John Francome was born on 13 December 1952 and is a retired seven-time British Champion jump jockey.
15 Facts About John Francome
1.
2.
John Francome was previously a racing trainer and broadcaster with Channel 4, and is an author.
3.
John Francome's first riding successes came as a showjumper, and was a member of the team that won the European Junior Show Jumping Championship for Great Britain.
4.
John Francome's father secured a meeting with trainer Fred Winter and he became an apprentice in October 1969.
5.
In February 1971, John Francome rode his first of 575 winners for trainer Winter on Osceola at Towcester.
6.
John Francome took victories in the Welsh Grand National, Hennessy Gold Cup and King George VI Chase.
7.
Alongside riding for Pitman, John Francome had success riding for Michael Dickinson, successes on Wayward Lad in the 1982 King George VI Chase and on Silver Buck, Bregawn and Flatterer.
Related searches
George VI 8.
Whilst many top successes came in Chases, John Francome had success over hurdles with Sea Pigeon winning the 1981 Champion Hurdle.
9.
John Francome broke Stan Mellor's record of 1035 wins on Don't Touch at Fontwell in May 1984.
10.
In 1985, John Francome retired and had ridden 1,138 winners over jumps in Britain and a total of seven British Champion Jump Jockey Titles.
11.
John Francome was a member of the Channel 4 Racing television broadcast team.
12.
John Francome appeared on the weekly show The Morning Line and on race day broadcasts.
13.
In 2012, when Channel 4 Racing changed production companies from Highflyer to IMG, John Francome left his role.
14.
Between 2012 and 2016, John Francome was the President of The Injured Jockeys Fund.
15.
John Francome built and owns Beechdown Farm in Lambourn, a stableyard and training facility that can house 96 horses.