The full name of the (18th) Duke of Aburquerque was Beltrán Alfonso Osorio y Díez de Rivera.
During the 1974 race, he barged into Ron Barry at the second canal turn. Barry asked "What the **** are you doing?", to which he replied: "My dear chap I haven't a clue...I've never got this far before!"

Born on 15th December 1918, he never won the Grand National, but broke more bones than any other jockey in attempting to do so.

He died on 18th February, 1994

BLACKBARN....Jeremey Speid-Soote rode Black Spot in the 1966 National

..soory there's few numbers missing in the card - more like 36 of 47 on the morning card.

Forgotmy username

This is Jumbo's Obit. from RP in 2000....

Jumbo Wilkinson, the former jump jockey and Middleham trainer, died in hospital yesterday following a short illness. He was 67.

One of racing's great characters, Wilkinson was a leading northern jump jockey for 17 years, and rode more than 300 winners from 3,000 rides.

His 29-year training career produced over 200 winners, with the 1986 Scottish Grand National victory of Hardy Lad the highlight.

Other good horses trained by Wilkinson included Kelso Chant, winner of 15 races-notably Ascot's Long Walk Hurdle; Be My Guest, winner of Haydock's Premier Long Distance Hurdle; prolific scorers Chip Chase and Eboracum; and Armagret, whose 13 wins included the valuable Marston Moor Chase at Wetherby.

Wilkinson served his time with Bobby Renton and Jack Fawcus. In eight Grand National rides, he was fourth on Glorious Twelfth in 1957 and third on Clear Profit in 1960 and failed to complete the course just once.

He had his share of injuries, including five fractured legs, and once estimated he spent a total of two years in hospital while riding.

Wilkinson handed in his training licence four years ago due to a lack of horses but continued to live at his Fell View Stables, East Witton, now the base of Kate Milligan.

The first winner he trained was Bubbled Over at Beverley in 1967. His last was Netherby Said at Market Rasen in 1996.

He never had more than 20 horses at any one time and, on retiring, said: "Training is a way of life and I wouldn't be packing in now if we had more horses. It's a sad day but I've no regrets-the game has been good to me and I'd do it all again, given half the chance."

Chris Thornton said: "When I first knew him, Jumbo was a highly respected jockey, probably one of the best of his era, and I've known him throughout his training career.

"He was of the old school, a hard worker who produced the goods when he had the right horse. He was very tough and would ride out the worst horses in the yard, never asking his staff to do anything that he wouldn't do. He was a real character and a good man to have at a party, being full of fascinating stories from the old days."

Milligan said: "Jumbo was the only reason I started training. He rode winners for my grandmother, trained winners-including Hardy Lad-for my parents, and I used to spend all my school holidays at the yard. He taught me such a lot."

Ex-jockey Steve Charlton, now a valet, said: "I rode quite a few winners for Jumbo, including Kelso Chant in the Long Walk. He was a lovely guy, who always had a joke to tell. He had some horrific falls but always made light of them. They don't make them like him any more."

David Munro, who also rode winners for Wilkinson, said: "He was a wonderful man, a good horseman, great company and a fearless jockey."

Wilkinson leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter. Funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised.
COPYRIGHT 2000 MGN LTD

In the 1969/70 Form a N. Wilkinson is a registered Jock in Leyburn riding for Trainer B.Wilkinson which I'm sure was Jumbo.
There's also a pick of one Nim Wilkinson on his Golden Wedding in Leyburn...which I think is recent.
I would guess they were related ...similar ages maybe brothers or cousins...perhaps someone here knows.

Kelso Chant, what a horse that was. I'd forgotten about it. Won me a few quid that one.

Yeah, Nimrod and Jumbo are two entirely different Wilkinsons. Jumbo was listed as B Wilkinson. Nimrod is still around as far as I know. Both rode for trainer Jack Fawcus so there could be a family connection.

Thank you WHITWHITLAW  the horse  i was referring to was Pearly Festival and it was ridden as you say by P.Cullis i thought it was JUMBO WILKINSON. i remember CRUACHAN and GAME FIELD did Bobby RENTON OR JACK FAWCUS TRAIN ANY OF THOSE HORSES?

Charlie Smirke.  In 1958 i was apprented to Boggy Whelan at Epsom,  I had only been there a few weeks and as always in those days they would only let you ride "The Hack" (AN OLD RETIRED IN THIS CASE USELESS RACEHORSE) The Hack was one of the the most difficult horses when a "Complete novice" was riding him out. I was instructed to trot him up and down Chalk Lane which leads up to the grandstand. The Hack was giving me a terrible time bucking and kicking doing everything to get rid of me. As i was on my own i was terrified. Along came this guy riding a horse from Peter Ashworths stable on his own. He stayed with me for an hour showing me how to sit properly ,keeping my hands down ,position of my toes in the irons,in the end the old Hack settled ,and the dark haired rider accompaniad me back to Boggy Whelan stable. Just as we arrived our head lad Titch Grantham came out of the gates. I heard him say Morning Charlie to the guy as he rode away. I ASKED TITCH WHO HE WAS   "One of the greatest jockeys of them  all.Charlie Smirke"   yes i had a pretty good teacher that day in march 1958.

Some great memories on this thread.
Somebody mentioned Firefright.
I think Bill Marshall trained him to win over hurdles too. In those days Bill Smith or a conditional Mick Wagner rode Bill's hurdlers.
Dont remember Firefright with Peter Supple. Peter trained near Dartford, had a lot of Hong Kong owners, and at one stage was flying. Greville was retained for a large sum if the stories were right. Peter had a good apprentice with the name Trent Bridge.

Peter Supple, Mick Wagner and Trent Bridge anybody know what happened to them?

its great to have such knowledgeable fellows at our fingertips alright ..blessed are we among wizards....

Cork Langer.
Mornington cannon was my father in law.

Tambourine man
i was uot with Steve charlton a few weeks ago and we spoke about Kelso chant,charlo's a nice guy and a good laugh.

Guardamar,
The said Joe Jennings the bookie was a jockey.

I NEVER SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT IT TM,I KNOW THERE WAS A JOCKEY CALLED A.Charlton riding around the same time who he wasn't related to.

FORGOTMYUSERNAME, their was an ex jockey used to live in Middleham called Boots willkinson, He used to live were Micky Hammond now trains, just as you are going out of Middleham. Think he now lives Thirsk way on.

Mornington Cannon

http://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/whitwhitlaw/92710ca21d86d2ceefc97ce7d80d6d51.jpg?v=90024

Mornington Cannon had a brother, (Walter) Kempton Cannon, born Nov 21 (no flat racing that day?). He married Letitia Watts, widow of John Watts, who rode 19 classic winners, and had been apprenticed to Tom Cannon snr.

John Watts's son was John E Watts who trained Call Boy, the 1927 Derby winner.

His grandson was John F Watts who trained Indiana, 1964 Leger winner.

His great grandson was John W (Bill) Watts, who trained Waterloo and Teleprompter.



Mornington Albert Wing (known as Morny Wing) was champion jockey in Ireland 9 times between the wars, though born in Yorkshire. He rode the winners of 23 Irish classics. Still a record?

ged.........On Wednesday May 21 1873, Mornington won at what was then known as The Bath & Somerset County Meeting. The following link shows the actual race.

http://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/whitwhitlaw/8bd7686782f6277342145fd0bb5d71cb.png?v=140192

Guardamar

This is Joe Jennings RP. report of his death from 2002.

JOE JENNINGS, one of the best-known characters in the off-course betting industry, died in his sleep while holidaying on the Caribbean island of Tobago on Saturday. He was 58.

Described yesterday by one associate as "a little man with a big personality", Jennings was an apprentice jockey with Ted Smyth in Epsom from 1956-59 before joining forces with his father Tom in the bookmaking business in 1961 when betting was legalised.

Under the banner of Jennings Bookmakers, the pair began from a single shop in Harlow, Essex. With help from his brother Terry and sister Carol, the business continued to expand until 1995, when it was split three different ways.

Jennings's side of the firm, Joe Jennings Ltd, had around 30 shops, concentrated in the Isle of Man, Jersey and the Home Counties, and he was both an annual sponsor at Newmarket and a regular racegoer.

Jennings, who was twice divorced and a father of five, had not been ill and his family, friends and employees have been deeply shocked by the suddenness of his death. No funeral arrangements will be made until the body has been flown back to Britain.

Although his riding career only yielded a couple of winners, Jennings never tired of relating how he was involved in a photo-finish for the Wokingham Handicap, in which he lost the verdict to Lester Piggott.

Over the years he had shares in a number of horses, but nothing of any particular note.

His nephew, Greg Knight, said yesterday: "Joe was very well known in the betting industry and in racing circles, and a big party animal. Anybody he came across certainly knew they had met him. He was always full of energy.

"Joe also enjoyed boxing and ran an amateur football team in the Harlow area for 20-odd years-he must have been the most corrupt linesman in history!"

Warwick Bartlett, chairman of the British Betting Office Association, said: "Joe will be sorely missed because he was one of the great characters of the industry.

"He was a real bookmaker, a great supporter of the BBOA, and a terrific independent bookmaker

"His death is a big loss to the industry."
COPYRIGHT 2002 MGN LTD

Workrider. Yes we are amongst wizards and sometimes in the Racing Game we are sometimes not aware. In the very early sixties i used to go racing acouple of times a week with Frank Carr and Teddy Carter always grabbing the back seat ,often a big guy who took up more than half the back seat came with us ,i just knew him as "Bob" One day because Frank had to go to another meeting  I had the task of saddling the only runner at Hamilton Park. Frank said "Bob" would be there and he would come into the paddock to see me. I was standing in the paddock waiting for the jockey when i see "Bob" and another guy walking towards me . As Bob approached he introduced  me  to his friend who had a strong scotch accent unlike Bob who was a geordie. "this is my friend Bill" We chatted for about five minutes legged the jockey up and then we parted company. These was the days before Instant celebretity,Ihad just  been  in the company of what any Liverpool  F.C. supporter would die for, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley

Great stuff. Sounds like a fine race, with Cremorne a close 2nd. Cremorne went on to win the Ascot Gold cup, having won the previous year's Derby and Grand Prix de Paris, was 2nd in the 2000gns, and in all won 20 of 26. According to Michael Church, Cremorne was "always a gluttonous horse, requiring a good deal of exercise, and was found dead on the moring of January 7th, 1883 from a rupture of the heart, caused by lack of physical activity and over-eating". He was probably doomed from birth, as he was by Parmesan, who in turn was by Sweetmeat out of Gruyere.

Paulbu. I had parted company with Frank Carr by the time Kamandu won the Hunt Cup,but talking of "Laying One Out" maybe this would be of interest to you. We will need Whitwhitlaw if he wouldnt mind to verify dates and places. Frank Carr was years ahead of his time regards Betting,maybe the many years he had spent "spiving" the meetings had helped. He called me into his office one day and told me he had a plan. We had a horse, a maiden in theyard at the time,and it had been working very well with the older horses on the home gallops. He told me that he wanted me to put3,000 pounds on the horse when it ran for him. As i had put on pretty big sums on in the past i didnt think it would be any problem. It wasnt as simple as it sounded. Because i came from Manchester and knew the place well,he wanted me to go to  300 betting offices,and place no more than a tenner in anyone shop it didnt matter if we ran out of time,never more than a tenner per shop no shop ever twice,as it was in the 5.00 race we had around six hours to get it on.
3,000pounds if anyone needs reminding ,would have brought you a substancial detached property in the north of England at the time.
The day arrived ,me and my brother and a close friend were ready to go,maps of anywhere from Prestwich to Trafford Park to Hyde . Half an hour in we got the message ,horse lame ,non-runner come home. There the story might have finished, not long after i was in Manchester once again clutching Three Thousand used notes, but not for  the "Lame" horse.The horse was "DOMINATOR" S.P. 20/1 E.Carter. Southwell, the job was finally done,

TambourineMan. As i have said before Frank Carr was "Generous " to a fault. One could assume it paid for a few "Bricks"  in the Villa, on the Mediterranean ,where the name Guardamar comes from.