Jockey coaches
Our jockey coaches:
- Carry out a pre-race course walk advising on tactics and going
- Provide post-race analysis on riding skills and development
- Provide follow up phone calls to jockeys
- Give general support and advice to inexperienced jockeys
Name: Mick Fitzgerald
Mick was an Irish National Hunt Jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. During his career Mick maintained the envious position of stable jockey to former Champion National Hunt Trainer Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival in 1999 and 2000. Mick’s partnership with current Champion National Hunt Trainer Paul Nicholls saw a Cheltenham Gold Cup and a King George VI Chase victory with See More Business in 1999. However, Mick’s finest hour came in 1996 when he won the Grand National on Rough Quest. Mick also has the Triumph hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Cathcart Chase, the Arkle and the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase to his name. Although Mick was forced to retire through injury he still has an extremely busy career in racing, presenting for both the BBC and Attheraces as well as providing coaching.
Name: Graham Lee
Graham Lee is a successful Irish National Hunt Jockey in Great Britain and Ireland. Graham is now the main stable jockey and deputy trainer for Ferdy Murphy. In 2008 he attained the feat of being only the fourth National Hunt jockey to be placed in the first two positions in the National Hunt Jockey's Championship in ten years (following Robert Thornton, Richard Johnson and Timmy Murphy), at the time displacing Richard Johnson. In 2009, Graham began riding for newly licensed trainer Rose Dobbin, wife of jockey Tony Dobbin, in addition to his work for Murphy. The highlight of Graham’s career undoubtedly came in 2004 when winning the Grand National aboard Amberleigh House for Ginger McCain (trainer of Red Rum). Other big career successes include the Scottish Grand National on Grey Abbey in 2004, the Cheltenham World Hurdle aboard the legendary Inglis Drever and the Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle on Arcalis.
Name: Kevin Darley
Kevin had a successful race riding career spanning over 32 years. He was Champion Apprentice in 1978 and Champion Flat Jockey in 2000 having 26 Group 1 successes, 16 Royal Ascot winners and over 2,500 career wins. Kevin was appointed to the Professional Jockeys Association's Council in 1988 and served as Flat President from 2001 until his retirement from race riding in 2007 when he was appointed as the PJA’s Industry Liaison Director. In June 2009 he took up the role as Chief Executive.
Name: John Reid
John Reid served his apprenticeship in his native Ireland to Leslie Crawford, before moving to England and joining Verley Bewicke. His first Classic victory came in the 1982 1,000 Guineas aboard On The House. His first major Group 1 race win came in the 1978 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Ile De Bourbon. John won this race for a second time in 1997, His biggest victory came on Dr Devious in the 1992 Epsom Derby for the trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam. He also won the 1988 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Tony Bin. John was also successful in the 1,000 Guineas in 1994 on Las Meninas and in the St. Leger Stakes in 1998 on Nedawi. John was made an MBE in 1997 for his services to horse racing. In total, John rode 1,937 winners in the UK, and gained 48 international Group 1 race victories during his career.
Name: Richard Perham
Richard Perham is the British Racing School's Jockey Coach. His job is to instruct, train and assess all riders attending the many jockey courses held at the school. He also coordinates the Jockey Coaches for the Racing Excellence series. Richard started an apprenticeship with Richard Hannon the day after leaving school and with 16 years in the saddle, he yielded over 230 winners. Richard rode for many top trainers and owners in many different countries and riding a winner in the Queens colors ranks highly on his list of achievements.
Phone: 07836 521636
Email: richardp@brs.org.uk
Name: Jimmy Bleasdale
Jimmy is a former Champion Apprentice and was Champion Northern Jockey riding 90 winners. He served his apprenticeship with Sam Hall and remained loyal to his predecessor Chris Thornton until injury forced his retirement in 1991. Jimmy held a licence for 17 years and rode 847 winners in many different countries. Between 1978 and 1987 he rode 7 Classic winners in India and Singapore, including back to back Singapore Derby successes. Since retirement from the saddle Jimmy has bought, sold and produced yearlings for the breeze up sales. Trained apprentice riders in Qatar. Acted on behalf of the Qatar Jockey Club as a Stipendiary Steward and also an Assistant Starter. Jimmy worked for the Press Association reporting on races between 2000 and 2009. He stills rides work every day for Gill Duffield and works as a Jockey Coach for the Northern Racing College and the British Racing School.
Phone: 07977 252124
Email: bleasdale@brs.org.uk
Name: Michael Tebbutt
Michael started riding at the age of 9 where he went on to compete in Show Jumping and riding in the Hunting field, before turning to Racing which was his real passion. Michael first held his license in May 1983 having ridden a winner on every flat race course and several Jump tracks in Great Britain. The Cork and Orrey Stakes at Royal Ascot was one of the 10 Group Races that he won in his Racing career and riding over 800 winners worldwide. At the start of the 2007 season Michael was riding out early one morning on the Dual Guineas winner Cockney Rebel, when a freak accident happened which caused them to fall, breaking his shoulder in several places sadly forcing Michael into an early retirement. Michael is still very much involved in the Racing Industry, not only riding out for many of the top Trainers, Michael also teaches Foreign students and young Apprentice Jockeys at the British Racing School.
Phone: 01638 730356
Email: michael59@sky.com
Name: Steve Smith Eccles
Steve served a 5 year apprenticeship with Harry Thomson-Jones from 1970 to 1975 and rode his 1st winner on November 28th 1973 at Market Rasen on Ballysilly. Steve went on to ride over 900 winners worldwide with 876 in the UK. He won America's premier steeplechase "The Colonial Cup" on Declare Your Wish in1993. His association with "See You Then" is what Steve is most remembered for in racing. He rode 3 consecutive Champion Hurdles (1985, 86, 87) on the horse and rode 9 Cheltenham Festival winners in all during his colourful career. He was placed in the top 5 jockey's list for 10 consecutive years. Steve works for the British Racing School as a Jockey Coach.
Phone: 07985 111556
Email: smitheccles@brs.org.uk
Name: Craig Benton
Craig has vast experience in the Horse Racing field, riding for the first time, aged two. Craig started riding work for his father (a South African trainer) aged 12. During his teens Craig rode both on the flat and over jumps and rode is first winner at the age of 14. Craig also has experience in the eventing field, competing in show jumping for the South African Defence Force’s equestrian unit. Craig worked as an assistant trainer in 1985 and took out his own licence in 1988, training approximately 100 winners and winning one million rand in stakes money. Craig has also been a stipendiary steward in South Africa and China and is now the Training Operation and Stable Manager and the British Racing School.
Phone: 07928 737086
Email: craig_s_benton@yahoo.co.uk or craig@brs.org.uk
