Geoff Lewis, one of 13 children, was born and bred in Talgarth. After moving with his family to London in 1946 he served a six year apprenticeship with Ron Smyth, who trained in Epsom.
He was one of Europe's leading jockeys between 1953 and 1979.
In 1971 he won the Derby on Mill Reef. He also won the 2,000 Guineas (Right Track, 1969), 1,000 (Mysterious, 1973), Coronation Cup (Lupe), and the Oaks on Altesse Royal (1971) and Mysterious (1973).
He also won the 2,000 Guineas in Ireland on Right Track,the Irish Oaks on Altesse Royale and the Irish Derby on Prince Regent.
In 1971 he won the Derby, the Oaks and the Coronation Cup in four days, even though he was still recovering from a neck injury after a heavy fall a month before these races.
Mill Reef is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
Trained by Ian Balding and ridden by Geoff Lewis. Mill Reef was off to a flying start even as a two year old. He raced six times claiming five victories.
He suffered just one defeat as a three and four year old and this came at the hands of the brilliant mile specialist Brigadier Gerard, in the 2000 Guineas. From there though it was success all the way and Mill Reef became the first horse to win the Derby, King George VI and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Mill Reef ridden by Geoff Lewis also won the Coronation Cup in 1972.
After his retirement as a jockey in 1979, Geoff Lewis applied for a trainer's license and set up at Thirty Acre Barn, near Epsom racecourse.
He trained Silver Wisp, who finished third to Dr Devious in the 1992 Derby. He also trained nearly 500 winners before his retirment in 1999.
He lives in Spain with his wife Noelene. He has one daughter, Marianne and two grandchildren, Lucy Anne and Alexander.
Geoff Lewis was guest of honour at the 2006 Derby. He said:"I regard this as one of my greatest memories."
More about Geoff Lewis' Talgarth and Derby day memories...
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GMcG from Málaga in Spain
My late father and I used to attend the Ebor meeting at York in August (I was about 11) and I was fortunate enought to see Geoff Lewis ride Mill Reef to victory in the Gimcrack over bottomless ground. I was immediately besotted. The following season was a fantastic campaign with huge disapointment in the 2000 Guineas (I still believe the little fella would have won a rematch with Brigadier Gerard), followed surely by one of the finest sequences of top class middle distance victories in racing history - the Derby, Eclipse, King George and the Arc. If you want to know how well this pair performed together just check out who they beat along the way. A real class act.
Sun Nov 29 17:27:55 2009
Kenny Baker from Newmarket
I just looked at the photo at the top of this article and over Geoff's left shoulder you can see another Welsh jockey - Denis Ryan. Denis was the stable jockey where I was apprenticed. Sadly, he died a couple of years ago from cancer. He was Willie Ryan's father.
Fri Feb 27 10:36:39 2009
John Hall, Radlett
Right tack was my favourite horse and geoff lewis my favourite jockey he was a very unassuming person and always on the ball good luck to you geoff and to your family
Fri Jan 30 15:25:28 2009
Chris Gardner, Surrey
I remember listening to the radio whilst on holiday in 1971 and hearing Mill Reef and his jockey Geoff Lewis win the Derby. I was just 9yrs old and from that day avidly followed Geoff's fortunes as both a jockey and trainer. I would have dearly liked to have met the great man or at least seen him race. Despite riding at the same time as the other truely great jockeys in Piggott, Carson and Eddery to me he'll always be the champion.
Wed Aug 6 08:26:04 2008
Wendy Wears
Mill Reef & Geoff Lewis were the greatest pairing ever. i was lucky enough to meet geoff Lewis when i was invited to his yard in epsom. My parents had an oil painting done of the pair for me for my 21st birthday & he great man himself signed it. It's my greatest treasure.
Sun Jul 20 13:22:59 2008
Frank Clarke, West Yorkshire
Geoff Lewis was a great Jockey and unlucky to be riding against some of the best Jockeys of all time or he would have been a champion, In Mill Reef he rode a true champion who would have been with the elite racehorses of any era and in my opinion is the best middle distance horse to grace these islands.
Sun Mar 30 19:11:21 2008
Steve Titchiner,Norwich
Geoff Lewis was an excellent jockey,and rode my all time favourite in Mill Reef..What a horse,he was simply the best!!I have lots of Mill Reef collectables,and would never part with them.The Derby was brill.,but the Arc. was something special--The French thought Pistol Packer unbeatable? They forgot the Mill!!
Wed Feb 20 16:36:29 2008
Harsh Thakor, India
In my view the best middle-distance British racehorse of the last century and with Ribot the most versatile European champion. Equally brilliant on soft and firm ground, the star is the only horse to win the Epsom Derby, Eclipse, King George and Arc combine. His King George, Eclipse and Prix Ganay wins were devastating.
Wed Oct 10 08:35:56 2007
Geoff Hadrill, Sligo
Geoff Lewis was my favourite jockey. Mill Reef was the best horse he ever rode and one of the greatest horses of all time, but my own favourite was Right Tack, the 1969 double 2000 gns winner.
Thu Sep 27 11:58:09 2007
Do you remember Mill Reef? What are your memories of Geoff Lewis?Add your comments below:
Professional jockey and winner of the 1971 Derby on Mill Reef
