Racing mourns internationally acclaimed jockey Tony Ives

Tony Ives, the globe-trotting jockey whose enduring popularity made him one of racing’s most admired international horsemen, has died in Thailand at the age of 74 after a prolonged period of ill health.

A major force in British racing through the 1970s and 1980s, Ives forged an unforgettable partnership with Lord Derby’s giant gelding Teleprompter, trained in North Yorkshire by Bill Watts, with the duo famously capturing the 1985 Arlington Million in Chicago in one of the standout overseas triumphs by a British-trained horse.

By the late 1980s he had relocated to Hong Kong after accepting a role as a club jockey with the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, where he quickly rose to prominence and cemented his reputation among the jurisdiction’s elite riders.

Among the highlights of his time in Hong Kong was steering champion sprinter Quicken Away to victory in the 1991 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, stepping in for unavailable regular rider Nigel Tiley and delivering another signature performance on the major stage.

Ives rode about 1500 winners before persistent back problems ultimately brought his riding career to a close in Macau in 1996.

But Asia remained his home as he continued contributing to the sport through roles as an assistant trainer to Australian Geoff Allendorf, a starter for the Macau Jockey Club, and a mentor within the apprentices’ academy.