Kieran Shoemark, whose grandfather, Bill, father, Ian and brother, Conor were all National Hunt jockeys, began his own racing career as apprentice to Andrew Balding, in Kingsclere, Berkshire, with whom he spent three years. He spent two winters in Australia and subsequently enjoyed a long association with Roger Charlton in Beckhampton, Wiltshire, before joining Charlie Hills in Lambourn, back in Berkshire. More recently, he became principal jockey to John and Thady Gosden at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket after Frankie Dettori abandoned his retirement plans to continue his riding career in the United States.
In 2017, Shoemark rode 65, including 52 in the qualifying period for the apprentices’ championship, but after a titanic tussle missed out by a single winner to David Egan. In 2024, though, he enjoyed his most successful season ever, riding 101 winners from 655 rides, at a strike rate of 15%, and collected just over £2 million in prize money.
Still only 29, Shoemark has suffered his fair share of trials and tribulation during his decade or so in the saddle. On June 30, 2018, he broke multiple ribs and punctured a lung when his mount, Cutthechat, fell fatally in a novice stakes race at Kempton Park and the following November tested postive for cocaine at the same venue and was banned for six months. Nevertheless, he has a total of 30 Group and Listed wins to his name, his biggest single payday coming on July 29, 2021, when he won the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Lady Bowthorpe, trained by William Jarvis.
