THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

MY WAY

Copyright Valerie Martin 2004.

Saturday 16th August 1986 was a sad day for Findon when a legend in racing passed away.   Captain Ryan Price died on his 74th Birthday on Saturday 16th August, 1986 after being admitted to Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital for an emergency operation.

Captain Ryan Price was born in Hindhead in Surrey.    

The Captain's career had started after the First World War at East Lavant.   He rode two hundred point-to-point winners in his teens and started in 1937 as a private trainer at Sutton Bank, Yorkshire.    The Second World War then intervened and he served with a commando unit involved in the D-Day landings.   He often recalled how he had led his men with  blasts from his hunting horn!

He became a brilliant Findon trainer of more than two thousand winners passing the finishing post.   Among the Captain's great achievements during his lifetime was his winning horse, Kilmore, in the 1962 Grand National. 

The Grand National almost came his way again in 1967 when Honey End was brought down at  the 23rd fence but still managed to finish second (partnered by Josh Gifford).  

The Cheltenham Gold Cup was won by What A Myth in 1969 and it was in the Schweppes Gold Trophy that the Captain achieved some notoriety.  He won this race a total of four times.  

When Hill House won in 1967, there was a dope test.   It was six long months before the Captain's name was cleared when it was eventually shown that Hill House had manufactured his own cortisone.

Persian Lancer was another horse to win in 1966 in the Cesarewitch.

"That win probably means more to me than anything else.  The horse had been off the course for two seasons with a dodgy leg, and it was eight years since he had won a race.   But I thought the world of him and knew he could do it"

.... said the Captain at the time.   In fact, on many mornings the Captain could be seen talking to Persian Lancer, who was pensioned off with other favourites like Charlie Worcester, What A Myth and Major Rose in a field bordering the Findon Gallops.

"The Guv'nor" as he was known by Josh Gifford, (once his stable jockey but later to become the trainer of Downs Stables) had netted all the big races except the Derby.   He had been Champion Jumping Trainer five times while in Findon and had won the Oaks with Ginevra and the St. Leger with Bruni.

Those who knew the Captain properly knew that his bark was worse than his bite.  He once said that he had a better affiliation with horses than with people and kept his horses when their racing days were done, letting them run free on the Downs..    The BBC racing correspondent, Peter Bromley, said that out of all the trainers of his era, Captain Ryan Price was closest to his horses and so consequently he got the best out of them.

The Captain's funeral was held at 11 am. on 22nd August, 1986 at St. John the Baptist Church where he was buried.  Findon and the rest of the horse racing world said a touching farewell to him.  The 11th century St. John the Baptist Church overflowed with 250 mourners.   The great names of racing gathered to pay their respects.   These included owners, trainers and jockeys, some of whom had travelled from Ireland and America.  The BBC racing commentator — Peter O'Sullivan.   Former jockey — Lord Oaksey.   Trainers — Josh Gifford, Guy Harwood (who now used the Soldiers Field stables as an overflow yard) and David Oughton.

His coffin carried one floral family tribute, depicting his racing colours of yellow and purple. 

The ushers were the Findon trainer, David Oughton, Andrew Smyth (son of trainer Gordon Smyth), and Peter Hudson (assistant trainer to the Captain during his most successful years).   

The BBC racing correspondent, Peter Bromley, gave a vivid address and recalled the life of Captain Ryan Price. 

Peter had at this time already written the authorised biography of Captain Ryan Price, entitled The Price of Success in 1982.    This had been re-printed in 1983 and had since gone out of print.   (Peter Bromley entered the final furlong and died in June 2003 aged 74).

The Captain's coffin was led out of the parish Church to the tune of My Way.   Champagne flowed afterwards at Soldiers Field to fulfil one of the Captain's last orders — to give all his friends a mega "Pearly Gates Party".

The Captain left an estate valued at £287,883 gross, £287,290 net.  He bequeathed £5,000 to the National Adoption Society with the remainder of the estate going to his wife and children.

Continue if you would like to read about Josh's First Ride.

This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.