Marcus Armytage
Encyclopedia
Marcus Armytage is a journalist and former National Hunt jockey
who won the Grand National
as an amateur in 1990, riding Mr Frisk. He was educated at Eton College
.
Armytage's win in the 1990 Grand National
on Mr Frisk came in a record time of 8m 47.8sec. It was and remains (as of 2011) the only sub nine minute National smashing Red Rum
's previous record by some 14 seconds and Armytage remains the last amateur rider to win the race.
Mr Frisk and Armytage went on to complete the unique National-Whitbread Gold Cup
double at Sandown Park Racecourse three weeks later. The same year, 1990, he was Fegentri European Champion Amateur. In 1992 he repeated a feast achieved by his sister Gee in 1988 by riding a double at the Cheltenham Festival
, winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
on Tug of Gold and National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
on Keep Talking. His third Festival winner was on Christmas Gorse in the National Hunt Chase in 1994. He retired in 2000 after riding his 100th winner - in Dubai.
Armytage was born in Oxford on 17th July 1964. His father was Roddy Armytage, a racehorse trainer based in East Ilsley
,near Newbury, and his mother was Sue Armytage, who as Sue Whitehead was an international showjumper. His younger sister Gee was also a National Hunt jockey.
He attended Eton College
in same generation as politicians Boris Johnson
and David Cameron
. He used to slip out of college to ride at Windsor Races as a fledgling amateur jockey. He went on to attend the Royal Agricultural College
, Cirencester, (irregularly) before graduating with a diploma in Rural Estate Management.
He started writing while at agricultural college for the Newly Weekly News . He joined the Racing Post
as Newmarket correspondent in 1990 and left to join the Daily Telegraph racing team in 1993 and remains a racing correspondent there. He also contributes a column to the Horse and Hound. He was champion tipster for the 2008/09 jump season.
He married Amber in 2003. They have a young son, Arthur, 6, and Molly, 5.and another on the way
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:...
who won the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
as an amateur in 1990, riding Mr Frisk. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
Armytage's win in the 1990 Grand National
1990 Grand National
The 1990 Grand National was the 144th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 1990....
on Mr Frisk came in a record time of 8m 47.8sec. It was and remains (as of 2011) the only sub nine minute National smashing Red Rum
Red Rum
Red Rum was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years...
's previous record by some 14 seconds and Armytage remains the last amateur rider to win the race.
Mr Frisk and Armytage went on to complete the unique National-Whitbread Gold Cup
Bet365 Gold Cup
The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
double at Sandown Park Racecourse three weeks later. The same year, 1990, he was Fegentri European Champion Amateur. In 1992 he repeated a feast achieved by his sister Gee in 1988 by riding a double at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
, winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a National Hunt chase in Great Britain for amateur riders 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...
on Tug of Gold and National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a National Hunt chase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
on Keep Talking. His third Festival winner was on Christmas Gorse in the National Hunt Chase in 1994. He retired in 2000 after riding his 100th winner - in Dubai.
Armytage was born in Oxford on 17th July 1964. His father was Roddy Armytage, a racehorse trainer based in East Ilsley
East Ilsley
East Ilsley is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire.It is situated at in West Berkshire, north of Newbury very close to the A34 road which bypasses the village....
,near Newbury, and his mother was Sue Armytage, who as Sue Whitehead was an international showjumper. His younger sister Gee was also a National Hunt jockey.
He attended Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in same generation as politicians Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
and David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
. He used to slip out of college to ride at Windsor Races as a fledgling amateur jockey. He went on to attend the Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
, Cirencester, (irregularly) before graduating with a diploma in Rural Estate Management.
He started writing while at agricultural college for the Newly Weekly News . He joined 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:...
as Newmarket correspondent in 1990 and left to join the Daily Telegraph racing team in 1993 and remains a racing correspondent there. He also contributes a column to the Horse and Hound. He was champion tipster for the 2008/09 jump season.
He married Amber in 2003. They have a young son, Arthur, 6, and Molly, 5.and another on the way