Peter Niven (b. 7 Aug 1964) is a retired British jump jockey in

National Hunt racing In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

. In May 2001 he became the first

Scotsman The Scots ( sco, Scots Fowk; gd, Albannaich) are an ethnic group and nation native to Scotland. Historically, they emerged in the early Middle Ages from an amalgamation of two Celtic-speaking peoples, the Picts and Gaels, who founded ...

and sixth jockey to ride over 1,000 winners, eventually retiring in September that year with 1002 winners. At the time of his retirement he was the only jockey to have won five races in a day on four occasions. He is now a racehorse trainer.

Racing career

Niven won his first race at Sedgefield in 1984 on a horse called Loch Brandy. After struggling for a few years to make his way in the sport, he teamed up with Mary Reveley at her Saltburn stables in Clevelend soon forging a formidable partnership. He became a professional jockey in 1986. Some of the 'major' races he won include:

Notable wins

* International Hurdle 1987 (Pat's Jester) *

Great Yorkshire Chase The Great Yorkshire Chase is a Listed National Hunt handicap chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres), and it ...

1991 (Dalkey Sound), 1994 (Carbisdale) * Future Champion Novices' Chase 1993 (Cab On Target) *

Tingle Creek Chase The Tingle Creek Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mil ...

1993 (Sybillin) *

Fighting Fifth Hurdle The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of about 2 miles and half a ...

1994 (Batabanoo) * RSA Chase 1994 (Monsieur Le Cure) * Liverpool Hurdle 1995 (Cab on Target), 1998 (Marello) *

Maghull Novices' Chase The Maghull Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile ...

1996 (Ask Tom) *

Eider Chase The Eider Chase is National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain. It is run at Newcastle Racecourse in February, over a distance of about 4 miles and furlong (4 miles and 122 yards, or ) and during the rac ...

1995 (Willsford), 1997 (Seven Towers) * Midlands Grand National 1997 (Seven Towers)

Grand National

He rode in the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handica ...

on six occasions: * 1991 Grand National Hotplate (Pulled up 22nd) * 1992 Grand National Rubika (Finished 14th) * 1994 Grand National Mr Boston (Fell at the 13th) * 1995 Grand National Superior Finish (Unseated rider at the 10th) *

1997 Grand National The 1997 Grand National (known officially as the Martell Grand National and also informally as the Monday National) was the 150th official running of the Grand National steeplechase held at Aintree near Liverpool. The race was scheduled to b ...

Avro Anson (Finished 6th) * 2000 Grand National Hollybank Buck (Finished 10th)

Awards

Lester Award __NOTOC__ A Lester Award is one of a range of awards given to jockeys at an annual ceremony in Great Britain. The awards are named in honour of Lester Piggott, an eleven-time British flat racing Champion Jockey who won thirty British Classic Races ...

: Jump Jockey of the Year 1991 * Lester Award: Jump Jockey Special Recognition Award 2000

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niven, Peter 1964 births Living people People educated at Strathallan School Scottish jockeys British racehorse trainers Lester Award winners