Peter Niven
With more than1,000 winners to his name, Peter Niven was the most successful Scottish jump jockey of all time.
With more than1,000 winners to his name, Peter Niven was the most successful Scottish jump jockey of all time.
The son of a farmer, Peter David Niven was born at Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, on August 7, 1964. He was brought up in Angus, between world-famous golf venue Carnoustie and Arbroath. He was encouraged to ride from an early age by his mother, who was district commissioner for the local Pony Club.
The son of a farmer, Peter David Niven was born at Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, on August 7, 1964. He was brought up in Angus, between world-famous golf venue Carnoustie and Arbroath. He was encouraged to ride from an early age by his mother, who was district commissioner for the local Pony Club.
He rode his first winner, Loch Brandy, trained under permit by his mother, in the Vaux Breweries Northern Point-to-Point Hunters’ Chase at Sedgefield, on May 25, 1984.
He rode his first winner, Loch Brandy, trained under permit by his mother, in the Vaux Breweries Northern Point-to-Point Hunters’ Chase at Sedgefield, on May 25, 1984.
A pupil assistant to David Nicholson in Gloucestershire and then to Jimmy FitzGerald at Malton, Peter subsequently became assistant trainer to Mary Reveley, who provided the majority of his winners from the 1980s until his retirement in 2001.
A pupil assistant to David Nicholson in Gloucestershire and then to Jimmy FitzGerald at Malton, Peter subsequently became assistant trainer to Mary Reveley, who provided the majority of his winners from the 1980s until his retirement in 2001.
The best horses he rode for the Reveley stable were Cab On Target and Marello, who both won Wetherby’s West Yorkshire Hurdle. Cab On Target won it twice (four years apart) and also provided Peter with victories in the Mildmay Novice Chase at Aintree and the Champion Novice Chase at Ayr.
The best horses he rode for the Reveley stable were Cab On Target and Marello, who both won Wetherby’s West Yorkshire Hurdle. Cab On Target won it twice (four years apart) and also provided Peter with victories in the Mildmay Novice Chase at Aintree and the Champion Novice Chase at Ayr.
Peter’s solitary Cheltenham Festival winner was Monsieur Le Cure, trained by John Edwards, in the 1994 Royal & Sun Alliance Novices’ Chase. He achieved another major victor aboard Sybillin, trained by Jimmy FitzGerald in Sandown Park’s Tingle Creek Chase.
Peter’s solitary Cheltenham Festival winner was Monsieur Le Cure, trained by John Edwards, in the 1994 Royal & Sun Alliance Novices’ Chase. He achieved another major victor aboard Sybillin, trained by Jimmy FitzGerald in Sandown Park’s Tingle Creek Chase.
He also won the Eider Chase and the Midlands Grand National on Seven Towers, the later at the expense of Lord Gyllene, who went on to triumph at Aintree just three weeks later.
He also won the Eider Chase and the Midlands Grand National on Seven Towers, the later at the expense of Lord Gyllene, who went on to triumph at Aintree just three weeks later.
Peter enjoyed his best season numerically in 1992/93 with 108 winners. The previous season he had recorded 105 wins from 420 mounts, a ration of one winner in every four rides. He rode five winners in one day on four occasions.
Peter enjoyed his best season numerically in 1992/93 with 108 winners. The previous season he had recorded 105 wins from 420 mounts, a ration of one winner in every four rides. He rode five winners in one day on four occasions.
He suffered his worst injury when breaking his neck in a fall at Sedgefield in 1999.
He suffered his worst injury when breaking his neck in a fall at Sedgefield in 1999.
Peter rode 1,003 winners during his career. After retiring from the saddle he started training and now has a mixed string at his yard at Barton-le-Street, near Malton, North Yorkshire.
Peter rode 1,003 winners during his career. After retiring from the saddle he started training and now has a mixed string at his yard at Barton-le-Street, near Malton, North Yorkshire.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1988: Rowland Meyrick Chase – What’s What
1988: Rowland Meyrick Chase – What’s What
1991: Great Yorkshire Chase – Dalkey Sound
1991: Great Yorkshire Chase – Dalkey Sound
1991: Don Novices; Hurdle – Cab On Target
1991: Don Novices; Hurdle – Cab On Target
1991: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Cab On Target
1991: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Cab On Target
1991: Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) – Cab On Target
1991: Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) – Cab On Target
1993: Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Cab On Target
1993: Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Cab On Target
1993: Future Champions Novices’ Chase – Cab On Target
1993: Future Champions Novices’ Chase – Cab On Target
1993: Tingle Creek Handicap Chase – Sybillin
1993: Tingle Creek Handicap Chase – Sybillin
1994: Great Yorkshire Chase – Carbisdale
1994: Great Yorkshire Chase – Carbisdale
1994: Royal & Sun Alliance Chase – Monsieur Le Cure
1994: Royal & Sun Alliance Chase – Monsieur Le Cure
1994: Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Batabanoo
1994: Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Batabanoo
1995: Eider Handicap Chase – Willsford
1995: Eider Handicap Chase – Willsford
1995: Long Distance Hurdle (Ascot) – Cab On Target
1995: Long Distance Hurdle (Ascot) – Cab On Target
1995: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Cab On Target
1995: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Cab On Target
1997: Eider Handicap Chase – Seven Towers
1997: Eider Handicap Chase – Seven Towers
1997: Midlands Grand National – Seven Towers
1997: Midlands Grand National – Seven Towers
1997: Tote Silver Trophy Hurdle (Chepstow) – Marello
1997: Tote Silver Trophy Hurdle (Chepstow) – Marello
1998: Long Distance Hurdle (Ascot) – Marello
1998: Long Distance Hurdle (Ascot) – Marello
1998: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Marello
1998: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Marello