The Queen’s former jockey who rose from son of lorry driver to racing champion dies aged 75

He went from total beginner to champion in five years
QUEEN Elizabeth II’s former jockey – who rose from son of a lorry driver to racing champion – has died aged 75.

Philip Waldron was a multiple Group 1 winner and wore the famous royal silks to victory 21 times.

Born in Reading in 1950, Waldron was a keen boxer and didn’t sit on a horse until he was 15.

But incredibly he was crowned champion apprentice in 1970, just one year after his first winner, under the expert eye of legendary trainer Ian Balding, the late father of modern day great Andrew.

A lucrative partnership with top trainer Henry Candy cemented Waldron’s position as one of the finest jockeys of his era.

Waldron was runner-up in the 1980 Derby on Candy’s 22-1 outsider Master Willie.

He then went to Ireland where he started favourite for the Irish Derby but struggled in the soft ground before rebounding with victory in what is now known as the Juddmonte International at York.

Master Willie peaked the following year under Waldron, the duo combining to win the Coronation Cup, Eclipse and Jockey Club Stakes.

Waldron and Candy’s awesome association continued with Wind And Wuthering, who was named champion two-year-old after winning the Dewhurst.

The pair broke up when Waldron took on a retainer with Esal Commodities, but Candy remembered him as a ‘nice guy who was brilliant to get along with’.

Waldron had five Group 1 wins in all and 15 Group victories in Britain.

His other notable successes included Cambridgeshire glory on Negus in 1972, Cesarewitch success on Assured in 1977 and Royal Hunt Cup and Bunbury Cup wins on Pipedreamer in 1979.

More than 20 victories for Queen Elizabeth II – who left her multi-million pound racing empire to Charles and Camilla – marked him down as a household name.

Waldron recorded more than 2,000 winners in all, competing in 17 countries, and had his final rides in 1996.

After retirement he went to the Far East where he worked as a jockey mentor and starter at Sha Tin racecourse.

He returned to Europe in later life, setting up camp in Spain, where he passed away yesterday.

He is survived by son Tim and granddaughter Ella.