Royal Ascot Top Jockeys

(© John W Slusar 2021)

Constructing a list of the 'Top Royal Ascot jockeys' has to be more than a single person's subjective judgement, and should be arrived at by taking account of all available evidence and applying some pre-determined formula to give the data order. Therefore, the 2 challenges are:-

  1. Collecting all the evidence;
  2. Proposing a suitable formula.

Prior to 1824 Racing Calendars and newspapers of the day did not always record the name of the winning rider, and provided scant detail about which other riders took part. Although Ascot races were staged prior to 1807, the inaugural Gold Cup was held in 1807, and the other main races which still exist today followed at various intervals thereafter. This research only includes races which have stood the test of time, and does not include Maidens, Plates, Visitors Handicaps, Oatlands Stakes, Granville Stakes, Rous Memorial Stakes, High-Weight and Light-Weight races.
Once all research has been concluded, and as detailed a list of all riders has been arrived at, the second challenge is to propose a formula which generates an order, giving suitable weight to such factors as, the number of times each jockey rode in the race, and the number of times he won the race or was placed. In this instance, 10 points has been awarded for each win, 4 points for each second place, and 1 point for each third place.
Whilst it is not necessary for the reader to contact the author of this list to discuss the merits, or otherwise, of the formula employed, the author would welcome contact from anyone who can provide further evidence of which riders took part between 1807 and 1822. (email johnwslusar@gmail.com)

If your favourite jockey is not in the Top 100, contact me to see where they are currently placed in a list of the top 500.

 

1 Lester Piggott 1672
BORN 5/12/1935 DIED 29/06/2022
PLACED RIDES 277 GOLD CUP WINS 8
WINS 121 SECOND 87 THIRD 69
Evidence Base

 

2 Frankie Dettori 1163
BORN 15/12/1970 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 221 GOLD CUP WINS 8
WINS 82 SECOND 68 THIRD 71
Evidence Base

 

3 Pat Eddery 1148
BORN 18/3/1952 DIED 10/11/2015
PLACED RIDES 215 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 80 SECOND 71 THIRD 64
a b c v n y
Evidence Base

 

4 Ryan Moore 1065
BORN 18/9/1983 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 192 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 74 SECOND 69 THIRD 49
Evidence Base

 

5 Sir Gordon Richards 1013
BORN 5/5/1904 DIED 10/11/1986
PLACED RIDES 179 GOLD CUP WINS 5
WINS 74 SECOND 56 THIRD 49
Evidence Base

 

6 Willie Carson 913
BORN 16/11/1942 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 178 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 62 SECOND 59 THIRD 57
Evidence Base

 

7 Morny Cannon 873
BORN 21/5/1873 DIED 1/6/1952
PLACED RIDES 144 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 63 SECOND 54 THIRD 27
Evidence Base

 

8 George Fordham 823
BORN 4/9/1837 DIED 12/10/1887
PLACED RIDES 145 GOLD CUP WINS 5
WINS 58 SECOND 52 THIRD 35
Evidence Base

 

9 Fred Archer 690
BORN 11/1/1857 DIED 8/11/1886
PLACED RIDES 114 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 53 SECOND 33 THIRD 28
Evidence Base

 

10 Doug Smith 666
BORN 21/11/1917 DIED 11/4/1989
PLACED RIDES 123 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 49 SECOND 34 THIRD 40
Evidence Base

 

11 Nat Flatman 658
BORN 9/9/1810 DIED 20/8/1860
PLACED RIDES 115 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 47 SECOND 40 THIRD 28
Evidence Base

 

12 Steve Donoghue 598
BORN 8/11/1884 DIED 23/3/1945
PLACED RIDES 118 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 39 SECOND 43 THIRD 36
Evidence Base

 

13 Tom Cannon 594
BORN 23/4/1846 DIED 13/7/1917
PLACED RIDES 114 GOLD CUP WINS 6
WINS 39 SECOND 43 THIRD 32
Evidence Base

 

14 Joe Mercer 591
BORN 25/10/1934 DIED 17/5/2021
PLACED RIDES 111 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 43 SECOND 31 THIRD 37
Evidence Base

 

15 Mick Kinane 572
BORN 22/6/1959 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 107 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 41 SECOND 32 THIRD 34
Evidence Base

 

16 Eph Smith 562
BORN 4/5/1915 DIED 12/8/1972
PLACED RIDES 115 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 40 SECOND 29 THIRD 46
Evidence Base

 

17 Steve Cauthen 561
BORN 1/5/1960 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 96 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 44 SECOND 23 THIRD 29
Evidence Base

 

18 Charlie Elliott 546
BORN 3/10/1904 DIED 6/1/1979
PLACED RIDES 111 GOLD CUP WINS 4
WINS 37 SECOND 34 THIRD 40
Evidence Base

 

19 Kieren Fallon 520
BORN 22/2/1965 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 103 GOLD CUP WINS 5
WINS 33 SECOND 40 THIRD 30
Evidence Base

 

20 Johnny Murtagh 495
BORN 14/5/1970 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 75 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 41 SECOND 17 THIRD 17
Evidence Base

 

21 Greville Starkey 473
BORN 21/12/1940 DIED 14/4/2010
PLACED RIDES 86 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 35 SECOND 24 THIRD 27
Evidence Base

 

22 Joe Childs 471
BORN 6/5/1884 DIED 5/2/1958
PLACED RIDES 78 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 38 SECOND 17 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

23 Geoff Lewis 469
BORN 21/12/1935 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 85 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 34 SECOND 26 THIRD 25
Evidence Base

 

24 Charlie Smirke 468
BORN 23/9/1906 DIED 30/12/1993
PLACED RIDES 84 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 33 SECOND 29 THIRD 22
Evidence Base

 

25 Scobie Breasley 459
BORN 7/5/1914 DIED 21/12/2006
PLACED RIDES 93 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 29 SECOND 35 THIRD 29
Evidence Base

 

26 Richard Hughes 450
BORN 11/1/1973 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 90 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 31 SECOND 27 THIRD 32
Evidence Base

 

27 Tommy Weston 449
BORN 4/2/1902 DIED 21/1/1981
PLACED RIDES 89 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 27 SECOND 39 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

28 John 'Jack' Watts 446
BORN 9/5/1861 DIED 29/7/1902
PLACED RIDES 80 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 32 SECOND 26 THIRD 22
Evidence Base

 

29 Walter Swinburn 434
BORN 7/8/1961 DIED 12/12/2016
PLACED RIDES 89 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 28 SECOND 31 THIRD 30
Evidence Base

 

30 Danny Maher 432
BORN 29/10/1881 DIED 9/12/1916
PLACED RIDES 84 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 31 SECOND 23 THIRD 30
Evidence Base

 

31 Charles Wood 423
BORN 21/11/1854 DIED 2/6/1945
PLACED RIDES 87 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 29 SECOND 25 THIRD 33
Evidence Base

 

32 William Buick 414
BORN 22/7/1988 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 72 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 32 SECOND 18 THIRD 22
Evidence Base

 

33 Jamie Spencer 403
BORN 8/6/1980 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 88 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 26 SECOND 27 THIRD 35
Evidence Base

 

34 Harry Wragg 396
BORN 10/6/1902 DIED 18/10/1985
PLACED RIDES 72 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 29 SECOND 21 THIRD 22
Evidence Base

 

35 Tommy Loates 380
BORN 6/10/1867 DIED 28/9/1910
PLACED RIDES 65 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 28 SECOND 21 THIRD 16
Evidence Base

 

36 Michael Beary 378
BORN 9/12/1896 DIED 8/10/1956
PLACED RIDES 84 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 21 SECOND 35 THIRD 28
Evidence Base

 

37 Richard Hills 377
BORN 22/1/1963 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 65 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 27 SECOND 23 THIRD 15
Evidence Base

 

38 Otto Madden 375
BORN 2/1/1873 DIED 21/5/1942
PLACED RIDES 75 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 25 SECOND 25 THIRD 25
Evidence Base

 

39 Brownie Carslake 370
BORN 14/7/1886 DIED 29/7/1941
PLACED RIDES 82 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 23 SECOND 27 THIRD 32
Evidence Base

 

40 Ron Hutchinson 361
BORN 14/12/1927 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 73 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 23 SECOND 27 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

41 John Wells 361
BORN 25/12/1833 DIED 17/7/1873
PLACED RIDES 64 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 23 SECOND 30 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

42 Willie Carr 356
BORN 30/11/1916 DIED 19/10/1985
PLACED RIDES 71 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 23 SECOND 26 THIRD 22
Evidence Base

 

43 Richard Quinn 352
BORN 2/12/1961 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 67 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 26 SECOND 17 THIRD 24
Evidence Base

 

44 Jem Robinson 349
BORN 22/6/1794 DIED 15/1/1873
PLACED RIDES 58 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 25 SECOND 22 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

45 John Reid 340
BORN 6/8/1955 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 70 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 23 SECOND 21 THIRD 26
Evidence Base

 

46 Tom Chaloner 338
BORN 2/6/1839 DIED 3/4/1886
PLACED RIDES 74 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 19 SECOND 31 THIRD 24
Evidence Base

 

47 George Barrett 334
BORN 29/5/1863 DIED 25/2/1898
PLACED RIDES 61 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 24 SECOND 19 THIRD 18
Evidence Base

 

48 Fred Webb 324
BORN 25/1/1853 DIED 5/5/1917
PLACED RIDES 73 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 21 SECOND 24 THIRD 18
Evidence Base

 

49 Herbert Jones 324
BORN 30/11/1880 DIED 18/7/1951
PLACED RIDES 57 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 24 SECOND 17 THIRD 16
Evidence Base

 

50 Jem Goater 312
BORN 28/5/1838 DIED 6/4/1892
PLACED RIDES 63 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 22 SECOND 17 THIRD 24
Evidence Base

 

51 Sam Loates 312
BORN 29/1/1864 DIED 3/12/1932
PLACED RIDES 63 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 22 SECOND 17 THIRD 24
Evidence Base

 

52 Harry Custance 311
BORN 27/2/1842 DIED 19/4/1908
PLACED RIDES 56 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 23 SECOND 16 THIRD 17
Evidence Base

 

53 Freddie Fox 300
BORN 18/2/1887 DIED 12/12/1945
PLACED RIDES 60 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 22 SECOND 14 THIRD 24
Evidence Base

 

54 John Osborne 294
BORN 7/1/1833 DIED 10/9/1922
PLACED RIDES 60 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 18 SECOND 24 THIRD 18
Evidence Base

 

55 James Doyle 289
BORN 22/4/1988 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 58 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 18 SECOND 23 THIRD 17
Evidence Base

 

56 John H Skeets Martin 280
BORN 25/1/1875 DIED 9/3/1944
PLACED RIDES 49 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 20 SECOND 17 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

57 Jimmy Lindley 275
BORN 16/5/1935 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 50 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 19 SECOND 18 THIRD 13
Evidence Base

 

58 Michael Roberts 274
BORN 17/5/1954 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 61 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 16 SECOND 23 THIRD 22
Evidence Base

 

59 Michael Hills 274
BORN 22/1/1963 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 61 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 18 SECOND 17 THIRD 26
Evidence Base

 

60 Frank Wootton 265
BORN 14/12/1893 DIED 6/4/1940
PLACED RIDES 49 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 17 SECOND 21 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

61 Brian Taylor 263
BORN 6/7/1939 DIED 10/12/1984
PLACED RIDES 59 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 16 SECOND 20 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

62 Manny Mercer 258
BORN 15/9/1928 DIED 26/9/1959
PLACED RIDES 51 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 17 SECOND 18 THIRD 16
Evidence Base

 

63 Edgar Britt 254
BORN 30/10/1913 DIED 28/1/2017
PLACED RIDES 44 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 18 SECOND 16 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

64 R A Bobby Jones 246
BORN 14/5/1904 DIED 12/2/1969
PLACED RIDES 42 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 18 SECOND 14 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

65 Bill Williamson 243
BORN 19/12/1922 DIED 28/1/1979
PLACED RIDES 54 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 15 SECOND 18 THIRD 21
Evidence Base

 

66 Jimmy Fortune 242
BORN 14/6/1972 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 50 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 15 SECOND 19 THIRD 16
Evidence Base

 

67 Bill Rickaby 238
BORN 15/7/1917 DIED 1/3/1987
PLACED RIDES 49 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 13 SECOND 24 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

68 Kevin Darley 237
BORN 5/8/1960 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 42 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 16 SECOND 17 THIRD 9
Evidence Base

 

69 Dick Perryman 235
BORN 16/12/1903 DIED 22/9/1976
PLACED RIDES 55 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 14 SECOND 18 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

70 Frank Bullock 235
BORN 25/6/1885 DIED 26/8/1946
PLACED RIDES 43 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 17 SECOND 13 THIRD 13
Evidence Base

 

71 Fred Rickaby snr 233
BORN 24/9/1869 DIED 20/12/1941
PLACED RIDES 56 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 11 SECOND 26 THIRD 19
Evidence Base

 

72 Pat Beasley 231
BORN 9/8/1906 DIED 6/4/1982
PLACED RIDES 48 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 17 SECOND 10 THIRD 21
Evidence Base

 

73 Harry Beasley jnr 231
BORN 1899 DIED 1/9/1959
PLACED RIDES 36 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 20 SECOND 5 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

74 Will Halsey 226
BORN 1867 DIED 5/11/1961
PLACED RIDES 43 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 14 SECOND 19 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

75 William Higgs 226
BORN 8/2/1880 DIED 12/12/1958
PLACED RIDES 43 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 16 SECOND 13 THIRD 14
Evidence Base

 

76 Edward Hide 225
BORN 12/4/1937 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 45 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 15 SECOND 15 THIRD 15
Evidence Base

 

77 Olivier Peslier 224
BORN 12/1/1973 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 44 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 16 SECOND 12 THIRD 16
Evidence Base

 

78 Jim Crowley 223
BORN 14/7/1978 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 46 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 14 SECOND 17 THIRD 15
Evidence Base

 

79 Tony Murray 200
BORN 18/2/1950 DIED 6/1/1992
PLACED RIDES 47 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 12 SECOND 15 THIRD 20
Evidence Base

 

80 Frank Butler 200
BORN 1/9/1817 DIED 1/2/1856
PLACED RIDES 38 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 14 SECOND 12 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

81 Paul Cook 199
BORN 12/4/1946 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 52 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 11 SECOND 16 THIRD 25
Evidence Base

 

82 James Bartholomew 195
BORN 1/3/1824 DIED 16/4/1887
PLACED RIDES 30 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 15 SECOND 10 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

83 William Rae Johnstone 193
BORN 13/4/1905 DIED 29/4/1964
PLACED RIDES 34 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 13 SECOND 14 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

84 Alfred Day 193
BORN 3/11/1830 DIED 4/1/1868
PLACED RIDES 37 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 15 SECOND 7 THIRD 15
Evidence Base

 

85 Charlie Maidment 188
BORN 4/4/1845 DIED 17/12/1926
PLACED RIDES 38 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 12 SECOND 14 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

86 Bruce Raymond 188
BORN 10/5/1943 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 32 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 13 SECOND 13 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

87 Tom French 188
BORN 12/5/1844 DIED 30/8/1873
PLACED RIDES 35 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 14 SECOND 9 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

88 Fred Barrett 176
BORN 21/10/1867 DIED 21/1/1895
PLACED RIDES 35 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 13 SECOND 8 THIRD 14
Evidence Base

 

89 Sandy Barclay 174
BORN 13/6/1948 DIED 20/2/2021
PLACED RIDES 33 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 12 SECOND 11 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

90 Frankie Durr 173
BORN 10/11/1925 DIED 18/1/2000
PLACED RIDES 38 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 15 THIRD 13
Evidence Base

 

91 Bernard Dillon 169
BORN 7/9/1887 DIED 6/5/1941
PLACED RIDES 31 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 11 SECOND 13 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

92 Ray Cochrane 166
BORN 18/6/1957 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 31 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 11 SECOND 12 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

93 M L Taffy Thomas 161
BORN 8/2/1945 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 29 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 11 SECOND 11 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

94 Philip Robinson 160
BORN 10/1/1961 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 31 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 13 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

95 Joe Sime 160
BORN 27/7/1923 DIED 22/10/1996
PLACED RIDES 31 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 12 SECOND 7 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

96 Henry Constable 158
BORN 1854 DIED 17/2/1881
PLACED RIDES 32 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 15 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

97 Brian Rouse 153
BORN 5/4/1940 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 33 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 13 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

98 Cash Asmussen 147
BORN 15/3/1962 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 30 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 9 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

99 Oisin Murphy 144
BORN 6/9/1995 DIED Alive
PLACED RIDES 30 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 11 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

100 Samuel Rogers 144
BORN 23/6/1819 DIED 13/3/1870
PLACED RIDES 30 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 11 THIRD 10
Evidence Base