The flat racing Champion Jockey and Champion Apprentice titles are awarded annually to the jockey(s) and apprentice(s) respectively that have ridden the most winners (both turf and all-weather) in Great Britain during a set period[1] or championship season.[2] The set period has varied over time, originally covering the calendar year when all flat racing was held on turf between March and November. Later, all-weather races outside the turf season were excluded, and from 2015 the championship season was further shortened to exclude the start and end of the turf season.[3]
The list below shows the Champion Apprentice and the number of winners for each championship season since 1922.
Following the changes in 2015, the Champion Apprentice is awarded a prize of £5,000.[3]
- 1922 – R. A. Jones – 58
- 1923 – Charlie Elliott – 89
- 1924 – Charlie Elliott – 106
- 1925 – Charlie Smirke – 70
- 1926 – Charlie Smirke – 71
- 1927 – Sam Wragg – 38
- 1928 – G. Baines / L. Cordell – 33
- 1929 – C. Adley – 35
- 1930 – J. Simpson – 28
- 1931 – Fred Rickaby – 44
- 1932 – Fred Rickaby – 37
- 1933 – Eph Smith – 52
- 1934 – Eph Smith – 36
- 1935 – Eph Smith – 76
- 1936 – W. Wing – 37
- 1937 – Doug Smith – 45
- 1938 – G. Wells – 27
- 1939 – K. Mullins – 29
- 1940 – Geoff Littlewood – 13
- 1941 – K. Mullins – 9
- 1942 – K. Mullins – 7
- 1943 – Joe Sime – 5
- 1944 – Joe Sime – 9
- 1945 – Durr / Gosling – 10
- 1946 – Joe Sime – 40
- 1947 – Dennis Buckle – 20
- 1948 – Dennis Buckle – 25
- 1949 – Willie Snaith – 31
- 1950 – Lester Piggott – 52
- 1951 – Lester Piggott – 51
- 1952 – Joe Mercer – 26
- 1953 – Joe Mercer – 61
- 1954 – Edward Hide – 53
- 1955 – Peter Robinson – 46
- 1956 – Edward Hide – 75
- 1957 – Greville Starkey – 45
- 1958 – Peter Boothman – 37
- 1959 – Bobby Elliott – 27
- 1960 – Bobby Elliott – 39
- 1961 – Brian Lee – 52
- 1962 – Bruce Raymond – 13
- 1963 – David Yates – 24
- 1964 – Paul Cook – 46
- 1965 – Paul Cook – 62
- 1966 – Sandy Barclay – 71
- 1967 – Ernie Johnson – 39
- 1968 – Coates / Dicey – 40
- 1969 – Clive Eccleston – 41
- 1970 – Philip Waldron – 59
- 1971 – Pat Eddery – 71
- 1972 – Robert Edmondson – 45
- 1973 – Steve Perks – 41
- 1974 – Alan Bond – 40
- 1975 – Alan Bond – 66
- 1976 – David Dineley – 54
- 1977 – Jimmy Bleasdale – 67
- 1978 – Kevin Darley – 70
- 1979 – Philip Robinson – 51
- 1980 – Philip Robinson – 59
- 1981 – Bryn Crossley – 45
- 1982 – Billy Newnes – 57
- 1983 – Michael Hills – 39
- 1984 – Richard Quinn – 62
- 1985 – Carter / Ryan – 37
- 1986 – Gary Carter – 34
- 1987 – Gary Bardwell – 27
- 1988 – Gary Bardwell – 39
- 1989 – Frankie Dettori – 71
- 1990 – Jimmy Fortune – 46
- 1991 – Darryll Holland – 79
- 1992 – David Harrison – 56
- 1993 – Jason Weaver – 60
- 1994 – Stephen Davies – 45
- 1995 – Seb Sanders – 61
- 1996 – Dane O’Neill – 79
- 1997 – Royston Ffrench – 77
- 1998 – Carl Lowther – 72
- 1999 – Neil Callan – 49
- 2000 – Lee Newman – 87
- 2001 – Chris Catlin – 71
- 2002 – Paul Hanagan – 81
- 2003 – Ryan Moore – 52
- 2004 – Tom Queally – 59
- 2005 – Golam / Turner – 44
- 2006 – Stevie Donohoe – 44
- 2007 – Greg Fairley – 65
- 2008 – Buick / Probert – 50
- 2009 – Frederik Tylicki – 60
- 2010 – Martin Lane – 41
- 2011 – Martin Harley – 57
- 2012 – Amy Ryan – 40[4]
- 2013 – Jason Hart – 51[5]
- 2014 – Oisin Murphy – 76
- 2015 – Tom Marquand – 54[6]
- 2016 – Josephine Gordon – 50[7]
- 2017 – David Egan
- 2018 – Jason Watson
- 2019 – Cieren Fallon[8]
- 2020 – Cieren Fallon
- 2021 – Marco Ghiani[9]
- 2022 – Benoit de la Sayette
- 2023 – Billy Loughnane[10] – 60
- 2024 – Sean D. Bowen[11] – 44
- 2025 – Joe Leavy – 41[12]
See also
- British flat racing Champion Jockey
- British flat racing Champion Trainer
- British flat racing Champion Owner
- Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
References
- ^ Great British Racing website.
- ^ Professional Jockeys Association Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Cook, Chris (16 March 2015). “Jockeys’ title race changes backed by Richard Hughes and Frankie Dettori”. The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ Keogh, Frank. “Josephine Gordon: ‘Woman will become champion jockey within 15 years’“. BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ http://brs.org.uk/brs-graduate-jason-hart-champion-apprentice-2013/ [dead link]
- ^ RIley, Stuart. “Proud De Sousa lifts first jockeys’ championship”. Racing Post. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ Lees, Jon. “Champion Gordon to have first Godolphin ride”. Racing Post. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ Lysaght, Cornelius (18 October 2019). “Cieren Fallon: Young jockey is following in his father Kieren’s footsteps”. BBC Sport.
- ^ “Champion apprentice: Marco Ghiani celebrates title success”. Sporting Life. 16 October 2021.
- ^ “William Buick and Billy Loughnane crowned champion jockeys, Shadwell secure British Champion Owner title”. Sporting Life. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ “Sean D. Bowen Named Champion Apprentice Jockey, As Champions Crowned At Ascot”. Thoroughbred Daily News. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ “Title Number Five for Oisin Murphy as Champions Crowned at Ascot”. Thoroughbred Daily News. 18 October 2025.