Andrew Thornton
Encyclopedia
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
. He was born on October 28, 1972 in Cleveland and schooled at Barnard Castle School
Barnard Castle School
Barnard Castle School , is a co-educational independent day and boarding school situated in the market town of Barnard Castle, in the North East of England. It was founded in 1883 as the North Eastern County School, with the name changed to the current one in 1924, and to this day is generally...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. He is not related to another of England's greatest jockeys, Robert Thornton
Robert Thornton (jockey)
Robert "Choc" Thornton is an English National Hunt jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King....
. Thornton is one of the very few National Hunt jockeys who wears contact lenses while riding and it is for this reason that he has acquired the nicknames "Lensio" and "Blindman" http://sport.guardian.co.uk/smalltalk/story/0,,2265432,00.html. He is married to Claire.
Despite having to endure many setbacks and injuries throughout his career, Thornton is now widely regarded as one of the best jumps jockeys around. He is also very highly respected among his weighing room colleagues. His opinion on horse racing is also well sought after by members of the Racing Post
Racing Post
The Racing Post is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting newspaper, appearing in print form and online.From 30 May 2011 - 3 July 2011 it had a circulation of 56,507.-History:...
, Racing UK
Racing UK
Racing UK Limited was launched as a subscription channel in 2004 with 30 racecourses as shareholders. As Racing UK grew several other business units and joint ventures were developed....
and At The Races
At the Races
At The Races is a British television channel, originally co-founded with Channel 4, but now owned by a partnership between British Sky Broadcasting, Arena Leisure Plc and 30 UK racecourses....
.
Many criticise Thornton's riding style. However, it is quite effective in most experts' opinions. Because he is taller than the average jump jockey, he is forced to ride very low in the stirrups. It is not always attractive to look at but it rarely fails to get the job done. Its benefits are also highlighted by the record Thornton has in staying Handicap Chases and staying Handicap Hurdles. Along with Tony McCoy
Tony McCoy
Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....
, he is probably the strongest jump jockey in a finish. He can push along from a mile out and galvanise the horse. His strength has been seen in many exciting finishes when he looked beaten turning for home.
Thornton has ridden many great horses including Cool Dawn
Cool Dawn
Cool Dawn was a National Hunt chaser of the 1990s who went from winning minor Point-to-Point races to winning the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Blue Riband of National Hunt Racing.-1992/93 season:...
, Gingembre and See More Business
See More Business
See More Business was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase. He was trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald in two of those races...
to victory in many a big race. However the best he has ridden and his favourite has to be 8-time winner French Holly. He won two Grade 1s and only just failed to win the Champion Hurdle in 1999 having encountered one of the greatest horses ever, Istabraq
Istabraq
Istabraq is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was most famous for his hurdling. He had an exceptional pedigree, being the produce of Sadler's Wells, a son of Northern Dancer, and a Secretariat mare making him a three-quarter brother to Epsom Derby winner Secreto. He won the Champion...
. His death in a schooling accident in the Winter of 1999 was a major disappointment to Thornton. He has plenty to look forward to, riding such horses as Caroline Bailey's stable star Doctor David.
Achievements and Awards
- 1996 Lester Award for special recognition
- 1997 Lester Award for special recognition
- 2003 Lester Award for jump ride of the year aboard Kingscliff
- 2007 Lester Award for jump ride of the year aboard Miko De beauchene
He has ridden major winners for Robert Alner, Seamus Mullins, Evan Williams, Ian Williams, Jamie Poulton, Paul Nicholls, Mary Reveley, John Spearing, Lavina Taylor, Ferdy Murphy and TA Forster.
Cheltenham Festival winners
- 1996 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase - Maamur
- 1998 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle - French Holly
- 1998 Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Gold CupThe Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
- Cool DawnCool DawnCool Dawn was a National Hunt chaser of the 1990s who went from winning minor Point-to-Point races to winning the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Blue Riband of National Hunt Racing.-1992/93 season:...
Grade 1 winners
- 1997 King George VI ChaseKing George VI ChaseThe King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
- See More BusinessSee More BusinessSee More Business was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase. He was trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald in two of those races... - 1998 Tolworth HurdleTolworth HurdleThe Tolworth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and...
- French Holly - 1998 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle - French Holly
- 1998 Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Gold CupThe Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
- Cool DawnCool DawnCool Dawn was a National Hunt chaser of the 1990s who went from winning minor Point-to-Point races to winning the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Blue Riband of National Hunt Racing.-1992/93 season:... - 1998 Christmas HurdleChristmas HurdleThe Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
- French Holly - 2003 Finale Juvenile HurdleFinale Juvenile HurdleThe Finale Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Chepstow over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
- Sunray
Other notable winners
- 1998 Rendlesham HurdleRendlesham HurdleThe Rendlesham Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
- Buckhouse Boy - 1998 Racing Post ChaseRacing Post ChaseThe Racing Post Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
- Super Tactics - 2000 National Spirit HurdleNational Spirit HurdleThe National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped...
- Male-Ana-Moo - 2001 Rendlesham HurdleRendlesham HurdleThe Rendlesham Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
- Merry Masquerade - 2001 Scottish Grand NationalScottish Grand NationalThe Scottish Grand National is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ayr, Scotland, over a distance of approximately 4 miles and 110 yards and 27 fences...
- Gingembre - 2002 Hennessy Gold Cup - Gingembre
- 2005 Reynoldstown Novices' ChaseReynoldstown Novices' ChaseThe Reynoldstown Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twenty fences to be jumped...
- Distant Thunder - 2006 Cotswold ChaseCotswold ChaseThe Cotswold Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
- See You Sometime - 2007 Racing Post ChaseRacing Post ChaseThe Racing Post Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
- Simon - 2007 Welsh NationalWelsh NationalThe Welsh National is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
- Miko De Beauchene - 2008 Red Square Vodka Gold CupBlue Square Gold CupThe Grand National Trial is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
- Miko De Beauchene