John Lowe, a decorated British jockey whose career spanned nearly six decades, died in a Perth hospital on September 21 at the age of 75, according to BloodHorse. The veteran rider, known to many as the “Cock O’ The North,” suffered a stroke while gardening at his home on September 17 and did not recover.
The underlying reporting is available from bloodhorse.com.
A Distinguished Career in the Saddle
Lowe’s professional journey saw him secure more than 2,000 winners worldwide. His career highlights included significant victories such as the Cambridgeshire with Mellottie and the Prix Marcel Boussac with Goodbye Shelley. In 1978, he achieved a rare feat by riding Mountain Cross to two victories at Royal Ascot within the same week. In 1984, he was officially recognized as the “Cock O’ The North,” a title bestowed upon the jockey with the highest number of winners at northern tracks during the flat turf season.
Following his retirement from professional riding in 2000, Lowe remained deeply embedded in the racing community. He worked as a race reader for the Press Association and served as a rider for the late Sir Henry Cecil, where he worked with notable thoroughbreds such as Reams Of Verse and Ali-Royal. Most recently, he worked at Roger Varian’s Newmarket stable for nine years before retiring in 2024 to join his family in Australia.
Tributes from the Racing World
The loss of the veteran rider was felt across the industry, with jockeys in Britain wearing black armbands on September 22 to honor his legacy. Dale Gibson, executive director of the Professional Jockeys Association, remembered Lowe as a “superb rider” and an exceptional judge of a horse’s ability. “He was always chirpy, punctual with a dry sense of humor,” Gibson noted, recalling their time sharing the weighing room together.
Lowe is survived by his wife, Gale, his daughter, Verity, and his grandsons, Isaac and Gabriel. His family noted that his move to Australia in 2024 allowed him to spend his final years close to the relatives he cherished, including a recent milestone where he celebrated his grandson Isaac’s 18th birthday.