Hywel Davies

Professional jockey and winner of the 1985 Grand National.

Born:

1957

Place of Birth:

Cardigan

School:

Cardigan Secondary School

Biography:

Hywel Davies started riding as a child in the Tivyside Pony Club, competing in point-to-point races across Wales before becoming a professional jockey at the age of 19. His moment of glory came in 1985 when he rode Last Suspect to victory in that year's Grand National at Aintree.

Owned by the Duchess of Westminster and trained by Tim Forster, Last Suspect was an outsider in one of racing's showpiece events. Only a few months before, the horse had been involved in a nasty fall and it was Hywel who had urged his trainer to let him enter the National.

The race didn't start well but, against the odds, Davies coaxed Last Suspect to victory - passing second favourite Mr Snugfit as well as Peter Scudamore on Corbiere.

When he returned to his hometown of Cardigan after the race, thousands of cheering supporters lined the streets - many of whom had backed their local lad at the bookies.

Recalling the event twenty years later, Hywel said:

"I couldn't believe the reaction from Cardigan people when I won. I remember the day as if it was yesterday. Me and James, who was a baby at the time, sitting on a cart and horse, with over six thousand people there to cheer us. It was amazing.

"It's the stuff of legend now, how many people in Cardigan won a lot of money and how the bookies made huge losses.

"The bookies in Cardigan couldn't pay out for a week apparently. It wasn't only my race in the end - it was a race that Cardigan won."

During a 17 year stint as a jockey, Hywel won 761 races across the world. He retired in 1994 at the age of 37 but has kept his links with the sport as a racing manager and a sports commentator on S4C.

He and his wife Rachel had three children - James, Phillipa and Kylie - but the couple separated in 1992 after a 13-year marriage.

His son James has followed in his father's footsteps as a professional jockey and he rode his first horse Bramble Hill Duke in the 2004 Grand National.

Hywel's late brother Geraint was also a jockey and his nephew Tomos still works as a blacksmith in the family business in Cardigan.

your comments

Brychan, Aberporth near Cardigan
Hywel did a heroic deed on Last Suspect and in doing so filled everyone in our area with pride (let alone filling punters wallets)I would like to make a film about the story and have spoken with Hywel in agreement about the project. I have raced point to point myself and have an idea about the bravery and tenacity of these sportsmen and women. So if there are more Hywel Davies and Last Suspect stories, please let me know.
Sun Aug 16 20:49:33 2009

Pam Cotton from Sale Australia
My husband worked for John Thorne and after John thornes tragic death on Bendaknee...we all went to Aintree to watch Spartan Missile run.(1983)...with Hywel Davies up!!!!!!!We'd all bet a fair bit,as we knew the missile was good....he'd come second in 1981!So Hywel jumped off at Bechers ,(first time round)....and The Missile finished the race on his own.....so you weren't very popular that day Hywel!!!!!!!
Sat Jan 10 19:59:58 2009

Peter Thomas, Kent
I'm Hywels brother-in-law. I'd put £20 on the nose on him in each grand national he'd ridden up to '85. I skipped '85 beacuse he was riding a donkey called Last Suspect... Gutted!
Sun Dec 21 11:49:50 2008

Newhaven
Hywel and Rachel had my ex husbands horse, My Bonnie Prince and did a wonderful job with him in the 80's, he has a great sense of humour, and brought the best out in Prince.. I'll be forever grateful for his tip on how to ride Prince when he came home to retire!
Mon Sep 22 07:25:44 2008

Mark Rees, Chiswick, London
I used to grew up in Letcombe Basset where Last Suspect was trained by Captain Forster. I was just 6 when he came from nowhere to win...I remember it like it was yesterday....everyone crowded round the tv willing him over the line. I also remember a huge village party when he returned to his stable....It's one of my fondest memory's.
Thu Apr 3 09:01:32 2008

Renate Nicholson, Miami, FL
I am one of Hywels "many" 1st cousins. Believe it or not, it was the one year I didn't put a bet on him in the Grand National!! Thankfully my Dad did. Best of luck to James in following his Dad's footsteps. Quite a hard act to follow, but I'm sure he'll succeed.
Thu Jan 10 17:20:31 2008

Emma Sadler - Banbury
I used to work for Hywel & Rachael just after Hywel won the national, I used to look after James as a little boy and also Philippa when she was first born. I met my husband of 19 years while I lived with them and Hwyel made sure he was a good lad before he would let me go out with him. I have a lovely photo of James with Michael and Thomas Scudamore naked in a paddling pool aged about 3, it is so sweet. I remember watching James the first time he rode in the national with my heart in my mouth. Good luck James - keep safe.
Sat May 5 14:59:49 2007

Nesrin Deniz-Ankara-Turkey
Hello to Wales and Cardigan from Turkey...It is Nesrin..I really appreciate his success as his old friend.In addition to his professionalism he is a very kind man and he has a great sense of humour.. I think he deserves everything he has got.
Thu Apr 19 09:39:06 2007

Nesrin-turkey
I really appreciate his success as his old friend.In addition to his professional he is also a very kind man.I think he deserve everything he gets.Hello to Wales and Cardigan.
Fri Apr 13 10:46:22 2007

Emma Wilding, Surrey
hi Emma Wilding i av da same name as u.
Thu Jan 11 18:24:05 2007

Emma Jones
Good Luck with your Career in horse racing James. Hopefully you'll be as (or even more successful) than your dad. Stay safe. Pob Lwck, from daughter of Glyn (ask your dad !!)
Tue Nov 21 09:32:49 2006

David Dent, Newport
How can you write a piece on Hywel without mentioning the awesome Barnbrook Again? Hywel is a smashing bloke and a very underated Welsh sportsman. When Wales were in the doldrums in Rugby Hywel kept the Welsh flag flying for Wales along with Carl Llewelyn and it is a disgrace....as it is now re Christian and Evan Williams and Peter Bowen...that more is not made of the achievements of our horse racing heroes. Rugby....an English 19th century invention. The horse ties us with our roots as celtic horsemen and hunters, and the land itself. How many people know for example that Hywels' mate Peter Scudamore is a descendant of Owain Glyndawr? And that Dick Francis is from Tenby?
Wed Oct 18 09:17:47 2006

Lightwater
This is very intresting. I have a friend called Emma Wilding as well!! She is younger than me only by a year though! By the way I am the best and no-one else can disagree!!
Wed Sep 27 17:58:20 2006

Pauline Mason Northumberland
I used to live a few doors away from Hywel and Rachel when they lived in Winston Way Thatcham quite a few years ago now! I did have a bet on his Grand National win, 50p each way - for no other reason than it was Hywel riding - and did very well from that! Have been following James' career with great interest and saw him ride (and win) at what is now my local racecourse Hexham in Northumberland and yes I did have a bet on him!!
Wed Aug 30 11:03:49 2006

Emma Wilding from Birmingham
As a keen young racegoer I like to accompany my Dad to many different racecourses. My day is complete when I visit a race course at which James is riding. I am a big fan of his and will follow his career with interest during the future.
Tue Aug 23 19:45:06 2005

Paul Coles ex of Cardigan
I was in the same class in Cardigan School as Hywel. The day he won the Grand National, I was in a wedding in Caernarfon of another Cardigan (well Llechryd) boy - Geraint George. The wedding reception was great as the best man kept interrupting everything to tell us about Hywel and the score in the Wales Rugby International that was on at the same time.
Fri Jul 22 14:08:06 2005

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