Lee Newman
Lee Alan Charles Newman was born in Scotland on September 25, 1981, the son of former Flat and National Hunt jockey Nat Newman. He looked destined for the top when he was crowned champion apprentice in 2000 with 87 winners when with Richard Hannon Sr. He rode winners for the Queen, the Aga Khan and Sheikh Mohammed.
Lee Alan Charles Newman was born in Scotland on September 25, 1981, the son of former Flat and National Hunt jockey Nat Newman. He looked destined for the top when he was crowned champion apprentice in 2000 with 87 winners when with Richard Hannon Sr. He rode winners for the Queen, the Aga Khan and Sheikh Mohammed.
But it all came tumbling down just two years later when his weight spiralled out of control following a car crash, causing him to quit riding. He returned for another successful stint in the saddle in 2010, booting home 43 winners, but it wasn’t long until his battle with weight resurfaced and a serious back injury led to him quitting again the following year. He then spent four years running a betting shop in Barbados.
But it all came tumbling down just two years later when his weight spiralled out of control following a car crash, causing him to quit riding. He returned for another successful stint in the saddle in 2010, booting home 43 winners, but it wasn’t long until his battle with weight resurfaced and a serious back injury led to him quitting again the following year. He then spent four years running a betting shop in Barbados.
A change was just what he needed, and he jumped at the chance to move to Australia in 2015 when British expatriate Sam Pritchard-Gordon offered him a job at his Mornington stable.
A change was just what he needed, and he jumped at the chance to move to Australia in 2015 when British expatriate Sam Pritchard-Gordon offered him a job at his Mornington stable.
Six years after retiring from race riding for the second time, Lee made another comeback, aged 35, in Western Australia, having rediscovered his passion for racing after taking up a full-time job with trainer Fred Kersley in July 2016. He lost about 37 kilos to ride successfully at a minimum of 55kg.
Six years after retiring from race riding for the second time, Lee made another comeback, aged 35, in Western Australia, having rediscovered his passion for racing after taking up a full-time job with trainer Fred Kersley in July 2016. He lost about 37 kilos to ride successfully at a minimum of 55kg.
Sadly, his comeback has been marred by two serious injuries. He spent more than five months on the sidelines in 2017 after damaging his spleen and ribs in a three-horse pile-up at Ascot in Western Australia on April 1.
Sadly, his comeback has been marred by two serious injuries. He spent more than five months on the sidelines in 2017 after damaging his spleen and ribs in a three-horse pile-up at Ascot in Western Australia on April 1.
He quickly re-established himself and rode his 19th winner of the 2017-18 season on I’m Feeling Lucky in the La Trice Classic at Ascot, Perth, on New Year's Day. But just six days later was back in hospital with neck and back injuries after a second frightening fall of his Australian comeback. He fractured four vertebrae after a fall on Dealing in a handicap at Pinjarrah in Western Australia.
He quickly re-established himself and rode his 19th winner of the 2017-18 season on I’m Feeling Lucky in the La Trice Classic at Ascot, Perth, on New Year's Day. But just six days later was back in hospital with neck and back injuries after a second frightening fall of his Australian comeback. He fractured four vertebrae after a fall on Dealing in a handicap at Pinjarrah in Western Australia.
He recorded by far the biggest success of his career when riding Simsir to victory in the £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir Racecourse on November 20, 2020.
He recorded by far the biggest success of his career when riding Simsir to victory in the £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir Racecourse on November 20, 2020.