I was looking for stuff on Peter Hetherington who was a seriously good Jockey in the days when I started following the horses...he seemed to have loads of winners....all I could find was this Ernie Weymes bit in which Ernie acknowledges
Peter.
This from 2010.

OLD habits die hard. A recent Wednesday morning saw Ernie Weymes lending a helping hand at Middleham's historic Ashgill yard, where he'd trained for 41 years. With son John, who has spent the last decade following his father's footsteps, attending Doncaster Sales, Ernie was to be found lunging a couple of horses. "I still enjoy it, still love the horses. I help out when I'm needed," he says, cheerily.

He's 75 now. Not that you'd know it. Nor, probably, would you know that back in June 1958, when he took over following the death of his trainer-father Jack, he was, at 23, then the youngster trainer ever to be licensed by the Jockey Club.

Weymes went on to train more than 550 winners. Meldrum stands out. Poor knees prevented him continuing his career into a second season, but he was the north's top two-year-old of 1968, winning three of his four starts.

"Peter Hetherington, who rode for me at the time, and who was a great jockey, rode him three times and won on him three times - the only time he got beaten was when Lester [Piggott] rode him at York!" recalls the former trainer. "He was a very good horse; unfortunately, we never really found out how good he was, though, because of his knees."

Having continued to ride out up until 2004, when a nasty fall finally persuaded him it was high time to hang up his boots, golf takes up plenty of Weymes's spare time these days. Fortunately, it's a passion shared by his wife Pat. Good friends, too, follow the same popular pastime.

"In October, we're going to Spain on a golfing holiday with Maurice Camacho," he reveals, referring to one of his former North Yorkshire training colleagues, whose friendship has spanned the decades.

"The job has changed so much. With so much more racing, it's totally different now than it used to be," reflects Weymes. "I was very lucky. I had some great owners."

They included Lord and Lady Howard de Walden.

"I trained Lady Howard's very first winner, Reedmace," says Ernie, whose numerous winners for the Lord included Sarissa, whose most notable success came in the 1977 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot.

"It was the same day that The Minstrel won the King George," he recalls Lanzarote was another of his residents before he wrote his name into the annals of jumping history by joining the Champion Hurdle roll of honour in 1974.

"I trained him for Lord Howard on the Flat. He was a lazy, slovenly, thing, but he won a maiden for me at Edinburgh, as it was then, and also ran well in a Newmarket handicap before he went off to Fred Winter to do so well hurdling."

Happy memories. Happy days. Weymes never had a top-class Flat horse, but he had quite a few very useful ones. Major Don, Idolised, Material, Solara Lady, Lady Mere and Incisive will surely be readily recalled by those of a certain vintage.

Weymes has mixed emotions about Incisive.

"He was another of Lord Howard's and was a very good horse who won the Cecil Frail at Haydock. He went back there again. Eddie Guest rode him and he'd just cruised to the front when he broke his leg. Terrible, it was; tragic to lose a horse like him."

Ernie Weymes's love affair with racing, however, remains undimmed. He watches it, follows it, and, as previously mentioned, is still prepared to get his hands dirty from time to time in stable duties.

"I used to think I worked hard when I was training," he says, "but now, when I look at John, he works twice as hard as I did. It's a tough job. What you need are the right horses, good horses. Every trainer," he acknowledges, "needs those."



Ernie Weymes: "I was very lucky. I had some great owners"

Blackrock A few clips.

Red Rum (Ginger McCain/Brian Fletcher) continues his fine season by beating San-Feliu (Neville Crump/Pat Buckley) in the three-mile chase at Newcastle and will now go for the Hennessy. Buckley and Crump do better when Prince's Slave wins the novice chase from Glanford Brigg (Jack Hardy/Tommy Skiffington).


Plenty of high-flying plans up and down the country with Glanford Brigg (Jack Hardy/Steve Holland) being earmarked for a Greenall Whitley Chase clash with Red Rum after his 10-lengths defeat of Royal Marshall (Tim Forster/David Nicholson) in the novice chase at Nottingham.



March 2, 1974

Bula (Fred Winter/John Francome) re-establishes himself as a serious candidate for the Cheltenham Gold Cup by trouncing Notification (Fred Rimell/ John Burke) in the two-and-a-half-mile chase at Newbury, but things work out better for Burke when Lucky Rock (Oliver Carter) springs a 25-1 surprise against Real Rascal (D Surman/George Hyatt, 5+) in the hunters' chase.

There is a hugely impressive display by Glanford Brigg (Jack Hardy/Steve Holland) when he slams Money Market (Verly Bewicke/Jeff King) in the Greenall Whitley Chase at Haydock, but no conclusions can be drawn about the repeat Grand National prospects of Red Rum (Ginger McCain/Brian Fletcher) as the jockey is knocked off at the first fence.

JACK Hardy's front-running Glanford Brigg is a clear winner of the Dipper Nov Chase at Newcastle under Steve Holland. Improvingwitheveryracehe goes to the Festival as a hot fav for the Sun Alliance Chase but proves no match for Tom Dreaper's Ten Up and Tommy Carberry who would give the Duchess of Westminster her fourth Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1975.

HE Hardy/Holland team notch a double at Donny when the useful novice Glanford Brigg hacks up in the Burghwallis Novices' Chase.

THE SunAlliance Chase trophy is heading back across the Irish Sea after Jim Dreaper's Ten Up (T Carberry) collars 5-4 fav Glanford Brigg (S Holland) at the final fence and strides clear.

BIG Ron must be sick of the handicapper as he looks all over the winner of the William Hill Hurdle when quickening clear two out on Peter Easterby's Easby Abbey. Alas, the welter burden of 12-7 takes its toll and Steve Holland swoops on Jack Hardy's Sir Mago (rec 35 lb) to pinch it in the last stride.

THE Hardy/Holland team notch a double at Donny when the useful novice Glanford Brigg hacks up in the Burghwallis Novices' Chase.

AT Wetherby, Jack Hardy's Glanford Brigg (S Holland) jumps back into the Cheltenham picture with a win over San-Feliu (D Atkins) in the William Hill Handicap Chase. The nine-year-old was not disgraced when chasing home Ten Up, Soothsayer and Bula in the 1975 Gold Cup.

Whit, and they had it off.

Thanks Tambourine for taking the effort to bring back some happy memories. Much appreciated.

Skiptomalou

Happy birthday to Denis...Wow he slipped under the Radar.
-------------
I don't really think so -

Denis McKay has been mentioned earlier on this thread - and always gets mentioned on similar threads.

Denis won the Wokingham in consecutive years on -

Virginia Boy and Whistling Fool - Both trained by, former jockey,  Doug Smith for Benny Schmidt-Bodner.

i don't know if this will harm Dennis's career, but when he won the Cesarewich on Scoria 1970 he fell out of the Queen's pub at 5.00 in the morning and wen't stright to Newmaket.

Onlooker

Talking about Denis Leah not Mckay...see skipto's original post.

So who is Denis Leah who won the November handicap? Is this the Manchester race? - or Leopardstown or Naas? The RP has him as the jockey of Tudor Treasure. But that horse's only major win on the flat was the St James Palace, when ridden by Doug Smith. As a 4yo, he went novice hurdling with Fulke Walwyn, and was 3rd in the last running of the Triumph hurdle at Hurst Park, ridden by Willie Robinson, and went on to Aintree, ridden by Dave D1ck. At stud, he sired Hunters Treasure, who was a spectacular front-running mare of Eric Cousins' who won about 8 novice hurdles in a row going about 20 clear from the off and staying there. At one time she was being put up as a threat to Persian War, though that didn't materialise.

^ Flat, that is.

The winning jockeys from '60 to '63 were J Greenaway, E Hide, M Germon and J Lindley. (There's that 'Gerry' Germon again!)

Paul Jones won it 1958, in thick fog, for Arthur Budgett/Joe Mercer. he was a 3yo, with 8-2 - the highest weight carried to victory in the race since the War! I think Josh Gifford rode the winner in '56?

Those set to carry bottom weight of 6-10 were ridden by P Povall, N McIntosh, A Carson, DW Walker, J Limb, D Ward. Des Cullen only had to do 6-12, so he could eat well.

n mcintosh ..now theres a name from my childhood ....anymore info on him or have i missed it already ...tia...

WR
Think this might have been posted earlier...Oh Well.


FOR most top jockeys these days the phone never stops ringing but in the case of Norman McIntosh it never rang once.

But it was nothing to do with lack of popularity that the Ayr Gold Cup winning rider didn't get regular calls for his services - it was simply that he refused to have a line installed at his modest council semi on the outskirts of Dunbar.

Even to this day diminutive 'Mac' isn't on the phone although he comes to life when vistors pop in for a trip down memory lane to discuss a career that yielded several hundred winners as a dependable light-weight.

His comfy living room is adorned with photos of his big wins but his 1966 Ayr Gold Cup victory on the George Boyd-trained Milesius takes pride of place as his own personal highlight.

McIntosh, who turns 71 in November, told me: "We raced towards the far side and it ended up a close finish.

"I only got him up in the last stride and we won a short-head. But though I liked a drink, there wasn't time for any celebrations as I was riding at Carlisle the next day.

"Milesius was a very good two-year-old. He didn't do much the next season but he came back to form as a four-year-old."

The West Barns raider advertised his Gold Cup claims in June at Hamilton Park where he won the Garry Owen Stakes over five furlongs.

But, even in the nervous moments after the big Ayr sprint, Boyd's nephew and assistant Tommy Craig wasn't sure he had pipped Top Of The Pops.

Tommy recalled: "'Mac' seemed to think he had got up but in these days the photo finish wasn't as quick as it is now.

"I was walking across the paddock to saddle a runner in the next so it was a big relief to hear the tannoy announcer say: 'First No 24 Milesius' as Lionel Brown had said he would never win a race after they were beaten in the Portland at Doncaster the previous week.

"'Mac' was a great jockey to have in the yard and he could have ridden a lot more winners than he actually did. But after preparing them at home and getting them spot on for a race he always came up with an excuse to put other people forward for the rides.

"He should have won the Cesarewitch on Flush Royal for us but Billy Nevitt got the ride as Mac said he was a hard-pulling horse even although he'd got him ready at home.

"But when we had 59 winners in 1957 he rode quite a few himself that year and he was a great asset to have. I'm delighted to say that his last winner, Frankilyn, was on a horse trained by me although he went on to ride out for a few more years after that.

"I remember calling him a little bugger on one of the occasions he won on Frankilyn as he spoiled a gamble we were having on Goldhills Pride!"

Buckie-born McIntosh, who never married, gave a lifetime to the racing game and he seemed as good as ever when steering the dipped-back Frankilyn home in Ayr's Rozelle Handicap on July 17, 1978 as a sprightly 47-year-old. However it turned out to be the final time he entered the winners' enclosure on horseback.

Ironically the mare's next success that campaign came at Pontefract under a budding young apprentice called Allan Mackay and McIntosh is proud of his achievement's having helped the Grangemouth jockey get a foot on the ladder.

With a mischevious look he said: "We had some great times when Allan was just starting out although I'll get in trouble if I tell you any of the details! When people ask why I never found myself a wife I always tell them I couldn't afford one as all my money went towards betting!"

A vital cog in the Boyd set-up, McIntosh was approached to ride as stable jockey for Sam Hall at Spigot Lodge in Middleham.

But, unlike nowadays, loyalty was a byword amongst his generation and he turned down the move although he did form a successful association with Mustavon when landing several valuable prizes on the five-year-old for the legendary trainer in 1960.

McIntosh, whose best haul of 37 was achieved the same year, said: "Mustavon was a good miler and we won the Lincolnshire Handicap which was run at Lincoln then.

"He was only just beaten in the Royal Hunt Cup but we won the Gosforth Park Handicap and the Royal Burgh Of Ayr Handicap that year as well.

"It was nice to get the chance to go to Sam Hall but I was quite happy to stay at West Barns as I was contented there. I certainly never regretted my decision.

"I also won the Great St Wilfrid for Sam Hall on Whistlers Daughter but I rode for other outside yards and I won the Magnet Cup at York one year for Pat Beasley."

But although there was plenty of clamour for his services, McIntosh invariably reserved his best for horses trained by George Boyd and the pair teamed up to bag the 1965 Northumberland Plate with Cagirama.

Other Boyd horses he excelled on during a golden age at the East Lothian yard were Ayrshire Bard, Anglo Scot, Staghound, Nenton, Buffalo Thorn, Chaseaway and Cap Of Gold.

McIntosh was also the man that looked after and prepared Rockavon for his famous win in the 1961 2,000 Guineas although it was the late Norman Stirk that was on board Strathaven owner Tommy Yuille's 66-1 outsider at Newmarket.

His eyes lit up as he said: "I rode Rockavon as two-year-old and he won his maiden and a nursery at Hamilton and another race at Stockton.

"He was a great horse to ride out and we never lost faith in him even after he was beaten for me in the Northern Free Handicap at Newcastle.

"I maintained I was too light to ride him in the Guineas and he actually went better for Norman Stirk. Rockavon was probably the best horse I ever sat on, at home or on the racecourse."

McIntosh, currently recovering from a minor stroke, spends most of his time at the moment watching racing on television when he concentrates on the horses as opposed to his modern-day contemporaries in the saddle.

He said: "I don't compare the jockeys now with my time as I rode with some great ones and I've never even met Kieren Fallon or Frankie Dettori."In my day I was up against Bill Rickeby, Ron Hutchinson, Scobie Breasley, Lester Piggott, all the northern boys including Edward Hide, Alec Russell, Johnny Seagrave, Joe Sime and Billy Nevitt and I also remember riding with the late Manny Mercer who was killed in a fall at Ascot.

"I was at Bogside the day Alec went through the card and I think he had the last winner at Lanark the previous day as well. I've hardly been racing since I stopped riding and I probably had a bet more during my riding days than I do now!

"We had some rare gambles and I missed racing when I first gave up but not so much nowadays."

It was as a raw 19-year-old that McIntosh opened his account when scoring on Highland Clan at Hamilton Park in September 1949.

Smiling fondly he recalled: "I looked after the horse at home and I wasn't that nervous as George Boyd just told me to ride him like it was a gallop on the beach and we won easily in the end."

It was a sign of things to come for an unselfish jockey that prepared as many winners on the gallops for others as he rode on the racecourse himself.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Scottish Daily

Quita Que was a fair horse at Cheltenham:-

1956 - 2nd in Champion Hurdle
1957 - 2nd in Champion Hurdle
1958 - won Cathcart
1959 - won Champion Chase (the first year it was called that)
1961 - won Cathcart

i remembered tambourine man ..after i'd reread it , old age eh ...how old is that piece please , seems a little sad him not having a phone ...i'm also glad people pop in to see him...having my own family around me all the time is a blessing , it must be awful to be alone , did he marry tambourine man ?

yes she was.

Won the Gold Cup off levels (no mares' allowance).

really sorry to hear that tambourine man may he r.i.p.

Happy birthday Terry Stringer

Happy Birthday Terry.....backed him at Brighton and Lewes if memory serves.



[img]http://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/tambourineman./f69b243968cc89043fcd29964b4f6834.jpg?v=81280[/img

Here is a bit from the Makin yard about 10 years ago...must have gone to India....where is he now Mister E.


Lisa Gayle

Age 20

Yard Peter Makin, Ogbourne Maisey, Marlborough, Wiltshire

Position Groom

Marital status Single

Background Granddaughter of ex-jockey Terry Stringer, Makin's head groom for 20 years until his recent retirement and subsequent emigration to India. Gayle joined Makin's team two years ago after working for Juddmonte at Tetbury in Gloucestershire and Northmore Stud at Exning, Newmarket. 'I didn't enjoy Newmarket, but my current job is brilliant.'

Best moment in racing 'Pivotal Point's win in this year's Stewards' Cup at Goodwood. He'd improved so much at home I was confident he'd win, but I was so busy I didn't get around to backing him. I had pounds 5 on when he won his maiden at Windsor last summer.'

Which horses do you look after? 'Pivotal Point, and a couple of two-year-olds, Zipadeedoodah and John Bratby. 'Pivotal/ was quite mad when he came to us, but he's a complete darling now. The difference is due to a combination of a gelding, then some tlc.'

Give us a horse to follow from your yard 'Small Stakes is a two-year-old showing lots of ability. Our juveniles look good.'

What about one from another yard 'Con Horgan trains just down the road from us at Greenlane Farm, and though there's no specific horse I'd nominate I'd keep a close eye on his runners. He has a good strike-rate.'

What's the best thing about your area? 'Miles and miles of bridle paths and byways. There's nowhere better. When I'm not out on the racehorses, I'll be on my pony.'

And the worst? 'I believe we need a quality saddler's in Marlborough that's not too expensive.'

Racing hero 'Terry Stringer. When I came to work for Mr Makin it couldn't have been easy for him with us being related. He was firm but fair.'

Peter Hetherington was apprenticed to Denys Smith in the mid 60s and rode out his claim before moving on to Ernie Weymes in 1968. One of the first jobs he was entrusted with was to partner 2-y-o Meldrum on his racecourse debut at Redcar. This was one of the best kept secrets ever with layers offering 20s plus about the animal early doors before plunging down to an SP of 3-1. Meldrum won on the bridle. I also saw Meldrum win the Champion 2-y-o Trophy at Ripon in easy style. I've dug out the racecard for the day and it lists the previous ten winners of the race. Interesting entry is 1960 Vinnie, Sam Hall, Norman McIntosh. Also on the card that day was a 6f sprint with Willie Carson on Beckside for Mick Easterby, a decent 2-y-o but never sighted in many previous runs that season. Handicapper Geoffrey Gibbs had dropped the horse a fair bit and backed from any price to 6-1, landed the spoils in typical M.W.E. style. Another winner that day was Kulumidza for Jack Calvert and ridden by Apprentice Laurie Love. Those of us who had a couple of quid at 50s were singing all the way home
'All you need is Love'
'All you need is Love'
'All you need is Love, Love'
'Love all you need'.