The Racing Life of Andrew Sansome

A successful amateur jockey, Andrew Sansome lived his childhood dream by riding 149 winners between the Flags and twenty-two under Rules. ‘It was a golden age of point-to-pointing, even though we didn’t know it at the time. It was competitive – we earnt our winners. I rode good horses for good people.’

‘Of the four of us who were friends at Pony Club,’ reminisced Andrew. ‘Drew Underwood and Roly Lloyd Thomas became eventers whereas me and Gordon Clarkson went into racing. It’s amazing that, as teenagers, Gord and I were doing hunter trials, eventing and team chasing whilst wanting to be jockeys – and we’re both still in racing all these years later. We all keep in touch, we’re all busy; sometimes I meet up with them or chat on the phone.’

‘Busy’ is a modest description of Andrew’s life as a self-employed work rider in Newmarket, Suffolk. Andrew settled again in Newmarket in 2021, originally breaking in and pre-training for James Owen. Starting at 05:30, he now rides two or three lots on a freelance basis before going to Michael ‘Wiggy’ Wigham’s for 09:30. Andrew, 58, also has a National Hunt store and a two-year-old for breaking. Then, other days, after riding out five lots, he may lead up at the races – giving an overall impression that busier, the better.

That move to horseracing’s headquarters has been nothing but positive. ‘I’ve had mental health issues in the past and I’ve had help since living in Newmarket. The Injured Jockeys Fund are down the road and they’re brilliant; their team at Peter O’Sullevan House are top class. My best friend committed suicide, and I couldn’t believe it when young Tommy Jakes did it. I still carry his stick every day. Looking back, when I was in a bad way, I’d call someone up and talk about it. Now, as long as I eat, sleep and work, and look after myself, I’m grand. At the time, it’s hard to get over it but the horses helped me – I’ve always had horses.’

Andrew speaks with frankness; much has changed and not all for the better but his resounding love for racing is unwavering.

Did you have a horsey childhood? I come from a ‘proper hunting family’ in Northamptonshire. My mum, still with her maiden name, Diana Bennie, was a talented showjumper and competed in the Foxhunters’ at Hickstead. She also rode in four point-to-points at a time when women could only ride in ladies’ races.  

As a kid, I had a lovely pony called Nelly but on my first day’s hunting, Mum broke her back causing Dad to get rid of the ponies. So, I didn’t sit on anything for five years. Then they couldn’t think of what to get me for my fourteenth birthday. So, I was given an unbroken three-year-old, Columbia, to break in myself.

Then, my granddad bought me a horse called Playboy, who I hunted and showjumped.

How did you get into racing? From aged four, I always wanted to be a jockey. At sixteen, I applied to be an apprentice at Mark Prescott’s, but my dad made me do A-Levels, against my better judgment. Whilst at school, as soon as I could drive, I started riding out for the late John Webber.

Which were the main trainers you rode for? I started out for Jeff King, then went to Dick Saunders’ as pupil assistant and they got me race riding. Whilst working for Dick, my best ride was Gentle Approach, who I won four Opens on at Garthorpe in one year.

After that, I went to David ‘the Duke’ Nicholson’s, where I was doing nine stone 11lbs, which was bloody light. One day, after riding for the Duke at Newbury, whilst I drove him home, he said, ‘You’ll make it.’ In my mind, I knew I’d impressed the Duke but the dieting was too hard. After that, I went freelance amateur and rode at above eleven stone, and had a great career.

I rode for a great character in Northamptonshire called Jimmy Tarry – he rode two hundred point-to-point winners on homebreds that he trained himself. I used to ride fifteen lots and then muck out for an hour – his old man Bunny would back up the trailer to the stable for me to chuck all the muck into. Those were my happiest days as a rider – fifteen lots six days a week all on grass at Preston Capes.

At the same time as riding for the Tarrys, I rode for Joe Turner. Though I’d only go there once a year, when I’d ride upwards of twelve horses and school them one after another. Every year I rode for the Turners, I was Champion East Anglian Point-to-Point Rider.

Dick Saunders, Jimmy Tarry and Joe Turner were all family units, and I was very much part of each team.

Andrew winning on Ballinaveen at Garthorpe in the late 1980s

How do you reflect on your career as a jockey? Sometimes, I think I should’ve tried harder to control my weight to ride more under Rules, but the dieting affected me mentally. I didn’t know how to diet properly and there was no help with nutrition. Warren ‘Wozza’ Marston nicknamed me the ‘Walking Skeleton’.

On reflection, I had some great times and still have the photos on my walls. I loved horses. I loved helping horses and helping people bring on their horses.

It was such a brilliant life. We hunted three days a week up until Christmas. After 1^st February, there’d be racing every Saturday and there were always loads of runners in points.

Best days as a jockey: I rode three trebles. The first treble was the best because I’d only ridden three winners before that. It was at Newton Bromswold. Gentle Approach won the open and Ok So and Ballinaveen won their races.

The second last winner I rode was Teeton Babysham, who I also bred, owned, and trained. I’m certain not many people have done that! He was sold to Paul Nicholls and won a novices’ hurdle next time out by twenty-five lengths, ridden by Ruby Walsh.

Favourite racehorses: Ballinaveen. He was a nine-year-old when he finally won his maiden and went on to win his next six, and he was my first winner under Rules. Despite being tricky, he was special, especially as I looked after him on the yard as well.

The best I rode was West Tip, who I rode in his last three races. That was an honour.  If I had a problem, I always phoned his trainer Michael Oliver, from when I first got to know him then right through my career until he passed away.

Raise An Argument was another favourite, whom I finished second in a Foxhunters’ at Liverpool.

At the Turners’, Corston Joker was my last winner under Rules. He came from Lenny Lungo’s and had got bad at starting Joe was very clever and we tried a few tricks. I won three points and two hunter chases on him. Corston Joker was a complete rogue, who got turned around by, as it was printed in the old form book, The MacKenzie and Selby, by the ‘well known equine psychologist Andrew Sansome’.

Andrew (in blue) finished second in the 1992 Aintree Foxhunters' on Raise An Argument  

Racing hero: Dick Saunders was the best horseman I’ve ever seen.

Racecourse you wish hadn’t shut: We farmed five miles from Towcester so it was a shame when that shut. Cottenham and Newton Bromswold used to be lovely pointing tracks.

How has point-to-pointing changed? The cause of pointing’s demise is all-weather racing and summer jumping. Many people who used to train pointers took out a license. It’s understandable when an ordinary horse can race for five thousand pounds and not a hundred quid. I will never agree with summer jumping in the UK – there’s always false ground and the attrition rate of horses is bad. It isn’t good sport, in my opinion.

Favourite racecourse under Rules: Aintree.

Favourite racecourse between the Flags: Garthorpe.

Jockeys you admired: Lester Piggot. When I worked next door, I used to ride past Lester. I never met him, but grew up watching him on the Flat. Over jumps, it was Andy Turnell. I rode with Hywell Davis, who was a good man for advice.

Best days since retiring from being a jockey: The 2024 Lingfield Derby Trial. At James Fanshawe’s, I rode Ambiente Friendly daily. He tried to take me on but, instead of strangling him, I got on with him, worked him out and he loved me. When people say there’s a key to a horse, Ambiente Friendly had a combination lock on him!

Going to Lingfield, he was 16-1. I knew he had a great chance because he was in brilliant form. Then, it was very special to have a horse go to the Epsom Derby; I never thought I’d be in that position. I’d never seen a horse travel round like it, only beaten by City Of Troy and Ryan Moore.

Sometimes, I still see Ambiente Friendly ridden out at James Owen’s. It was sad to see him finish fourth in a novices’ hurdle round Plumpton. From what he once was, being second in a Derby to see him getting beaten on soft ground round Plumpton.

Novel Legend, also at Fanshawe’s, was a ‘nearly horse’. I looked after him and rode home daily. If I had a favourite horse of all time, it’d be him. He was a right character – he whipped round so quickly that he dropped me four times, which is the most any horse bar my first pony, Nelly.

How has racing changed? There’s so much poor racing, it’s hard to keep track. In the olden days, there would be two afternoon meetings, fifteen minutes between each race and two evening meetings in the summer. But now it’s like dog racing.

When John Gosden talked about ‘two-tier racing’, he was right. Trying to make ends meet with a class five or six handicapper is nearly impossible, and there’s too many of those races that racecourses hold purely for the media money. The good racing is still competitive, but racecourses don’t promote the racing, they promote it as a party.

What do you love most about working in racing? When riding out, I’m happy as a sandboy.

What do you love most about working in Newmarket? The range of gallops is amazing. There’s a great camaraderie between the lads – we all get on really well.

Does your heart lie on the Flat or National Hunt? The Flat. I was only dictated which path I took as a jockey by my weight. I love Flat racing, especially the breeding and history.

Cheltenham has become very predictable. What they’ve done to the Grand National course is awful – they might as well have birch fences, which would be harder to jump than what they’ve got now. Taking away the drops has taken away the jeopardy and skill is no longer needed to jump round.

Best racing party: I wasn’t very good at parties, but a good one was a point-to-point dinner at the Belfry Hotel in the late 1980s.

Favourite meal: Salmon and salad.

Favourite drink: Guinness Zero.

Favourite snack: Biscuits and cake. When I ride out, I take a bucket around with me, containing my teapot, skimmed milk, sugar and a packet of biscuits – that keeps me going. Racing used to stop for breakfast, but we can’t anymore with five lots.

Favourite holiday destination: I only take one every seven years or so, and go to the west coast of Scotland, or somewhere like that.

Favourite Book: I must’ve read every book on racing ever printed but my favourite was Ivor Herbert’s book on Red Rum. I was given that as a Christmas present in 1975 and read it repeatedly throughout my childhood. I also loved Mum’s collection of The Horseman’s Yearbook from the fifties.

Favourite music: The three bands I listen to are Stiff Little Fingers, U2 and The Saw Doctors.

Favourite TV program: Luck On Sunday.

Favourite film: Pulp Fiction.

If you hadn’t worked in racing, what career would you have taken? I would’ve joined the household cavalry.

Other hobbies/interests: I like cricket, rugby and football. I am a big Northampton Town Cobblers fan but stopped watching when they got relegated.