“Both of my parents worked for the Royal Family. My Dad was in the Household Cavalry and he was one of the Queen’s Rough Riders. My Mum was a polo groom for Prince Philip. I grew up all around the south of England; I moved around a lot. But I was born in Windsor.
My first job in racing was with Tim Forster, and it was there that I met Adrian Rolls (assistant trainer to Graham Motion at Herringswell Stables) when he was looking after Last Suspect, who won the Grand National. I came over to the U.S. in my early 20s in 1985 to work for Bruce Davidson. I had never actually thought of becoming a steeplechase jockey, but after a year of working 14-hour days in the 90-degree heat in Pennsylvania I had lost enough weight to do it. I’d done some lower level show jumping and Pony Club in England.
I rode on the National Steeplechase Association for 12 years. I won three A. P. Smithwicks and two New York Turf Writers Stakes. I ended up working for Jonathan Sheppard when he had Storm Cat; I rode him briefly for a month or two, which was pretty cool. I stayed in Camden, South Carolina for the winters and then came up a couple of summers to gallop for Graham Motion at Laurel and Delaware Park. Then I decided to stay down in Camden. I was assistant for Jonathan Sheppard for a long time down there; I ran his barn. And then I started to work at Springdale Race Course. I very recently took a job with (breeder/owner) Larry Johnson as manager at his farm in Bluemont, Virginia.”
Jonathan is being sponsored by owner David Ross and will wear the red and black silks of Ross’s DARRS, Inc.
Saratoga Jet (NY)
TB, B, H, FOALED MARCH 12, 2003
( A. P JET – PIERPONT ACCOUNT, BY PRIVATE ACCOUNT
Owner: Chris Dillon
Breeder: Bill Terrill
CAREER STATISTICS*
Starts | Firsts | Seconds | Thirds | Earnings |
15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | $100,653 |
Total Raised to Date (9/18/19): $1,750