Jamie Spencer (born 8 June 1980, in

County Tipperary County Tipperary () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary (tow ...

) is an Irish

flat racing Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all spor ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

and

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

and has won seven classics, five in Ireland and two in England.Jamie Spencer Jockey Profile
Back-Strait.com; accessed 29 May 2016. Spencer is an advocate for the art of holding up horses late into the races, and then making use of their natural dash of speed.

Racing career

The son of former

National Hunt trainer George Spencer, who trained Winning Fair to win the

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

in 1963, Jamie Spencer came to horse riding relatively late in childhood. He made rapid progress and was just 17 when he won his first classic, the 1998

Irish 1,000 Guineas The Irish 1,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is sched ...

on Tarascon, in the process becoming the youngest jockey to win a classic. He was champion apprentice in Ireland the following year with 46 winners. Spencer was educated at

Kilkenny College Kilkenny College is a Church of Ireland co-educational day and boarding secondary school located in Kilkenny, in the South-East of Ireland. It is the largest co-educational boarding school in Ireland. In 2013 it transferred to the state/public se ...

. Spencer's mercurial talents, coupled with riding Brian Boru to victory in the 2003 St Leger at Doncaster for O'Brien, led to him briefly becoming stable jockey for

Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien (born 16 October 1969 in County Wexford, Ireland) Aidan O'Brien bio NTRA. ...

Ballydoyle Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier, son in law to the racehorse trainer Vincent O'Brien. The current trai ...

. While in that job, he was Irish flat racing Champion Jockey in 2004, with 93 winners. After O'Brien and Spencer parted company, he was replaced as stable jockey in 2005 by

Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon (born 22 February 1965 in Crusheen, County Clare, Ireland) is a retired Irish professional flat racing jockey and was British flat racing Champion Jockey, British Champion Jockey six times. Care ...

. He moved to Britain, where he was

British flat racing Champion Jockey The champion jockey of flat racing in Great Britain is the rider who has the most wins during a season. For most of its existence, the jockeys championship was decided on the number of winners ridden between Lincoln Handicap Day and November ...

in 2005, with 180 winners. In 2007 Spencer was again British Champion Jockey, sharing the title on this occasion with Seb Sanders. In January 2010, Spencer signed a contract to ride as retained jockey for Mrs Fitri Hay, whose principal trainer is Paul Cole, with other horses trained by Stan Moore and Tom Tate. In 2010, the trainers for whom Spencer rode most frequently were Michael Bell, Kevin Ryan and Paul Cole. The Hay contract saw him riding again for Aidan O'Brien after she bought shares in multiple Group 1 winners Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco, both of whom continued to be trained by O'Brien. Spencer's wins for O'Brien in the Hay colours included the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup on Fame And Glory. In October 2012, he took up a two-year contract to ride for Sheikh Fahad of Qatar. They teamed up for many wins in 2013 including the Irish 1000 Guineas with Just The Judge. On 21 August 2014, citing family reasons, Spencer announced he would retire from race riding at the end of the 2014 season and would take up a role as a special advisor at Qatar Racing's stable. However, in December 2014, he reversed that decision and announced he would continue riding as a freelance jockey. Spencer rode his 2,000th winner in British flat racing in August 2017 when Stake Acclaim won at the Shergar Cup meeting. The milestone made him only the 22nd jockey to ride 2,000 flat winners in Britain, and one of only four jockeys active in 2017 to have reached the landmark.

Personal life

Spencer married

Channel 4 Racing ''Channel 4 Racing'' is the name given to the horse racing coverage on the British television stations Channel 4 and More4. History The first transmission of racing on the channel was on 22 March 1984 from Doncaster, as it took over midweek cov ...

presenter Emma Ramsden in February 2005 and they have three children. They divorced in 2010.

Major wins

Ireland *

Irish 2,000 Guineas The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it ...

– (1) – '' Phoenix of Spain (2019) '' *

– (3) – '' Tarascon (1998), Gossamer (2002), Just The Judge (2013) '' * Tattersalls Gold Cup – (1) – '' Powerscourt (2004) '' *

Irish Oaks The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres), and it ...

– (1) – '' Sariska (2009) '' * Pretty Polly Stakes - (1)- '' Via Sistina (2023) '' * Matron Stakes (Ireland) – (1) – '' Red Evie (2006) '' *

Moyglare Stud Stakes The Moyglare Stud Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is schedu ...

– (1) – '' Sequoyah (2000) '' * Flying Five Stakes – (1) – '' Benbaun (2004) '' ---- Great Britain *

St Leger Stakes The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over ...

– (1) – '' Brian Boru (2003) '' *

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4 ...

– (1) – '' Fame and Glory (2011) '' *

Champion Stakes The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong a ...

– (1) – '' David Junior (2005) '' *

Lockinge Stakes The Lockinge Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) at New ...

– (1) – '' Red Evie (2007) '' *

Epsom Oaks The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 ya ...

– (1) – '' Sariska (2009) '' *

St James's Palace Stakes The St James's Palace Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old Colt (horse), colts. It is run at Ascot Racecourse, Ascot ...

– (1) – ''Excellent Art (2007) '' *

Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown ...

– (1) – '' David Junior (2006) '' *

Falmouth Stakes The Falmouth Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ( ...

– (1) – '' Macadamia (2003) '' *

Goodwood Cup The Goodwood Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles (3 ...

– (2) – '' Big Orange (2015,2016) '' * Nunthorpe Stakes – (1) – '' Kyllachy (2002) '' * Haydock Sprint Cup – (1) – '' Goodricke (2005) '' * Middle Park Stakes – (1) – '' Ad Valorem (2004) '' * Sun Chariot Stakes – (1) – '' Echoes in Eternity (2003) '' *

Fillies' Mile The Fillies' Mile is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is sc ...

– (1) – '' Gossamer (2001) '' * British Champions Sprint Stakes – (1) – '' Maarek (2012) '' * Vertem Futurity Trophy – (1) – '' Crowded House (2008) '' *

Champion Bumper The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to racing horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 m ...

– (1) – '' Pizarro (2002) '' * Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes - (1) - '' Khaadem (2023) ----

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

* Bayerisches Zuchtrennen – (1) – ''Danceteria (2019)'' * Grosser Preis von Berlin – (1) – '' Second Step (2015)'' ---- France *

Prix Maurice de Gheest The Prix Maurice de Gheest is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,300 metres (about 6½ furlongs), and it is s ...

– (1) – '' King Charlemagne (2001) '' * Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (1) – '' Excelebration (2011) '' * Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – (1) – '' Desert Lord (2006) '' * Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère – (1) – '' Oratorio (2004) '' * Critérium de Saint-Cloud – (1) – '' Ballingarry (2001) '' ----

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

* Dubai Turf – (1) – '' David Junior (2006) '' * Jebel Hatta – (2) – '' Divine Task (2002), Wigmore Hall (2011) '' ---- United States * Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes – (1) – '' Cape Blanco (2011) '' *

Arlington Million The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward on turf. It was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois over a distance of miles. The Arling ...

– (1) – '' Cape Blanco (2011) '' * Man o' War Stakes – (1) – '' Cape Blanco (2011) '' * Belmont Derby – (1) – '' Deauville (2016) '' ---- Canada * Woodbine Mile – (1) – '' Trade Storm (2014) '' * Northern Dancer Turf Stakes – (2) – '' Wigmore Hall (2011,2012) '' * E. P. Taylor Stakes – (1) – '' Just The Judge (2014) '' *

Natalma Stakes The Natalma Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in mid-September, the Grade I race is run at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on turf and is open to two-year-old fillies. In ...

– (1) – '' La Pelosa (2018) ''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Jamie 1980 births Living people Irish Anglicans Irish jockeys Lester Award winners People educated at Kilkenny College British Champion flat jockeys Equestrians from County Tipperary