Tom Townsend

On Sunday 11th November, Tom Townsend received his accolade for a lifetime’s dedication to racing at Kempton Park Racecourse. Originally from Thomastown, co Kilkenny, Tom began his apprenticeship with Atty Pearse in Lambourn in 1947,moving on to work for Fulke Walwyn for a couple of years. Bryan Marshall was stable jockey at the time and when he retired from race riding and took up training, Tom moved on to work for him for the next eight years traveling the jumpers. During this time, Tom had a few rides over hurdles.

From here, he went on to work for Ken Bailey for a couple of years and then Geoffrey Brooke as second traveling head lad until he retired and when Doug Smith took over training joined his as traveling head lad for the next ten years. It was here that Tom met Greville Starkey who instigated his move to Pulborough to take up the position as head lad for Guy Harwood in 1977.
Tom was there for 17 years and Guy Harwood describes him as “a very dedicated man, very reliable,” and recalls horses such as Dancing Brave, To-Agori-Mou, Kalaglow, Roussillon and Recitation. Family ties in Newmarket finally lured him back 12 years ago and Tom took up the position as traveling head lad for Stuart Williams for whom he still travels horses today, aged 77.
In 2002, Tom was awarded The Stable Staff of the Year award at The Derby Awards.

Alfie Westwood

Alfie Westwood was the candidate at Newmarket on 2nd November. Alfie came into racing in 1950 as apprentice to Claude Halsey in Newmarket. Two years of National Service followed with Alfie returning to racing to work as a lad for Reg Day at Terrace House. Six years later, he moved on to work for Harvey Leader at Shalfleet where he was persuaded to resume his riding career at the age of 29. However, an accident at Folkestone in 1969, was to have long lasting effects and ten years after the accident, Alfie found out that he had in fact fractured his hips which had mended themselves all wrong resulting in arthritis setting in.
This led to the first of three hip replacement operations for Alfie although he continued to ride out and work as traveling head lad for the late Peter Robinson until his death.

He then formed a successful partnership with trainer Pat Haslam, based at Pegasus Stables, continuing his role as traveling head lad.When Haslam decided to take a break from racing and finally moved to Middleham, Alfie moved on to work for a short time for trainers Clive Brittain, Alan Bailey and Michael Jarvis before finally settling with Willie Musson at Saville House.

Stuart Jackson

Stuart was the receipient of a Lifetime award at Nottingham on 31st October. He began his apprenticeship in 1955 for Captain Elsey in Malton. After three years, Stuart was transferred to Newmarket to work for Harry Wragg where he continued to have a number of rides and winners during his time there until 1975 when he made a move to Luca Cumani’s firstly as a work rider and later took over as one of the Head Lads.
A short spell in the 80’s saw Stuart move to Germany to further his riding career but returned to Luca Cumani’sand later went on to work for Julie Cecil. He was with her for six years until she retired from training and continued to ride work for trainer Geoff Huffer until his retirement.

Eric Campbell

Eric Campbell received his award at Towcester on 28th October. Eric came into racing in 1945 and began his apprenticeship in Tadcaster with trainer Tom Hall. After Tom’s death, Eric continued to work for Sam Hall who took over until 1952 when he left racing to complete his National Service. Eric’s first ride was on the flat at Pontefract in 1946 with his first winner in 1947 in an apprentice race at Carlisle.
In 1953, he returned to racing to work for Major Bewicke in Northumberland until 1955 and a move to Manton to work for George Todd.

Three years later, Eric moved to Greystoke to work for Tom Robson for nine years until Tom moved stables. Eric then took out a license to train at Clifton near Penrith for a couple of years training a few winners until 1970 when he went to work for trainer Tommy Craig at Dunbar as head man. His final move in February 1971 brought him to Newmarket where he began a nine year association with Ryan Jarvis up until Jarvis retired when after a short period with Mick Ryan, he settled as head man with Robert Williams for the next fifteen years up until Eric retired at the age of 65. He still helps his son Ian out with a few horses and rode out for Giles Bravery until three years ago.

Vince Murray

The candidate for the race at Fakenham on 26th October was Vince Murray, who came into racing in 1954 at the age of 14 and began work for Jimmy Lenahan .
Five years later, Vince left Ireland for Lambourn where he began a three year association with David Hastings at Seven Barrows. A short stint with Fred Maxwell followed and then he moved to Newmarket to work for Jeremy Hindley at ‘Cremlin House.’ A couple of years with Henry Cecil and Vince recalls a list of good horses that he was involved with at the time, the likes of Derby winner “Slip Anchor” which he rode out as a 2 year old and “Green Leaf.”
It was then that Vince struck up a partnership with Lord Huntingdon for whom he was to work for, for a total of ten years before a move to Julie Cecil for five years until he was forced into retirement due to injury some years ago.

Joe Tate

Joe Tate was the candidate at Wolverhampton on Monday 22nd October. Joe came into racing in 1956 at the age of 15 and served his five year apprenticeship with Mr J.G Ormston, beginning his riding career in which he had in excess of 200 rides. Joe then moved to several different stables around the country gaining more experience up until his last ride in 1977 after holding his license for some 21 years.
He spent three years in Thirsk with Mr Jack Calvert followed by a move to Didcot in Berkshire where Joe worked for Mr J.F. Houghton.

His final move in 1967 saw Joe and his wife settle in Newmarket, where he worked for various trainers over the years, none other than Sir Michael Stoute and the pair brought up their four children, one of which was a jockey. Now the 3rd generation of Tate’s sees a grandson who also holds an apprentice jockey’s license.

Dick Carey

DickCarey began a career in racing as apprentice to the Epsom trainer, Victor Smyth in 1945. He rode his first winner in October of that year on Ray at Windsor and by the time he was 19, Dick had a very respectable 63 rides under his belt despite having to take a year out having treatment for TB. He then continued to ride on the flat moving on to ride in National Hunt races as he became older.
When his riding career drew to a close, Dick became a Travelling Lad for Cyril Mitchell and progressed to Travelling Head Lad for Don Butcher until Don retired.
A stint as Head Lad for Ken Gethin followed and Dick’s last position was as Travelling Head Lad for Tommy Gosden where he had the opportunity to travel all over Europe before finally retiring.

Trevor Heath

Trevor has spent his entire working life in racing and is somewhat of a rarity in that during his near 40 years in the industry, he has worked at only two racing establishments.
He is currently head lad at Paul Webber’s Cropredy Lawn stables near Mollington but started his career at the equally famous Kinnersley stables of Fred Rimmel. Trevor spent weekends and holidays riding before starting full time in racing on leaving school and had his first ride at Ludlow when he was just 16. Over the next 20 years he had a few hundred rides.
Trevor is also a rarity in that he has never left the industry in his long career. When Mrs Rimmel retired from training in 1989, on her recommendation Paul’s father John offered him the job of head lad and shortly after Trevor’s wife Suzanne also joined the yard as racing secretary.

George Rogers

George came into racing in 1948 as apprentice to Mr Golightly. After three years in the army he returned to work for Noel Cannon at Drews Lodge in Salisbury until Mr Cannon sadly died. George then moved on to work for Sir Gordon Richards and when he retired six years later made another move, this time to work as travelling head lad to McIness Skinner.
1969 saw George relocate to Newmarket where he became travelling head lad for John Waugh until his retirement and then to Jeremy Hindley for another five years. He then moved to Tuscany in Italy to work for Marchese Mario Incisa until he returned to England to begin a sixteen year association with John Winter up until his retirement. A further nine years as one of the head lads for John Gosden until George retired after a busy 52 years service, in September 2000.

Arnie Robinson

"Arnie the valet" is now in his 60th year in racing and received his well earned "Lifetime in Racing" award at Catterick Racecourse on 11th July.
Arnie began his job as a valet in 1947 and since then has not had any other form of employment. Working in the North of England, Arnie was responsible for jockeys such as Eddie Hide, Joe Sime and Mark Birch but also took on the Southern jockeys when they visited the Northern tracks such as Lester Piggott, Bill Rickaby, Steve Cauthen, Ron Hutchinson and more latterley George Duffield.
Arnie was also valet for Brian Fletcher and Tommy Stack when they won the Grand National on Red Rum.

Martyn Windsor

Martyn Windsor's contribution to racing was recognised at Pontefract Racecourse on 10th July with his "Lifetime" award. Martyn came into racing in 1958 to work for Tommy Dent in York and soon took to the saddle riding his first winner on his 17th birthday in May 1960. After a few moves between trainers, he ended his riding career with Alec Brewster before venturing south to become work rider and then travelling headman for Guy Harwood. During his days in Pulborough, Martyn was lucky enough to work with top class horses such as Kalaglow, Sandhurst Prince, Young Generation and of course Dancing Brave.

Peter West

Peter West accompanied the winners of seventeen British Classics to their respective triumphs during his time in racing and received his award for service at Salisbury Racecourse on 12th June.
In his capacity as box driver and latterly travelling head lad to Major Dick Hern and Marcus Tregoning, Pete has taken 4 Derby winners ( Troy, Henbit, Nashwan and Sir Percy) to Epsom and also accompanied “Horse of the Century” Brigadier Gerard to most of his 17 victories. Pete came into racing in 1957 at the age of 15, to work for the late Jack Colling at West Ilsley and was to stay at the famous yard for over 30 years having stayed on there with Dick Hern who took over there from Colling in 1962.
In his 50 years in racing, Pete only ever worked for 3 trainers (Colling, Hern and Tregoning) having moved with Dick Hern from West Ilsley to Lambourn in 1991, and stayed on there with Marcus after Dick’s retirement.

Tony Bowles

Anthony (Tony) Bowles has worked in racing since 1944 and his service to racing was recognised at Brighton Racecourse on 30th May. He began his career as apprentice to Charlie Bell in Epsom, aged 13. Tony’s first ride was at Lewes on the 3rd September 1946 and he enjoyed three further seasons on the flat riding for many different trainers and having several winners before getting too heavy! He also rode over fences and hurdles as an apprentice.
National Service saw the now Gunner Bowles stationed at Larkhill on Salisbury Plains conveniently near to Druids Lodge the stables of J V Rank where he continued to ride schooling every week and even manage to get himself a few rides. On leaving the army Tony travelled horses abroad for the London Bloodstock Agency travelling to the USA and South America. A scary job taking ten yearlings on a plane in 1953! In 1954 Jacky Sirett began training in Epsom and Tony was travelling head lad and then head lad until just before Mr Sirett’s retirement in 1970.