"I won’t have a feeling like that again!” - Brodie Hampson recalls emotional win

Whatever amateur rider Brodie Hampson goes on to achieve during the rest of her career, nothing will come close to matching her victory aboard Jennys Surprise in the 2016 renewal of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup. 

Military races have long been an intrinsic part of the racing schedule at Sandown Park during its first 150 years, with their unique concept proving popular with racegoers and those serving in the armed forces, along with producing some wonderful stories.

In 2017, former army captain Guy Disney became the first amputee jockey to win a race under Rules with victory in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, a title he would defend 12 months later, with a win in the Grand Military Gold Cup sandwiched in between those successes.

They also helped launch the career of Grade One-winning trainer Jamie Snowden, who dominated both races alongside 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls in the early 2000s. 

But when it comes to raw emotion, and high drama, the victory secured by Brodie, on the then eight-year-old mare, in the colours of her terminally ill dad, and former 47th Royal Artillery sergeant, Mark Hampson, arguably tops them all. 

Brodie said: “Dad was in the Royal Artillery, and he served his whole career in the army which was over twenty years.

“He went on tour to Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, and Northern Ireland twice. I remember being in school when he was in Afghanistan and it just felt surreal really. 

“You would rarely hear from him then you would get the odd call from him. I remember being on the phone to him and you would hear these explosions go off and then you wouldn’t hear from him for weeks. The phone would just cut off. It was crazy but he loved it.

“Once I got into racing, he would come racing with me everywhere and he would drive me loads. None of my family were into it, but he would always have it on television and have a little bet. He loved it.

“I rode a bit for him as we had a couple of point-to-point horses that Sally Randell, who served with him, trained, including one called Fort George, that I rode in Aintree Fox Hunters’ and the Foxhunter at Cheltenham, although unfortunately we didn’t complete either. 

“However, the plan was always for me to ride in those military races, and I was able to because dad was in the army, but until that win in 2016, I hadn’t won in dad’s colours.”

However, the world of Brodie, and her family, came crashing down at the end of 2016 after they were told that Mark, who was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, would not make it until Christmas. 

But in true military spirit his body defied the medics and, much to the delight of Brodie, he was able to take a rare day out of Prospect Hospice, Wroughton, and watch his daughter celebrate the success in his own silks he had long craved to see. 

Brodie said: “Dad’s cancer started when he was in his last year of service. He had surgery when he was still in the army and he was in remission for two years before it came back as terminal. 

“Dad was put into the hospice at the end of 2015, and they didn’t think he would make it until Christmas, but he actually said to me I will be watching you ride in a military race in my colours, so he made sure that happened. 

“We managed to get him out of the hospice and to Sandown Park that day and kindly the owners of Jennys Surprise let us lease her for what was an unbelievable day.”

Turning for home Brodie looked to be fighting a losing battle aboard the 5-4 favourite with the duo still some 15 lengths adrift of the front pair with only two fences left to jump. 

But what was to happen was nothing short of miraculous with the pair making up the ground required before forging on past tiring leader Newton Thistle in the closing strides to register a success that left lots of those in attendance in tears. 

Brodie said: “I think we were about 300-1 turning in, but somehow we managed to win it. 

“Coming to the last I thought if I jump this and stay on we might just win this as I could feel the horse in front of me tiring. 

“My horse wasn’t tiring at all, she was just slow, but she kept galloping for me. 

“Everyone was balling their eyes out crying as you can imagine how everyone was feeling, but dad was the only one that wasn’t crying. 

“He was just his usual self and he was very proud. There were a lot of his army friends there that day and he was buzzing.

“I won’t ever have a feeling like that again and I’m so lucky that day happened. Words can’t even explain it and I still can’t believe it happened.

“It was all we spoke about afterwards. He took the trophy back to the hospice afterwards and he was showing all the nurses!”

Just over two months later Mark would unfortunately lose the battle he had so bravely fought against cancer aged just 44. 

But while her father is no longer around Brodie, who was also successful in the 2019 renewal of race aboard the Ben Pauling-trained Carlos Du Fruitier, admits that he will always remain in spirit with her wherever she is riding. 

She said: “Sadly, dad passed away that May. It was incredible really considering they didn’t think he was going to make it until Christmas. 

“When he said I will see you ride in my colours, in that race, and for that to happen was great. 

“The Prospect Hospice in Wroughton did a wonderful job and they really kept him going. 

“Every time I cross the winning line I just look up as I know he would be so proud of me. I know he is with me every step of the way.

“I still have some odd dad’s ashes now as he always wanted me to sprinkle bits at different racecourses and every time I ride at Sandown Park I take some and put it on the winning line.

“Whatever I do in my career now I appreciate racing so much as it gave me and dad that special day together.”