I’d never even wanted to be a jockey in the first place.

The downside for a lot of lads in the yard was the fact that when the original race was wiped out, so were their tasty antepost slips. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. It wouldn’t have been the same after having such a great boss.

I’d done a bit of work in a car repair factory, but he advertised for stable lads and I went along. John Francome MBE is often labelled, demeaningly, as ‘the best jockey never to have won the Grand National’. . That’s why I packed up aged 32 in 1985.

Francome was Champion Jockey for the first time in 1975/1976, the season in which he won the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Lanzarote, and again in 1978/79, the season in which he won his one and only Cheltenham Gold Cup on Midnight Court. But among all those triumphs, only one came in the Gold Cup. John Francome is known as the Greatest Jockey for good reason.

Searching by lastname may yield more results. At the Cheltenham Festival, aside from the Gold Cup with Midnight Court, they also won the Sun Alliance Chase twice, with Pengrail in 1975 and Brown Chamberlin in 1982, the now-defunct Cathcart Challenge Cup twice, with Roller Coaster in 1979 and Observe in 1983 and the Stayers’ Hurdle with Derring Rose and the Grand Annual Chase with Friendly Alliance, both in 1981. He was also Champion Jockey for five seasons running between 1980/81 and 1984/85 although, in 1981/82, he shared the jockeys’ title with Peter Scudamore, after graciously refusing to ride once he drew level with his arch rival, who’d broken his arm as the result of a fall at Southwell in late April. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. In his title-winning years, Francome also won the Hennessy Gold Cup twice, on Brown Chamberlin, trained by Winter, in 1983 and Burrough Hill Lad, trained by Jenny Pitman, in 1984 and the King George VI Chase twice, on Wayward Lad, trained by Michael Dickinson, in 1982 and Burrough Hill Lad in 1984. Born in Stirling, Scotland on 16th November, 1942, it took a while for Wilie to take off in racing. A very lively and popular motivational speaker. John introduced the body protector for jockeys in 1979. The best horses he has ridden include Sea Pigeon, Brown Chamberlain and Burrough Hill Lad. National Hunt jockey and one of the most successful jump jockeys in history.

For other inquiries, Contact Us. But I made sure I enjoyed it as well. John retired from horse racing in 1985. If it hadn’t worked out I’d have gone back to working on cars or a career in building. However, he plugged on with the determination that was so evident in his energetic riding style. I’d spoken to him about horses I’d ridden, just chats, but didn’t realise that was breaking any rules. He spent 18 months as a trainer and then started working as a commentator for Channel Four where he worked for 27 years, leaving in 2012.

Born in Swindon in 1952,  John first represented Great Britain in the European Championships in 1969 where he won the Gold Medal. 1978 Gold Cup - Midnight Court The seven-times champion won the Hennessy Gold Cup, now the Ladbrokes Trophy, two years running on Brown Chamberlin and Burrough Hill Lad in 1983 and 1984.. Francome’s achievements are recognised with the running of the Ladbrokes John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury this weekend.

Here he tells PHIL THOMAS about that memorable day in 1978. Willie was definitely the punter's pal as he gave all horses a ride. . When the original race was called off, he decided to run Midnight Court at Chepstow before the rescheduled Gold Cup date. A true champion within the sport of horseracing, Frankie's talent is internationally recognised. He wrote his first book "Born Lucky", an autobiography, in 1985 and has since written 25 books. But that was nothing compared to the storm that had blown up around my friendship with the bookmaker John Banks. The late John Leeper Dunlop OBE, who died in July, 2018, at the age of…. I lived for Saturdays, with the big races and more money on offer! In 1972 he took over as first jockey from Richard Pitman. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here. John was Champion Jockey in 1975/76, 78/79, 80/81, 81/82, 82/83, 83/84 and 84/85.

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