Peter Scudamore
Encyclopedia
Peter Scudamore known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey
and trainer
in National Hunt racing
. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey
(including one title shared with John Francome
), riding 1,678 winners in his career. He received an MBE for his services to the sport of horse racing.
on Oxo, when his son was still a baby. Scudamore remembers little about his father's career, except for the fall that ended it. He has, however, spoken of his father's toughness as a jockey and of wanting to live up to him.
He benefited particularly from being stable jockey for the record breaking trainer Martin Pipe
and the partnership was an
extremely successful one throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
As well as setting the then all-time career record of 1,678 winners, he also set the record for most winners in a season (221) in 1988-89, surpassing Jonjo O'Neill's
mark to become the first jockey to exceed 150 in one season. Although both records have since been surpassed, Scudamore's records were set before the advent of year-round National Hunt racing. In all, he was champion eight times.
He won 13 times at the Cheltenham Festival
including two Champion Hurdle
s - Celtic Shot in 1988 and Granville Again in 1993 - and a Champion Chase on Pearlyman. Other major victories included the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup
(twice), Mackeson Gold Cup, four Welsh Nationals (including two on Bonanza Boy) and two Scottish Nationals
. Horses with which he was associated during his racing career included Grand National winners Miinnehoma
and Little Polveir
although he himself won neither a National, nor a Cheltenham Gold Cup
nor a King George
.
He retired on 7 April 1993 with a winning ride on Sweet Duke at Ascot, his 1,678th winner.
.
He now lives with, and is assistant trainer to, successful Scottish jumps trainer, Lucinda Russell at Arlary House Stables near Milnathort
.
He has also pursued a career in media, featuring regularly as a pundit on BBC racing coverage and writing a racing column for the Daily Mail
.
He is involved with his son Michael’s yard in Herefordshire and his other son Tom Scudamore
is also now a professional jockey.
Peter is second cousin to current Chief Executive of the F.A. Premier League, Richard Scudamore
.
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:...
and trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
in National Hunt racing
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...
. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey
British jump racing Champion Jockey
In Great Britain's National Hunt racing, the title of Champion Jockey is bestowed on the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a racing season. From its inception in 1900 through to 1925, the award was given to the jockey who had ridden the most winners during a calendar year...
(including one title shared with John Francome
John Francome
John Francome MBE is a former National Hunt Champion Jockey.Born in Swindon the son of a railway fireman, his family had no connection with the horse racing world. At sixteen years old he became apprentice to Lambourn trainer Fred Winter and so began his career as a jockey. He rode a total of...
), riding 1,678 winners in his career. He received an MBE for his services to the sport of horse racing.
Early life
Scudamore was born in June 1958 to jockey Michael Scudamore and his wife Mary. Michael Scudamore won the 1959 Grand NationalGrand 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...
on Oxo, when his son was still a baby. Scudamore remembers little about his father's career, except for the fall that ended it. He has, however, spoken of his father's toughness as a jockey and of wanting to live up to him.
Racing career
Scudamore's first competitive ride came in 1978, the start of a 15-year career which would see him break many jumps racing records.He benefited particularly from being stable jockey for the record breaking trainer Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....
and the partnership was an
extremely successful one throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
As well as setting the then all-time career record of 1,678 winners, he also set the record for most winners in a season (221) in 1988-89, surpassing Jonjo O'Neill's
Jonjo O'Neill
Jonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...
mark to become the first jockey to exceed 150 in one season. Although both records have since been surpassed, Scudamore's records were set before the advent of year-round National Hunt racing. In all, he was champion eight times.
He won 13 times 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...
including two 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...
s - Celtic Shot in 1988 and Granville Again in 1993 - and a Champion Chase on Pearlyman. Other major victories included the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup
The Hennessy Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-one fences to be jumped...
(twice), Mackeson Gold Cup, four Welsh Nationals (including two on Bonanza Boy) and two Scottish Nationals
Scottish Grand National
The 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...
. Horses with which he was associated during his racing career included Grand National winners Miinnehoma
Miinnehoma
Miinnehoma was an Irish bred and British trained Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1994 Grand National at Aintree, ridden by Richard Dunwoody, trained by Martin Pipe and owned by Freddie Starr....
and Little Polveir
Little Polveir
Little Polveir was a race horse. He won the 1989 Grand National steeplechase ridden by Jimmy Frost, beating West Tip by seven lengths...
although he himself won neither a National, nor a Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The 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...
nor a King George
King George VI Chase
The 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...
.
He retired on 7 April 1993 with a winning ride on Sweet Duke at Ascot, his 1,678th winner.
Post-retirement
Immediately after retirement, Scudamore became assistant trainer to his business partner Nigel Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies
Nigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire....
.
He now lives with, and is assistant trainer to, successful Scottish jumps trainer, Lucinda Russell at Arlary House Stables near Milnathort
Milnathort
Milnathort is a small village in the Perth & Kinross region of central Scotland.The smaller neighbour of nearby Kinross, Milnathort has a small population of roughly 1000 people. It is situated amidst picturesque countryside at the foot of the Ochil Hills, and near the north shore of Loch Leven...
.
He has also pursued a career in media, featuring regularly as a pundit on BBC racing coverage and writing a racing column for the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
.
He is involved with his son Michael’s yard in Herefordshire and his other son Tom Scudamore
Tom Scudamore
Tom Scudamore is a third-generation British flat and steeplechase jockey. He is the son of eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore; his grandfather Michael won the Grand National on Oxo in 1959.-Background:...
is also now a professional jockey.
Peter is second cousin to current Chief Executive of the F.A. Premier League, Richard Scudamore
Richard Scudamore
Richard Scudamore is currently Chief Executive of the F.A. Premier League, a position he has held since November 1999.-Biography:Scudamore attended Kingsfield School in Kingswood, Bristol, where he was Head Boy in his final year and which he left in 1977. He studied law at the University of...
.
External links
- Peter Scudamore's Daily Mail Column http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/columnist-422/Peter-Scudamore.html