Lindsay Charnock RIP

Drove a good few winners in for me in his day.

LINDSAY CHARNOCK, one of the north's leading lightweight jockeys for nearly 30 years before his retirement in 2000, died suddenly on Friday morning. He was 60.

Charnock rode over 800 winners during a career that spanned 29 years until circulation issues meant he had to bring a premature end to his time in the saddle aged 45.

As a lightweight rider, most of Charnock's major wins came in big Flat handicaps including two wins in three years in the Cesarewitch on Old Red in 1995 and Turnpole in 1997, both for trainer Mary Reveley. He also claimed wins in the likes of the Northumberland Plate, Portland Handicap and Ayr Gold Cup.

However, it was not until the the latter stages of his career that things really picked up for the rider via a fruitful partnership with trainer Tim Easterby and his flying trio of fillies Pipalong, Flander and Jemima. Jemima provided Charnock with his only success at graded level in Group 2 Lowther Stakes in 1999.

Flanders would be Charnock with his final winner in September 1999 before circulation problems in his groin, which required a plastic artery being fitted after several operations, forced him into retirement.

Charnock's circulation problems persisted in his retirement leading to the lower half of his right leg being amputated.

He is survived by his wife Gloria and daughters Kelly and Selina.