Ex-rider repeats his winning ways down on the farm
Former point-to-point rider and lifelong farmer Tudor Harris, who always has a smile on his face, had a bigger smile than usual when his Bluefaced Leicester called Bonvilston K30 was sold at the recent NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales at the Royal Welsh Showground for £12,600.
Tudor, who farms at Redlands Farm, Bonvilston, in the Vale of Glamorgan – where point-to-point racing will be returning this coming huntracing season for the first time since 2011 – told the press: “With more than 30 years’ experience of breeding Bluefaced Leicesters, I can say that K30 is the best ram we have ever bred.’’
K30, who topped the show and sale of around 5,000 animals, is out of a homebred ewe and earlier this year took the overall championship at the Welsh Progeny Show.
I reported on Tudor’s first success in the saddle when he won the members’ race at the Pentyrch meeting at Llanharry back in 1966.
On that occasion, he rode a 13-yearold horse aptly named Old Beauty, who had not seen a racecourse in two years!
Even so, Old Beauty, the rank outsider of seven, romped home and those few racegoers who backed it on the tote were rewarded with a dividend of six pounds, nine shillings and sixpence for their two-shilling stake!
I also recall Tudor winning on a horse called Pipplepen, who was a half-brother to the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Woodland Venture.
And who can forget that famous occasion at the Brecon Hunt Steeplechases at Llanfrynach? Then, Tudor, riding Mr BR Allen’s Morning Miss, a 33-1 outsider, beat Welsh champion rider Paul Hamer on Dillwyn Thomas’s prolific Prince Haven 11.
Tudor is still very much involved in the sport these days, not only as an official at some of the meetings but also as the part-owner of Champione, a nine-year-old bay gelding who, after getting home by a neck at the Curre & Llangibby meeting last February, ran out an eight-lengths winner of the Intermediate race at the Banwen Point-To-Point Club races on Bank Holiday May Day.
■ Meanwhile, former professional jockeys who have ridden fewer than 26 winners will be able to ride in point-to-points under a change to the regulation governing rider eligibility.
The sport has long been open to former conditional and apprentice jockeys who gave up their licence before reaching the total 26 wins under Rules, as witnessed by three of last season’s top male riders, Alex Edwards, Will Biddick and John Dawson.
However, under the Rules of Racing, once a conditional or apprentice jockey reaches 26 years of age, they are advised on career choices by the BHA and are given the option to apply for a full professional licence.
In the past, if going down that route, they were no longer eligible to ride on the pointing circuit. One such example, Gloucestershire-based Danny Burton, gave up his licence just over a year ago, having ridden one winner on the Flat and 20 over jumps under Rules.
He has since created a successful garden machinery maintenance business with his brother, former jockey Wayne. Their younger brother Sam is currently riding as an amateur.
Danny, 32, said: “I’ve been waiting for this day for a year and I’m delighted. I gave up my professional jockey’s licence just over a year ago because of lack of opportunities. I was struggling for rides and failing to make a living, although I tried everything. I rode in points, became a conditional and then lost a stone and a half in order to ride as an apprentice.
“I went over the age limit and became a full professional jockey, but was still determined to try and make a go of it. When I gave up, my brother and I set up the garden business, and now we are inundated with work, so it was the right decision, but there is nothing to beat the buzz of race-riding. Now I’ve been given a chance to rejoin friends who are riding on the circuit to have some fun and go racing at weekends with my family.’’
Claire Hazell, chief executive of the Point-To-Point Authority, said: “Not every rider can achieve their ambition of making a living as a professional jockey and it seems wrong to exclude ex-professionals from riding in our sport, but now we hope to welcome a few more enthusiastic riders next season.’’
■ Send your racing news and views to Brian Lee by emailing brianlee4@ virginmedia.com or phoning 029 2076 3438.