Claire Hardwick, one of the sport’s most popular riders, has decided to hang up her saddle.
Based in Adlestrop, Gloucestershire, Hardwick (nee Hart) entered the sport with few contacts, but ended up riding some stars of the sport, headed by Palypso De Creek and the mares Lady Myfanwy and Dabinett Moon. She rode 101 pointing winners, 14 in hunters’ chases, two over hurdles and one on the Flat.
Speaking this morning, Hardwick, 37, said: “I woke up on Tuesday morning and decided I didn’t want to ride in races any more, and when you think that you won’t ride winners. I’ve had a fabulous time in a wonderful sport, and I won’t be going anywhere because I have pointers to train so I’ll still be involved.”
Claire Hardwick returns on Findlay's Find after winning the ladies' open at Cothelstone in 2011
Hardwick’s final winner came on Midnight Chill in a Skinner’s Ladies’ Open race at Charing on March 29, the day the sport restarted following the Covid lockdown release in England. Yet a win-less final weekend still gave her pleasure.
She said: “I had great fun last weekend, riding all three days [Aldington, Chaddesley Corbett and Edgcote] and playing at jockeys again. I went to Chaddesley Corbett with my mum on Saturday and it was just like the old days – we had a right laugh. Of course it would have been great to go out on a winner, but Midnight Chill is now out for the season, and while I’ve got a lovely horse of Mike Dawson’s called Braavos in the yard it was no good waiting for one more ride when you know it’s time to finish.
“If you don’t want to throw a horse at the second-last and the final fence it’s time to stop.”
Dawson and his late wife Jill, Lincolnshire-based but long time supporters of Hardwick, provided the rider with the classiest of her many rides in the shape of Palypso De Creek, a multiple point-to-point and hunters’ chase winner. Hardwick said: “You would have to call Palypso the best, but I rode Golden Tobouggan [owned and trained by Julie Wadland] when he was young and he was the most progressive – until he picked up a few issues. Dabinett Moon [bred, owned and trained by Fran and Chris Marriott] was a star, and I won an Aga oven thanks to Lady Myfanwy [owned and trained by Paul and Myfanwy Miles].”
Claire Hardwick wins on Palypso De Creek at Dingley in 2012
Hardwick admitted the recent death of Lorna Brooke had hit her and all her friends in the sport, but she said: “That’s not why I’m packing up. I was at Sandon on the day Lorna rode her final winner and we were joking about being the old birds in the changing tent. What happened to her has shocked us all, but I knew I was close to retiring from race riding. I’ve got a business to run and 65 horses here – broodmares, breakers, pre-trainers, coloured horses, pointers, you name it – and it’s a full-time job. I owe it to my owners to be here, not rushing off around the country to ride in races.
Dabinett Moon and Claire Hardwick
“I’ve made life-long friends and received some wonderful messages. I’m in a WhatsApp group with [former national champions] Jane Williams and Jacqueline Coward and they are delighted I’m packing up – I hardly ever see them, but they are mates for life.
“Gina Andrews sent me a lovely text saying I was her best weighing room friend. You can’t ask for more. I’ve been so very, very lucky.”
Hardwick said Will Thirlby, who has been riding for her yard, will continue in that role, and that Kate Gowing will be picking up rides, too.