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Jockey Coaches
Our team of Jockey Coaches is headed up by Senior Jockey Coach Richard Perham
Since 2005 Richard has coached and delivered training to over 75% of UK based jockeys.
This include Champion Jockey Seb Sanders, Champion Apprentices William Buick, David Probert, Hayley Turner, Saleem Golam and John Fahey, along with Dubai Sheema Classic winning jockey James Doyle, All Weather Champion Jockey Luke Morris, Champion Conditional Aidan Coleman and Grand National winning rider Daryl Jacob.
Richard retired from professional race riding in 2001 having spent 16 years in the saddle.
He has an excellent reputation within the racing industry which is a reflection, not only of his ability on a horse but how he conducted himself throughout his career, and now as the Senior Jockey Coach to the majority of young jockeys coming into British racing. He was apprenticed to Champion Trainer Richard Hannon, where he learnt his trade as a professional jockey, and where he continued to ride throughout his career. Richard puts riding winners for Her Majesty The Queen, the Dubai and Saudi Royal Families among his highest achievements, along with having an exemplary disciplinary record. During his riding career he rode for many leading trainers including Sir Mark Prescott, Lord Huntingdon, Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Henry Cecil, Marcus Tregoning, and Roger Charlton among others.
From his riding career he has extensive knowledge of UK and European Racing. On top of this, he has ridden in the Far East and America and his love of American racing has led to him becoming a presenter of live American racing on the Attheraces Sky Television Channel, which also broadcasts live UK racing around the world.
Qualifications
Since joining the British Racing School in 2005 Richard has worked to build up his coaching, teaching and assessing qualifications and is one of the first in the country to Achieve a United Kingdom Coaching Certificate Level 3 (UKCC) in Jockey Coaching. Along with this, he holds an
- Assessor Qualification (Level 3)
- Internal Quality Assuror Qualification (Level 4) under the British Horseracing Educational Standards Trust (BHEST),
- Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) Level 4
- First Aid trained and certificated.
Along with these formal Qualifications he has attended many Coaching Courses including an Elite Performance Coaching Course (12 months) at Ashridge Business School and through The British Racing School he currently works alongside many of sports top Coaches and Lecturers including Yogi Breisner (British Eventing), Michael Caulfield (Sporting Edge), Simon Milton (Ipswich Town Football) and Jon Pitts (Performance Coach with Somerset Cricket) which makes him the most Qualified Jockey Coach in the United Kingdom.
"Richard Perham is a kind and dedicated teacher with good communication skills. He has successfully taught many of my employees through their formative years as jockeys. They have benefited through his earlier experience as a successful professional jockey." Marcus Tregoning, Epsom Derby Winning Trainer.
"Richard has been able to transfer his skills and experiences as a jockey to his coaching, and is therefore extremely capable to coach and develop jockeys on any level and experience and under both codes." Yogi Breisner, Olympic Equestrian Performance Coach
Name: Steve Smith Eccles
Position: BRS Jockey Coach
Steve served a 5 year apprenticeship with Harry Thomson-Jones from 1970 to 1975 and rode his 1st winner on November 28th 1973 at Market Rasen on Ballysilly. Steve went on to ride over 900 winners worldwide with 876 in the UK. He won America's premier steeplechase "The Colonial Cup" on Declare Your Wish in1993. His association with "See You Then" is what Steve is most remembered for in racing. He rode 3 consecutive Champion Hurdles (1985, 86, 87) on the horse and rode 9 Cheltenham Festival winners in all during his colourful career. He was placed in the top 5 jockey's list for 10 consecutive years.
Steve also has his Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Equestrian Riding with a Specialism in Coaching Jockeys.
Name: Michael Tebbut
Position: BRS Jockey coach
Michael first held his flat licence in May 1983. Unfortunately he was forced to retire in 2008 following a shoulder injury sustained in a fall from dual Classic winner Cockney Rebel. In his 25 year career Michael rode a winner on every flat race course and several Jump tracks in Great Britain; he rode over 800 winners worldwide including 10 Group Races.
Since his retirement Michael continues to ride work for many Newmarket trainers on a daily basis, he is also a qualified BHA Jockey Coach following his completion of the Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Equestrian Riding with a Specialism in Coaching Jockeys.
Name: Jimmy Bleasdate
Position: Northern Flat Jockey Coach
Jimmy is a former Champion Apprentice. The following year He was Champion Northern Jockey riding 90 winners. He served his apprenticeship with Sam Hall and remained loyal to his predecessor Chris Thornton until injury forced his retirement in 1991. Jimmy held a licence for 17 years and rode 847 winners in many different countries. Between 1978 and 1987 he rode 7 Classic winners in India and Singapore, including back to back Singapore Derby successes. Since retirement from the saddle Jimmy has bought, sold and produced yearlings for the breeze up sales. Trained apprentice riders in Qatar. Acted on behalf of the Qatar Jockey Club as a Stipendiary Steward and also an Assistant Starter. Jimmy currently works for the Press Association reporting on races and also is The Northern Jockey Coach.
Name: Jason Callaghan
Position: Northern Jump Jockey Coach
Jason came into racing in 1984. He spent two seasons on the flat and rode 5 winners from 100 rides. In 1987 he switched to jumping and continued to ride for a further 13 seasons, riding a total of 221 winners. In 2000 Jason retired from race riding and started a livery yard which he still runs. He also joined the starters department at the Jockey Club in November 2004.