FORMER champion jumps jockey Jack Dowdeswell died peacefully in his sleep at Newbury Hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was 94.
Dowdeswell held the distinction of being Britain’s oldest surviving champion jockey and was one of the most courageous riders the jumping world has ever witnessed.
He won the title in the 1946-47 shortly after returning from service with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy.
Dowdeswell never refused a ride and is believed to have broken more than 50 bones during a career that also featured victories in the Grand Sefton Chase, Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase, Imperial Cup and Queen Elizabeth Chase.
He was forced to retire after injuring his spine in a fall at Buckfastleigh in 1956 and later went on to train at Delamere House in Lambourn, but found it an uphill struggle, and relinquished his licence in 1970 after exhausting his savings.
Dowdeswell later started a steam-cleaning business for stables and also rode out for permit holder David Nugent before previous injuries finally took their toll and he was forced to stop in 1980. However he continued to work for several more years for Barry Hills, John Hill and John Akehurst in Lambourn where he lived.
Grand National-winning rider and former trainer Michael Scudamore led the tributes. He said: “Jack was a wonderful manand a very good rider. When I started he was very good to me and I remember that whenever he couldn’t ride after a fall, he would say ‘Michael will ride it’.”
Similar Posts:
- Some Intriguing 2011 Grand National Odds
- Big Zeb turns Cheltenham tables on Sizing Europe at Punchestown
- Grand National 2011 Pinstickers’ Guide
- HUNGARY: Cosgrave just misses out in Budapest
- AUSTRALIA: Waller closes in on title with Sydney four-timer
