Classic-winning jockey and popular broadcaster Jimmy Lindley dies aged 86

Willie Carson hailed Jimmy Lindley as a "raconteur" and "all-round nice guy" as he led the tributes to the Classic-winning jockey turned popular BBC broadcaster following his death at the age of 86.

Lindley was a leading jockey during the 1960s and early 1970s and rode more than 800 winners on the Flat, including several top-level successes during his 22-year career, and won three British Classics, taking the 2,000 Guineas with Only For Life in 1963 and Kashmir in 1966 and the 1964 St Leger on Indiana.

He was best known during his racing career for his partnership with Aggressor, trained by Jack 'Towser' Gosden, who defeated Petite Etoile in the 1960 King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

His other top-level wins included the 1961 Irish Oaks with Ambergris, the Coronation Cup with Charlottown in 1967 and success in the Ascot Gold Cup in 1970 with Precipice Wood and Lassalle in 1973.

The start of Carson's illustrious career, which included 17 British Classic victories, coincided with when Lindley was at his pomp in the saddle and the five-time champion jockey recalled the day the jockey he described as a mentor guided Only For Life to 2,000 Guineas success.

"Jimmy was someone I looked up to. He had a good innings and his riding career was very good," Carson said. "One of my first recollections of a Classic was when I was at Newmarket as an apprentice on a horrible day for the 2,000 Guineas in 1963. Jimmy was riding Only For Life, who had the biggest feet in the paddock, I went for him as he would likely handle the ground and he went and won."

Willie Carson: 'Jimmy was a very well-educated jockey, was eloquent and spoke well'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Lindley struggled with his weight throughout his career and was forced to spend a season over jumps in 1958, during which he won the Oteley Hurdle with Retour De Flamme, who he partnered to finish third in that year's Champion Hurdle.

He worked as an official starter and apprentices’ tutor in Hong Kong during the winter of 1971-72, and retired from race-riding in 1974 aged 39, finishing with a highest winning tally for a season of 71 in 196, before taking up a second career as a broadcaster.

After being recruited for the BBC's racing team by Julian Wilson to succeed Clive Graham as paddock expert, he remained with the BBC for almost three decades.

Carson added: "He had a very good career, but he was dogged with weight problems. It's not like it is now when you can get heavyweight wrestlers to ride, but he was a very well-educated jockey, was eloquent and spoke well.

"He enjoyed going out for lunches, was a raconteur and an all-round nice guy. I remember he talked himself into getting invited to go shooting with the owner Jim Joel and after Jim died he left him his pair of Purdey shotguns which were probably worth £50,000."

Jimmy Lindley obituary: a riding great renowned for his style, tactical nous and strength

Lindley partnered Jan Ekels to victory in the 1973 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for trainer Guy Harwood, who said: "Jimmy will be sorely missed. We had a great time together in the 70s.

"He was a good judge and he was well liked by the owners as he always had a good turn of phrase. He was a larger than life character who went on to be racing manager for Sir Ernest Harrison and then went seamlessly into broadcasting.

"We were together for seven or eight years and we were lucky to have a jockey of his calibre as we were only a small yard in those days. Winning the QEII at Ascot with Jan Ekels was a leg-up for us at the time."

Lindley's former weighing-room colleague Bruce Raymond labelled him as a "very fine jockey" and spoke of how he helped him through his own weight troubles he faced during his time in the saddle.

"If people couldn't get Lester Piggott they would go for him," he said. "But he wasn't just a very fine jockey, but he was also a very, very kind man and I never heard him say one bad word about anybody.

"He was such a good talker that I think he tried to keep every clerk of the scales on his side. I remember when I had kidney problems through wasting pills he sent me to the right people in London which I was always indebted to him for."

'Everyone enjoyed his company'

Racing journalist and broadcaster Brough Scott also paid tribute to Lindley and believes he would have had a more prestigious riding career had he not been troubled by weight issues.

Scott said: "How sad, first Joe Mercer and now Jimmy. He was briefly a brilliant hurdles jockey and on the Flat became the most complete horseman and jockey I have ever seen.

"On his day he was a match for anyone, just like when he and Aggressor beat Lester [Piggott] and Petite Etoile. If his weight had been better he would have been champion jockey."

Trainer Henry Candy also hailed Lindley, who rode on occasions for his father Derrick, for his talents in the saddle and recalled his popularity among the racing community.

"It's very sad news. He rode some very nice horses for my father Derrick in High Line and Song. He was a lovely rider with a lovely pair of hands," Candy said. "He was also an absolutely charming man. He used to come shooting here in later life and was always full of stories, everyone enjoyed his company."

Lindley is survived by his wife Pat, the daughter of late trainer Matthew Feakes, and sons Bruce and Mark.

Jimmy Lindley CV

Full name James Frederick Lindley

Born Wembley, May 16, 1935

Father Fred Lindley (garage & restaurant owner)

Apprenticed to Tom Masson, Lewes, Sussex, 1949-54

First winner Sweet Phoenix, Brighton, June 11, 1952

First big-race winner Damremont (1953 City and Suburban Handicap)

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Aggressor (1960)

British Classic winners Only For Life (1963 2,000 Guineas), Indiana (1964 St Leger), Kashmir (1966 2,000 Guineas)

Other Classic winners Ambergris (1961 Irish Oaks), Dolina (1967 Oaks d'Italia)

Coronation Cup winner Charlottown (1967)

Ascot Gold Cup winners Precipice Wood (1970), Lassalle (1973)

Prix du Cadran winner Lassalle (1973)

St James's Palace Stakes winners Track Spare (1966), Sun Prince (1972)

Sussex Stakes winner Ace Of Aces (1974)

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Jan Ekels (1973)

Champion two-year-old Double Jump (1964 National Stakes, Gimcrack Stakes)

Middle Park Stakes winners Gustav (1961), Track Spare (1965), Tudenham (1972)

Other notable winners on Flat Rachel (1961 Nassau Stakes), Compensation (1962 Cork and Orrery Stakes), Only For Life (1963 King Edward VII Stakes), Spree (1963 Nassau Stakes), Indiana (1964 Great Voltigeur Stakes, 1965 Ormonde Stakes), Charlottown (1966 Oxfordshire Stakes), Golden Orange (1970 Haydock Sprint Cup), Roi Soleil (1971 Queen Anne Stakes), High Line (1971 Geoffrey Freer Stakes), Sol 'Argent (1972 Geoffrey Freer Stakes)

Big-race winner over jumps Retour De Flamme (1958 Oteley Hurdle)

Best-placed mounts in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Santa Claus (2nd, 1964), Caro (4th, 1971)

Placed mounts in Derby Indiana (2nd, 1964), Black Prince (3rd, 1966)

Placed mount in Champion Hurdle Retour De Flamme (3rd, 1958)

Last Group winner Ace Of Aces (1974 Sussex Stakes)

Last winner Wabil, Ascot, September 29, 1989

Highest position in jockeys' table 9th in 1963, 1964, 1965

Most wins in a season 71 in 1963

Total wins in Britain 882 on Flat, 25 over jumps

Compiled by John Randall