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Born in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, Donald Robert Carcary attended the local Douglas Ewart High School before arriving in England to begin an apprenticeship with Upper Longdon, Staffordshire trainer Reg Hollinshead.
Born in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, Donald Robert Carcary attended the local Douglas Ewart High School before arriving in England to begin an apprenticeship with Upper Longdon, Staffordshire trainer Reg Hollinshead.
Hollinshead was renowned for his apprentice academy which produced a series of successful jockeys of the future. Don’s first winner, however, was for another trainer, Peter Makin, whose four-year-old colt In Rhythm took the lead over a furlong out and ran on to beat Young Croftie by three lengths in the Stair Apprentice Handicap at Ayr on June 19, 1981. He only had three other rides that season and was unplaced on all of them.
Hollinshead was renowned for his apprentice academy which produced a series of successful jockeys of the future. Don’s first winner, however, was for another trainer, Peter Makin, whose four-year-old colt In Rhythm took the lead over a furlong out and ran on to beat Young Croftie by three lengths in the Stair Apprentice Handicap at Ayr on June 19, 1981. He only had three other rides that season and was unplaced on all of them.
That proved to be his only success on the Flat, for by then he had already begun riding over jumps, his first mount having been at Worcester on January 3, 1981, when The Surveyor finished third in the Ladywood Selling Handicap Hurdle. The Surveyor also provided Don with his first win under National Hunt rules when, having taken the lead at the last flight, they beat Budda by a length and a half in the Neenton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on February 10, 1982.
That proved to be his only success on the Flat, for by then he had already begun riding over jumps, his first mount having been at Worcester on January 3, 1981, when The Surveyor finished third in the Ladywood Selling Handicap Hurdle. The Surveyor also provided Don with his first win under National Hunt rules when, having taken the lead at the last flight, they beat Budda by a length and a half in the Neenton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on February 10, 1982.
It was Don’s sole victory of the campaign but he managed at least one win in each of the following three seasons. He won two more races on The Surveyor, they being his only wins over fences, and he landed the most valuable prize of the meeting at Stratford on November 7, 1984 when Alfie Dickens beat eleven rivals to land the Archie Scott Memorial Gold Cup Handicap Hurdle, beating Misty Dale by a length.
It was Don’s sole victory of the campaign but he managed at least one win in each of the following three seasons. He won two more races on The Surveyor, they being his only wins over fences, and he landed the most valuable prize of the meeting at Stratford on November 7, 1984 when Alfie Dickens beat eleven rivals to land the Archie Scott Memorial Gold Cup Handicap Hurdle, beating Misty Dale by a length.
Just seven days later Don had his seventh and final victory over jumps, all of them trained by Reg Hollinshead, when Springle took the Orlando Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Towcester. Despite riding for at least two more seasons there were no more wins.
Just seven days later Don had his seventh and final victory over jumps, all of them trained by Reg Hollinshead, when Springle took the Orlando Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Towcester. Despite riding for at least two more seasons there were no more wins.
He remained with Hollinshead until 1995, having been his travelling head lad for more than a decade.
He remained with Hollinshead until 1995, having been his travelling head lad for more than a decade.
Don Carcary’s winners were, in chronological order:
Don Carcary’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. In Rhythm, Ayr, June 19, 1981
1. In Rhythm, Ayr, June 19, 1981
2. The Surveyor, Ludlow, February 10, 1982
2. The Surveyor, Ludlow, February 10, 1982
3. Copt Again, Wolverhampton, November 15, 1982
3. Copt Again, Wolverhampton, November 15, 1982
4. The Surveyor, Southwell, November 8, 1983
4. The Surveyor, Southwell, November 8, 1983
5. Andrex, Towcester, February 14, 1984
5. Andrex, Towcester, February 14, 1984
6. The Surveyor, Ludlow, May 7, 1984
6. The Surveyor, Ludlow, May 7, 1984
7. Alfie Dickens, Stratford-on-Avon, November 8, 1984
7. Alfie Dickens, Stratford-on-Avon, November 8, 1984
8. Springle, Towcester, November 15, 198
8. Springle, Towcester, November 15, 198
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