Kevin Darley, who retired from the saddle at the end of the 2007 Flat season, with over 2,500 winners to his name, was Champion Jockey just once, in 2000. However, his achievement was all the more remarkable for the fact that he was the first jockey based in the North of England since Elijah Wheatley, 95 years earlier, to win the jockeys’ title. Indeed, Darley went close to doing so again in 2001, but had to settle for second place, just five winner behind the eventual winner, Kieren Fallon.
A product of the renowned apprentice academy of Reg Hollinshead at Upper Longdon, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, Darley was Champion Apprentice in 1978, with 71 winners. His second title-winning season, during which he rode 161 winners was, numerically, the most syccessful of his career. However, he rode 100 winners or more in every season, bar two, between 1993 and 2005; the exceptions were 1998 and 2004, when he rode 94 and 85 winners, respectively.
All told, Darley rode a total of 26 Group 1 winners at home and abroad. Career highlights included winning the Racing Post Trophy and Prix du Jockey Club on Celtic Swing, the St. Leger on Bollin Eric and the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas on Attraction.
