions ‘firm’ or even ‘hard’ pretty much throughout the country. Christine journeyed northwards to Bangor-on-Dee on Saturday, September 17 for three rides. The first of them, Restless Captain, finished second, beaten a length, in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. She then rode Estralita to victory in the Haig Whisky Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier. An hour later, she lined up on Miss Saddler for the two-mile four-furlong Redbrook Handicap Hurdle. The mare made headway to lie in second place with two flights to jump. She held every chance and Christine was hopeful of recording a double. But then Miss Saddler misjudged the jump, nosedived onto the rock-hard ground and jettisoned Christine from the saddle.
There were no broken bones but the fall left her unconscious for two days. A week in intensive care in Liverpool was followed by two weeks in a Taunton hospital. She admitted that the last thing she remembered was weighing out for the first race; the next thing she remembered was her last three days in hospital.
There were no broken bones but the fall left her unconscious for two days. A week in intensive care in Liverpool was followed by two weeks in a Taunton hospital. She admitted that the last thing she remembered was weighing out for the first race; the next thing she remembered was her last three days in hospital.
Undaunted, she was eventually given to the all-clear to resume race-ring and returned to action at Sandown on February 3, 1984, finishing fifth of twenty in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. Canio went on to win that season’s Coral Golden Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival but it was John Francome who had the mount that day. By the end of that season, she had seen her claim reduced from 7lb to 4lb, as was the case then.
Undaunted, she was eventually given to the all-clear to resume race-ring and returned to action at Sandown on February 3, 1984, finishing fifth of twenty in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. Canio went on to win that season’s Coral Golden Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival but it was John Francome who had the mount that day. By the end of that season, she had seen her claim reduced from 7lb to 4lb, as was the case then.
Christine married fellow south-west National Hunt jockey Carroll Gray. Years later, they set up a training establishment at their base at Horlake, Moorland, near Bridgwater. When Carroll took out a trainer’s licence in August 2000, Christine played a pivotal role in the operation and, over the course of the next decade, they did well with their small string of around half a dozen horses.
Christine married fellow south-west National Hunt jockey Carroll Gray. Years later, they set up a training establishment at their base at Horlake, Moorland, near Bridgwater. When Carroll took out a trainer’s licence in August 2000, Christine played a pivotal role in the operation and, over the course of the next decade, they did well with their small string of around half a dozen horses.
But then, one night in November 2012, floodwater poured into their property on the Somerset Levels close to the River Parrett. Carroll and Christine were forced to flee with their horses before their escape route was blocked by the rapidly rising water. As they left, there were three inches of water in each box. It eventually rose to four feet.
But then, one night in November 2012, floodwater poured into their property on the Somerset Levels close to the River Parrett. Carroll and Christine were forced to flee with their horses before their escape route was blocked by the rapidly rising water. As they left, there were three inches of water in each box. It eventually rose to four feet.
Every one of the stables had tide-marks halfway up the walls, while across the road, much of the area they used for galloping the horses lay under feet of water. They were only able to keep their horses going by renting boxes from nearby trainer Kevin Bishop.
Every one of the stables had tide-marks halfway up the walls, while across the road, much of the area they used for galloping the horses lay under feet of water. They were only able to keep their horses going by renting boxes from nearby trainer Kevin Bishop.
When they were finally able to return to their home, they found irreplaceable racing memorabilia from their riding days had been washed away or ruined.
When they were finally able to return to their home, they found irreplaceable racing memorabilia from their riding days had been washed away or ruined.
In 2013, they moved into new training facilities at Spaxton, near Bridgwater, from where they sent out five winners from 45 runners during the 2013/14 National Hunt season. Rarely have two people been more deserving of a slice of luck to come their way.
In 2013, they moved into new training facilities at Spaxton, near Bridgwater, from where they sent out five winners from 45 runners during the 2013/14 National Hunt season. Rarely have two people been more deserving of a slice of luck to come their way.