A life spent in the world of racing, from stable lass to rider
Today’s Turf Talk Questionnaire guest is Jackie Dibble, best known to some point-to-point enthusiasts by her maiden name Jackie Savage.
Jackie has been involved with horses most of her life and as a member of the Glamorgan Hunt Pony Club, she competed at gymkhanas and later rode in point-topoints.
She has also show-jumped for Wales – this was around the same time as the famed David Broome was making a name for himself.
Her first job when she left school was in Boots in Cardiff, but her love of horses soon had her working as a stable lass for trainers up and down the country.
Jackie, who has a bubbly sense of humour, has many a tale to tell of the horsey people she left home to work for in days gone by. However, not all the stories would be suitable for this page!
It was probably the Western Mail that gave Jackie her first mention in the press when a report on the Glamorgan Hunt Point-To-Point Steeplechases, held beneath the glades of Penllyn Castle in the 1950s, informed its readers that: “The biggest cheers, however, were reserved for 16-yearold pretty Jackie Savage, from Penarth, who finished fourth on Whiz Bang 11.
“Jackie, whose long golden plait used to trail down her shoulders, weighed only 5st, which meant that she had to carry a stone more than her weight in lead!”
Jackie used to ride for hunt-racing stalwarts Barbara and Dillwyn Thomas, and it was on their mare Cariff Princess that she had a lot of success.
Cariff Princess, who earlier had been ridden by Mrs Rose Harry of Fitz and Sugar Bush fame, often appeared on the racecard owing to printers’ errors as Cardiff Princess.
Jackie says she has spent many happy days in the past helping out at Evan and Catherine Williams’ racing yard at Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Q. Where were you born?
A. Penarth, but I’m not telling you when!
Q. How did you become involved in horse-racing?
A. My father bought me a pony when I was 12-years-old.
Q. What was your most exciting racing moment?
A. Winning my first race on Dillwyn and Barbara Thomas’ Cariff Princess at the Glamorgan Hunt Point-ToPoint Steeplechases at Penllyn.
Q. Which are your favourite racecourses? A. The old Penllyn racecourse for point-to-pointing and the one at Lower Machen, which is home to the Tredegar and Gelligaer fixtures; and for racing under the full rules, Cheltenham, which is the spiritual home of steeplechasing.
Q. Have you any pet racing hates?
A. Yes, people who don’t play by the rules.
Q. What is your favourite sport apart from horse racing?
A. Tennis. I’m a member of the Penarth Tennis Club.
Q. Who would you like to be seated next to at a dinner party?
A. Seven-times National Hunt champion jockey John Francome, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Hennessy Gold Cup and the Welsh Grand National, plus other big races. Also former jockey and racing correspondent Luke Harvey.
Q. Do you have a favourite singer? A. Yes. I have two – Tom Jones and Frank Sinatra.
Q. Do you have a favourite book?
A. No. I’m so busy I don’t get time to read.
Q. What is your favourite television programme?
A. I love CountryFile.
Q. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
A. Admit to nothing and say nothing. Q. Tell us something about yourself that we probably wouldn’t be aware of?
A. I’m a blue belt in judo.
■ Meanwhile, when it comes to jockeys, Wales has plenty to smile about.
Last Wedneday at Newton Abbot three Welsh riders found themselves in the winners’ enclosure. Lorcan Williams was first off the mark, winning on Mister Fizz, then James Davies was successful on 6-1 chance Billy My Boy, and around 40 minutes or so later Alan Johns, riding for Vale of Glamorgan trainer Tim Vaughan, won on Eric The Third.
Over at Worcester, Sean Bowen, riding for his father Peter Bowen, won the opening novices’ handicap chase on Hillary View.
Then, just over an hour later, Sean’s younger brother James, riding for top trainer Nicky Henderson, scored on Laughing Luis.
And just for good measure, Adam Wedge, stable jockey to Llancarfan’s Evan Williams, won on Majestic Moll.
I believe in time that the Bowen brothers will be as well-known as the famed Rees brothers, Dick and Lewis, were in the 1920s.
■ Send your racing news and views to Brian Lee by emailing brianlee4@virginmedia.com or phoning 029 2073 6438.