John Lowe, the English jockey whose name on a race card made him a heartthrob of crowds, died on September 21 in a hospital in Perth, Western Australia, after suffering a stroke. He was 75. Lowe had moved to Australia two years earlier with his wife, Gale, to be close to his daughter, Verity, and grandsons, Isaac and Gabriel, after retiring from riding out at Roger Varian's Newmarket stable. He had a fall while gardening at home on September 17, was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with a stroke, and passed away four days later with Gale at his side. British jockeys wore black armbands in his memory on September 22.
Lowe was a jockey who secured a reputation for drawing the best out of his mounts with brilliant riding artistry. Trainers respected him not only for his riding but also for the legitimacy of his feedback after a race. He played an instrumental role in shaping the careers of some of the finest racehorses and ranked among the most astute judges of horseflesh one could ever meet. He was an epitome of racing's greatest characters.
Following the sad news, racing fans paid tribute on social media. One wrote: "John Lowe an amazing light weight jockey and superb judge and above all one of the kindest men I have ever interviewed in and out of the industry. RIP you lovely man." Another said: "Sad to hear about the news of the passing of John Lowe. A close colleague for 20 years. A very good man. Thoughts with Gail and family."
Trainer Roger Varian said Lowe's input on horses at home was also significant during the nine years he spent at his Newmarket base. "I remember a very good filly he was involved in day to day called Nezwaah, who won the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes in 2017. He was instrumental in her career," he said. "As a trainer, I found his opinion and feedback an essential part. We are reliant on our team and he was an experienced old head and voice. He was a big asset in the years he was with us and I am saddened to hear the news." Varian added he was deeply saddened and that Lowe had left us far too young. "He spent his last however many years in a riding position with us and I feel very privileged that he did spend that time here. John was a great character in the yard every morning. He was a very good judge, as you would have expected him to have been. And he was one of racing's great characters in my opinion. He got involved in a bit of banter but could be deadly serious as well and was a serious judge of a horse and a genuinely good person, which is why I was really shocked to have heard the news from Australia."
Lowe shared a weighing room with Professional Jockeys Association executive director Dale Gibson, who said: "We travelled a fair amount together, particularly after both having heavy falls at Beverley 30 years ago. John's horse crashed through the rails, causing a chain reaction and resulting in a pileup that made Sky News and the News at Ten. He was one of the best judges of a horse you would ever meet, naturally fit and light, as well as being a superb rider in the north for many years, with additional success in India during the winters, before the all-weather took off in Britain. He was always chirpy, punctual with a dry sense of humour and without doubt the best driver in the weighing room. He always noted exactly how long it took from weighing room to weighing room when riding at two meetings."
Lowe rode over 2,000 winners worldwide. He stole the show with Goodbye Shelley in the 1982 Prix Marcel Boussac, and two years later claimed the "Cock O' The North" title in 1984 for most winners at northern English tracks—a nickname that stuck for life. His Cambridgeshire winner Mellottie and French Group 1 victor Goodbye Shelley rank high among his biggest accomplishments. Mountain Cross, who won two races at Royal Ascot in the same week in 1978, provided another remarkable achievement. Despite riding mainly in the UK, Lowe achieved his biggest successes in France. He rode Goodbye Shelley to victory in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Paris Longchamp in 1982; the horse, trained by Yorkshireman Steve Norton, caused a huge upset at 36-1. He also took the 1981 Gimmcrack Stakes aboard Goodbye Shelley's stablemate Full Extent. Lowe once recalled that the best horse he rode at Cecil's yard was Fleetwood, whom he believed would have won the 2000 Guineas but for putting his foot in a hole on Warren Hill. He sat on some of the greats at Cecil's yard, recalling in 2024: "I rode the Oaks winner Reams Of Verse and Ali-Royal, who won the Sussex, and Dr Fong. The best horse I ever rode at Henry's, however, was Fleetwood, who would have won the Guineas if he hadn't put his foot in a hole on Warren Hill one day." Lowe rode in the Leger Legends race in 2013 at Doncaster and started riding out in 2015 for Varian. He spent a memorable nine years at Carlburg Stables before retiring in 2024 after nearly 60 years in the saddle. He rode over 2,000 winners on the level before hanging up his saddle in 2000, then continued to work in racing, including a period as a race reader for the Press Association. He rode work for Sir Henry Cecil for a number of years before enjoying a spell with Varian at Carlburg Stables, eventually calling it a day aged 73 when he moved to Perth to be closer to his family.
For Indian racegoers, Lowe will be remembered for the illustrious years he spent riding in India, where his lightweight and riding ability made him flash. He made it a habit to dominate the Classics and make a monopoly of the plum races. Essentially based in Mumbai, Lowe travelled to other major racing centres whenever big races were at stake. His record in Indian Classics and major races was laudable. He rode Coviglia for Imtiaz Sait to victory in the Indian 1000 Guineas in 1985 and won the same classic again in 1991 on Etna for C D Katrak. In 1993, he partnered Super Brave to victory in the Indian 2000 Guineas before finishing second on the same horse in the Indian Derby for Imtiaz Sait. Lowe also won the 1983 South Indian Derby on Birthday Girl at Chennai, riding for the famous owner, the late MAM Ramaswamy. He rode Ponta Delgado for Imtiaz Sait and Winning Pretty for S Padmanabhan to victory in the Poonawalla Multi Million at Mumbai, now a Grade I event. He won the Indian St Leger in 1991 on Majestic Eagle for Uttam Singh and went on to ride a number of Group race winners at India's major racing centres.
John Lowe almost made India his second home after racetracks in England adopted all-weather tracks for winter racing, making a telling impact at Chennai and Mumbai with his powerhouse riding. His lightweight and riding ability made him an instant hit and later an all-conquering star. For racegoers in India, Lowe was one of the favourites among the club of foreign riders who flew in each winter. Lowe rode over 500 winners there, including Classic victories—the Indian 1000 Guineas astride Corviglia trained by Imtiaz Sait and Etna trained by Cooji Katrak. Old Mumbai racegoers would remember how he stole the limelight astride Winning Pretty, Feroz Khan's filly trained by S. Padmanabhan, whom he steered to victory in the Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million (Gr 1) in February 1995. He was also part of an era when foreign jockeys, in addition to bringing life to race meetings, gave racing a competitive dimension. Indian jockeys had the opportunity to ride against them, interact with them and learn from riders who had competed at major racing centres abroad.
His career after retiring from professional race-riding was equally remarkable. Lowe retired from race-riding in 2000 and subsequently worked as a race-reader for the Press Association while continuing to ride work for Sir Henry Cecil. He had the privilege of sitting on some of Cecil's outstanding horses, including Oaks winner Reams Of Verse, Sussex Stakes winner Ali-Royal and Dr Fong. In 2015, Lowe began riding out for Roger Varian at Carlburg Stables, where he stayed until 2024. That meant he remained on horseback for a remarkable tenure of almost 60 years. Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist.
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*Freelance journalist
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