Jumps jockey, then great trainer
A SUPERB allround horseman, Neill Ridley was a leading jumps jockey who transferred his skills into training and had a long and successful career.
He died in Christchurch on October 16, aged 67, from cancer, just 13 days after he had his last two starters from his Riccarton stable.
As a result of deteriorating health, Ridley had decided to close down his stable to spend more time with his family and friends. Though his Group Three winner Prince Oz and Seriously could not provide a fairytale ending to his racing career, he was overwhelmed by the support on the day from the many friends he had made during his lifetime in racing, a time in which he established himself as a proficient horseman who quietly went about his roles without any fuss.
Even when becoming one of the country’s best jumps jockeys, Ridley didn’t seek selfpromotion and that same attitude followed him through his successful role as a trainer.
He tended to shy away from the media and though interviews were never declined, he tended to keep them lowkey.
Neill Francis Ridley was born on March 21, 1953, and was educated at St Kevin’s College. He was brought up with horses, following on from the interest of his father, and he served his apprenticeship with Bill Hillis, the doyen of southern jumps racing, at Riverton.
According to Jumps Association statistician Chris McQuade, Ridley had his first jumps ride in May 1970, his first jumps win aboard Duldul at Riverton the following April, his last jumps win on Possum Canyon at Oamaru in July 1994, and his final jumps ride on Decoy Lad when he fell in the 1994 Grand National Steeplechase.
During those years, Ridley won 110 jumps races (59 over hurdles and 51 in steeplechases) from a total of 767 rides, recording his 100th jumps win on Sir Daley at Invercargill on April 4, 1992.
His association with three of the top jumpers of the era, the Andertontrained Lord Venture, his stablemate Bymai, and the Marion Stevensontrained Nearco Bay, led to three Grand Nationals wins at Riccarton.
Ridley married Margaret Menlove, a product of Central Southland, where she had been immersed in the horse world all her life.
After his raceriding retirement, the Ridleys set up a thoroughbred training base in Oamaru.
Ridley prepared Pinnacle for his father to win 16 on the flat and four over hurdles from 1991 to 1998.
Ridley was later a private trainer for Keith Neylon at Burnham before a stint running the Rangiora stable of Te Akau Racing Stables from 2010.
He then started training at Riccarton, where he went on to complete his 42year training career with a total of 313 wins, including three wins this season.
Throughout his career, Ridley always had a thorough approach to the task at hand, whether it be as a rider or trainer, and he provided his apprentices with a solid grounding and opportunities.
He is survived by wife Margaret and sons Mark, Steve and Nick — NZ Racing Desk