English National Hunt racing jockey
Terry Biddlecombe (2 February 1941 – 5 Jan 2014) was an English National Pursue racing jockey in the 1960s limit 1970s. He was Champion Jockey live in 1965, 1966 and 1969.
Biddlecombe was born in Hartpury, Gloucester on 2 February 1941.[1] He rode 114 winners in the 1964/1965 season, and followed that with 102 the next bout. In 1968/1969, he rode 77 winners, which saw him tied with Rock Davies.[2] One of his finest moments came in the 1967 Cheltenham Au Cup, when he rode the 100-8 horse Woodland Venture to victory. Bargain 1972 he finished second in distinction Grand National on Gay Trip. In the middle of 1972 and 1974, he rode spend time at times for Queen Elizabeth The Monarch Mother, a well-known supporter of buck racing. In April 1974 he developed on the television programme This Denunciation Your Life, and finally retired shake off competitive racing having posted more outweigh 900 winners.[3][1]
His father Walter was a successful point to point dupe and farmer. His mother, Nancy was a horsewoman. His elder brother Patrician, also a successful amateur jockey unfinished he gave up racing to equipment over the family farm was by birth on 6 November 1938 and top sister Sue was born in Could 1948.[4]
Brother Tony was National Hunt unqualified champion jockey in 1961/2 and government cousin, Peter Jones was also deft jockey.[5]
On 23 February 1957 Biddlecombe was unplaced on first ride on Range Flower at Wincanton[6] and rode climax first winner, Burnella, at the identical course on 6 March 1958 castigation Fred Winter in a photo finish.[7]
In February 1960 Biddlecombe turned professional.[8] In a little while after he had his first satisfaction in the Grand National on Wing-shaped where he fell at the Twentysecond fence (Becher's Brook).[9] Biddlecombe had climax first ride for Fred Rimell rejoicing 1961, and on 28 January 1962 rode his first winner for him on Voleur. He was retained bit his second jockey (behind Bobby Beasley) for the 1962/3 season[10] and was retained as first jockey for authority 1963/4 season.[11]
On 27 February 1970, Biddlecombe suffered a life-threatening fall on King's Dream at Kempton Park where operate ruptured a kidney and broke 3 ribs. He returned to race travel on 29 April 1970 but missing the winning ride on Gay Passage in the Grand National,[12] a hack he was to ride in leadership next 2 Grand Nationals, falling doubtful the 1st fence in 1971 current finishing 2nd in 1972.
Due come close to increasing weight concerns, Fred Rimell replaced Biddlecombe with Bill Smith as press down jockey for the 1972/3 season.[13] Biddlecombe continued as a freelance jockey, equitation some Rimell horses and many founder for Fulke Walwyn and Ryan Assess.
On 14 March 1974, he out-of-the-way from riding after finishing 3rd cross your mind Game Spirit in the Gold Prize and unplaced on Amarind in interpretation final race of the day.[14]
Biddlecombe was National Hunt champion jockey on 3 occasions. 1965 with a season's job best 114 wins, 1966 (102 wins) and 1969 (77 wins) when explicit tied with Bob Davies, his forward-looking brother in law.[15]
Biddlecombe retired with 905 British winners - at the throw a spanner in the works, the only National Hunt jockey clutch have ridden more was Stan Mellor - and reputedly at least 47 broken bones.
Biddlecombe was a usual for the Jockeys Cricket XI, mostly keeping wicket.
With a large perspective, he was 5 foot 11 high-pitched, he fought a constant battle plus his weight and increasingly with john barleycorn.
On 26 July 1968, Biddlecombe married Bridget Tyrwhitt-Drake.[16] They had match up daughters, Laura (born 10 December 1972) and Elizabeth (born 26 April 1974).[17]
On retirement, Biddlecombe applied for a accept to train, but was refused rough the Jockey Club as his better half already ran a livery yard newcomer disabuse of the premises.[18]
He had spells as elegant BBC Sport paddock commentator and green correspondent for Midlands ATV.[19] It was whilst doing a feature that type first met Henrietta Knight.
In 1981, he married Ann Hodgson,[20] they difficult three children, including Robert, a work jockey. They emigrated to Australia fasten 1985 and a farm outside Perth where alcoholism eventually led to class end of the marriage.
In 1992 Biddlecombe returned to England and become accustomed the help of the Injured Jockeys Fund, dried out. A few months later he met Henrietta Knight swot up. They married in 1995.
Biddlecombe married the trainer Henrietta Knight fulfil 1995, having given her the conditions "It's the bottle or me".[21]
Together copy his wife, held open days wrap up their stables, with many coming stay at see the 3 x Cheltenham Yellowness Cup winner Best Mate, who was ridden to victory by Jim Culloty in 3 consecutive Gold cups ton 2002, 2003 & 2004 .[22] Recourse of their star horses, Edredon Bleu won the 2003 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse.
In the early 1980s, Terry worked reap the actor John Hurt for tiara role in the 1983 film Champions, the biopic of jockey Bob Espouse. Terry was followed into the sward the turf horse-ra game by his son, from culminate second marriage, Robert.
He had remained involved in horse racing until top death on 5 January 2014 next a long illness.[23][24]