Jamie Spencer facts for kids
Jamie Spencer was born on June 8, 1980, in County Tipperary, Ireland. He is a famous Irish flat racing jockey who rides horses in races, mostly in the UK. Jamie has been the best jockey (called "champion jockey") in both Ireland and Britain. He has won seven very important races known as "classics" – five in Ireland and two in England. Jamie is known for a special racing style: he likes to keep his horse calm and wait until late in the race to let it use its fastest speed.
His Racing Journey
Jamie Spencer's dad, George Spencer, was also a horse trainer. George trained a horse called Winning Fair to win a big race in 1963. Jamie started riding horses a bit later than some, but he learned very quickly. When he was just 17, he won his first "classic" race, the 1998 Irish 1,000 Guineas, riding a horse named Tarascon. This made him the youngest jockey ever to win a classic race! The next year, he was the best young jockey (apprentice) in Ireland, with 46 wins. Jamie went to school at Kilkenny College.
Jamie is a very talented rider. He rode a horse called Brian Boru to win the 2003 St Leger race. Because of his skill, he became the main jockey for a famous trainer named Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. While working there, Jamie became the Irish flat racing Champion Jockey in 2004, winning 93 races. Later, he moved to Britain and became the British flat racing Champion Jockey in 2005, with 180 wins.
In 2007, Jamie was again the British Champion Jockey, sharing the title with another jockey, Seb Sanders.
In 2010, Jamie signed a special agreement to ride for Mrs. Fitri Hay. Her main trainer was Paul Cole, but Jamie also rode for other trainers. This agreement meant he rode for Aidan O'Brien again, as Mrs. Hay bought parts of some top horses trained by O'Brien. Jamie won the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup on Fame And Glory for O'Brien. In 2012, he signed a two-year agreement to ride for Sheikh Fahad of Qatar. They won many races together in 2013, including the Irish 1000 Guineas with Just The Judge.
On August 21, 2014, Jamie said he would stop riding at the end of that year to spend more time with his family. He planned to become a special advisor for Qatar Racing. However, in December 2014, he changed his mind! He decided to keep riding horses as a freelance jockey, meaning he could ride for different trainers.
In August 2017, Jamie Spencer won his 2,000th race in British flat racing. This happened when his horse, Stake Acclaim, won at the Shergar Cup meeting. Reaching 2,000 wins is a huge achievement! He was only the 22nd jockey to do this in Britain, and one of only four jockeys still riding in 2017 to reach this amazing number.
About Jamie
Jamie Spencer married Channel 4 Racing presenter Emma Ramsden in February 2005. They have three children.
Big Wins
Ireland
- Irish 2,000 Guineas – (1) – Phoenix of Spain (2019)
- Irish 1,000 Guineas – (3) – Tarascon (1998), Gossamer (2002), Just The Judge (2013)
- Tattersalls Gold Cup – (1) – Powerscourt (2004)
- Irish Oaks – (1) – Sariska (2009)
- Pretty Polly Stakes - (1)- Via Sistina (2023)
- Matron Stakes (Ireland) – (1) – Red Evie (2006)
- Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Sequoyah (2000)
- Flying Five Stakes – (1) – Benbaun (2004)
Great Britain
- St Leger Stakes – (1) – Brian Boru (2003)
- Ascot Gold Cup – (1) – Fame and Glory (2011)
- Champion Stakes – (1) – David Junior (2005)
- Lockinge Stakes – (1) – Red Evie (2007)
- Epsom Oaks – (1) – Sariska (2009)
- St James's Palace Stakes – (1) – Excellent Art (2007)
- Eclipse Stakes – (1) – David Junior (2006)
- Falmouth Stakes – (1) – Macadamia (2003)
- Goodwood Cup – (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 – (1) – Gossamer (2001)
- British Champions Sprint Stakes – (1) – Maarek (2012)
- Vertem Futurity Trophy – (1) – Crowded House (2008)
- Champion Bumper – (1) – Pizarro (2002)
- Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes - (1) - Khaadem (2023)
- Bayerisches Zuchtrennen – (1) – Danceteria (2019)
- Grosser Preis von Berlin – (1) – Second Step (2015)
France
- Prix Maurice de Gheest – (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)
- 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 – (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 – (1) – La Pelosa (2018)
