LTiR Awards for Ted Jackson and Steve McNally
On Thursday 27th July Steve McNally and Ted Jackson were presented with Lifetime in Racing Awards. Both Ted and Steve have dedicated their lives to working in the horseracing industry. Racing Welfare has been organising the presentation of Lifetime in Racing Awards since their introduction in 2002.
Ted Jackson was given his award by Frankie Dettori at Great Yarmouth Racecourse. Ted was born in Cottingham in East Yorkshire. His dad was a Cooper, making barrels for a living. He first became interested in racing through his love of horses and desperately wanted to learn to ride. He worked on a farm to pay for his riding lessons. At the age of 15 Ted decided that he wanted a career in racing and spent his apprenticeship with Patrick Taylor in Beverley for the first four years. He then moved to Newmarket and spent the next ten years working for Sir Noel Murless.
After a brief period working outside of racing, his passion for the sport drew him back into the industry and he helped out a couple of times on the starting stalls in Newmarket. He was soon offered a job by Racetech as a Stalls Handler and stayed in this role for the next 32 years. This gave him the opportunity to work all over the country, starting work with the southern team, which included Goodwood, Lingfield, Newbury, Epsom, Ascot and Newmarket. He also worked for the scottish team, northern team and midlands team and was promoted to Team Leader for the last 8 years of his career.
Ted has been retired now for the past 14 years. Ted said of working in racing
I’ve got so many happy memories, and have met some lovely people during my time in the sport. I would do it all over again, if I had the chance!
Steve McNally was presented with his award by Henry Candy at Newbury Racecourse. Steve started working in racing in Ireland for Mick O’Toole at the age of 14, having previously never ridden a horse. He was apprenticed there before moving on to EP Harty as a conditional jockey. In 1977 He was invited over to Toby Balding’s yard and won the Hinds Chase at Ascot for him so was asked to stay. Steve stayed for 4 months before returning to Ireland to ride another winner for EP Harty. This win was enough for him so decided to return to England and was Head Man for Henry Candy, David Murray-Smith and Brian Meehan. In the last few years he has had various jobs around the yards in Lambourn and is still based in the town.