Ernie Johnson (jockey)
| Ernie Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | 1948 (age 75–76) Sunderland, England |
| Major racing wins | |
| British Classic Race wins: Epsom Derby (1969) 1,000 Guineas (1978) |
|
| Racing awards | |
| British flat racing Champion Apprentice (1967) | |
Ernest "Ernie" Johnson (born 1948) is an Epsom Derby winning British flat racing jockey.
Career
He began his apprenticeship with Captain Peter Hastings-Bass at Kingsclere. On that trainer's death in 1964, he transferred to Ian Balding.[1] His first win came on Balding's Abel at York on 18 May 1965 and his first big win came on Salvo in the 1966 Vaux Gold Tankard for Harry Wragg. In 1967, he won the Ebor on Ovaltine and the Cesarewitch on Boismoss, and ended the season as Champion Apprentice with 39 victories.
In 1968, he moved to Middleham, North Yorkshire where he rode for Sam Hall, although he still rode for many leading southern stables. That year he won 68 races, including a second Ebor on Alignment, the Free Handicap at Newmarket on Panpiper and the Portland Handicap on Gold Pollen.[2]
1969 brought Johnson his biggest career victory - a "faultless ride" [3] in the Epsom Derby on Blakeney - and his biggest seasonal haul to that date of 79.[2] In 1972, he became stable jockey to Barry Hills, for whom he almost won a second Derby on Rheingold, when he finished beaten by a short head by Lester Piggott on Roberto.[2] Although Roberto was a very good horse, Johnson himself believes that the combination of the Epsom track and the fact that Piggott was at the peak of his powers got him beat.[4] By September 1974, he had completed the feat of at least one winner at each racecourse in Britain.[3]
Shortly after Royal Ascot 1977, Johnson sustained shoulder injuries and a broken leg in an incident at Newmarket when his mount Courjet swerved, ran off the course and threw him against a post.[2] This caused him to miss the rest of the season. He bounced back the following season with his best ever end of season total of 86.[3]
His arrangement with Hills temporarily ended with the arrival of American jockey Steve Cauthen at the stable.[3] By the mid-1980s, riding opportunities were becoming scarce, so he relocated to Ireland for a short while, followed by some time spent riding in Singapore.[3] He also rode winners in Kenya, India and Hong Kong during his career.[5] Back in England in the early 1990s, although he was one of only eight then active jockeys to have passed the 1,000 winner mark, rides were even harder to come by, and he picked up just eleven winners in four years.[4] Despite the lack of rides, Johnson did not feel bitter, saying in 1993, 'I'm just doing what I enjoy and happy going from day to day. At least I've won a Derby.'[4] He rode his last winner in 1998 and his last race (besides one-off 'legends' races) in 2002.[6]
References
- ↑ Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 319.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 320.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Wright 1986, p. 155.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Kay Vamplew, p. 5.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
Bibliography
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