Jamie Spencer
Encyclopedia
Jamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing
jockey
currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a high-profile employer. He is an advocate for the art of holding up horses late into the races, and then making use of their natural dash of speed.
National Hunt trainer George Spencer, who trained Winning Fair to win the Champion Hurdle
in 1963, Jamie Spencer came to horse riding relatively late in childhood. He made rapid progress and was just 17 when he won his first classic, the 1998 Irish 1,000 Guineas on Tarascon, in the process becoming the youngest jockey to win a classic. He was champion apprentice in Ireland the following year with 46 winners.
Spencer's mercurial talents led to him briefly becoming stable jockey for Aidan O'Brien
at Ballydoyle
. While in that job, he was champion jockey in Ireland in 2004, with 93 winners. After O'Brien and Spencer parted company, he was replaced as stable jockey in 2005 by Kieren Fallon
. Spencer moved to Britain, where he was champion jockey in 2005, with 180 winners.
In 2007 Spencer was again British Champion Jockey
, sharing the title on this occasion with Seb Sanders
.
In January 2010, Spencer signed a contract to ride as retained jockey for Mrs Fitri Hay, whose principal trainer is Paul Cole, with other horses trained by Stan Moore and Tom Tate. In 2010, the trainers for whom Spencer rode most frequently were Michael Bell, Kevin Ryan and Paul Cole. The Hay contract saw him riding again for Aidan O'Brien after she bought shares in multiple Group 1 winners Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco, both of whom continued to be trained by O'Brien. Spencer's wins for O'Brien in the Hay colours included the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup on Fame And Glory.
Jamie Spencer is well known for tactical riding, keeping horses well towards the back of the field and coming with a late run, amongst other things.
, owner of Coolmore Stud
.
Spencer married Channel 4 Racing
presenter Emma Ramsden in February 2005 and they have three children. On 14 November 2009, in a statement issued to Press Association Sport on their behalf, it was announced that "as a consequence of recent speculation, Jamie and Emma Spencer confirmed that they are currently living apart."
. The split was due to Emma discovering that he had been having an affair with female jockey Hayley Turner
.
His nicknames include "Casper" due to his pale complexion and "Bollocky Bill" because of his attitude in the weighing room.
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
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:...
currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a high-profile employer. He is an advocate for the art of holding up horses late into the races, and then making use of their natural dash of speed.
Racing career
Son of former County TipperaryCounty Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
National Hunt trainer George Spencer, who trained Winning Fair to win the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
in 1963, Jamie Spencer came to horse riding relatively late in childhood. He made rapid progress and was just 17 when he won his first classic, the 1998 Irish 1,000 Guineas on Tarascon, in the process becoming the youngest jockey to win a classic. He was champion apprentice in Ireland the following year with 46 winners.
Spencer's mercurial talents led to him briefly becoming stable jockey for Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
at Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier...
. While in that job, he was champion jockey in Ireland in 2004, with 93 winners. After O'Brien and Spencer parted company, he was replaced as stable jockey in 2005 by Kieren Fallon
Kieren Fallon
Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....
. Spencer moved to Britain, where he was champion jockey in 2005, with 180 winners.
In 2007 Spencer was again British Champion Jockey
British flat racing Champion Jockey
The Champion Jockey of flat racing in Great Britain is the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a season. The list below shows the Champion Jockey and the number of winners for each year since 1840...
, sharing the title on this occasion with Seb Sanders
Seb Sanders
Seb Sanders is a flat race jockey.He came into racing by getting a job with trainer Bryan McMahon, and it was for McMahon that Sanders rode his first winner on 12 June 1990 on Band On The Run....
.
In January 2010, Spencer signed a contract to ride as retained jockey for Mrs Fitri Hay, whose principal trainer is Paul Cole, with other horses trained by Stan Moore and Tom Tate. In 2010, the trainers for whom Spencer rode most frequently were Michael Bell, Kevin Ryan and Paul Cole. The Hay contract saw him riding again for Aidan O'Brien after she bought shares in multiple Group 1 winners Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco, both of whom continued to be trained by O'Brien. Spencer's wins for O'Brien in the Hay colours included the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup on Fame And Glory.
Jamie Spencer is well known for tactical riding, keeping horses well towards the back of the field and coming with a late run, amongst other things.
Personal life
Spencer is the godson of Irish racing and breeding kingpin John MagnierJohn Magnier
John Magnier is Ireland's leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside of the horse breeding industry....
, owner of Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
.
Spencer married Channel 4 Racing
Channel 4 Racing
Channel 4 Racing is the name given to the horse racing coverage on the British television station Channel 4.-History:The first transmission of racing on the channel was on 22 March 1984 from Doncaster, as it took over midweek coverage which had previously been on ITV...
presenter Emma Ramsden in February 2005 and they have three children. On 14 November 2009, in a statement issued to Press Association Sport on their behalf, it was announced that "as a consequence of recent speculation, Jamie and Emma Spencer confirmed that they are currently living apart."
. The split was due to Emma discovering that he had been having an affair with female jockey Hayley Turner
Hayley Turner
Hayley Turner is a professional jockey based in the United Kingdom. She was born on 3 January 1983.Turner is widely considered to be the first woman to achieve a sustained, day-in, day-out, successful career as a professional jockey in the UK...
.
His nicknames include "Casper" due to his pale complexion and "Bollocky Bill" because of his attitude in the weighing room.