[AlanStrawballsHaycox]

Hello Alan Strawballs great hearing from you. You must have some great stories from those days. Were you a jockey as well? It would be great to hear more from your experiences from working in racing. Thanks

Well, like so many aspiring lads around at that time, I had just a handful of rides over hurdles (2 @ Chepstow, Sandown, Newton Abbot and a bumper at Cheltenham) as a conditional. I left racing but needed to get it out of my system, so started to take rides on some of the physically impaired horses in Welsh Point to Points, that nobody else wanted to ride. After a few seasons I managed to get better rides in The West Country and eventually scored with a double at the now defunct Williton course then called it a day after my third win. Just left with a few photographs, some stiff joints and great memories. I often think of the people I met along the way, lost touch with all but a few now.
Do any of you remember a great claimer who spent a few seasons with Jim Old, Colin Mcilfatrick?

[AlanStrawballsHaycox]

I spent a couple of years at the late Captain Tim Forsters, when Graham Thorner was first jockey. John Marshall was the yards 5lb claimer. John Francome, Steve Smith Eccles and Jeff King where also used occasionally. Hywel Davies started picking up rides about then and of course went on to win the Grand National on Last Suspect. A stylish young claimer called Dorset was given a few chances but he got involved with a dodgy crowd, I should add that this was an out-side ride and they were none of the Captains owners. They’d gone for a right old touch and unfortunately for all connections the bridle broke during the race. I don’t recall all the details but suffice to say the lads career came to abrupt end shortly before the revelation made the Sporting Life head-line.
I joined the late David (Duke) Nicholson for a couple of seasons, during which Jeff King was first jockey and was soon to retire. Competition for rides was fierce within the yard and The Duke was instrumental in the introduction of the ‘Conditional’ license. He had eleven lads in the yard, who were licensed to ride so opportunities were scarce to say the least. Jon Suthern, Alan Webb, the late Roy Mangan, Robin Dickin, and the top Conditional at the time; Paul Carvill were regularly in the plate, of the lads in the yard; Jamie H Davies, David Chinn, Nigel Hiskett (father of Danny Hiskett), Gareth Charles-Jones and Neil Adams are names I can remember. An chap started to come to ride out quite regularly, he worked as a tea-boy in an estate agents in Stow on the Wold, but he was quickly ‘the chosen one’ and destined for greater things. His first appearance on a Nicholson horse was in an Amateur Riders Chase at Ascot, on a horse called Regal Command. They were about 25 lengths clear approaching Swinley Bottom and the horse jumped from under the young Peter Scudamore. The versatile Welshman Johnny Williams, was doing well on the flat as well as jumping and he’d always advise those trying to make it as a jockey; to go and ride abroad. Happy Days.

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