Sean Bowen

{{short description|Welsh jockey}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox horseracing personality | name = Sean Bowen | image = Sean Bowen.png | caption = | occupation = Jockey | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|09|05|df=y}} | birth_place = Little Newcastle, Pembrokeshire, Wales<ref name="BowenFL">{{cite web|url=https://www.ffoslas-racecourse.co.uk/news/non-racing-events/sean-bowen-becomes-official-ambassador-to-ffos-las-races|title=Sean Bowen Becomes Official Ambassador To Ffos Las Races|publisher=Ffos Las Racecourse|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref> | career winnings = | career wins = | race = Tolworth Novices Hurdle (2021) <br> Liverpool Hurdle (2019) | awards = Lester Awards x2 (2015) | honours = Champion Conditional Jockey (2014-15) <br> Racing Excellence Hands and Heels Series Champion (2015)<br/>[[British jump racing Champion Jockey]] (2024–25, 2025–26) | horses = Metier, If The Cap Fits, Haiti Couleurs | website = | module = }} '''Sean Bowen''' (born 5 September 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/jockey-sean-bowen-is-among-those-celebrating-on-wednesday/344844|title=Jockey Sean Bowen is among those celebrating on Wednesday|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref>) is a Welsh [[jockey]] who competes in [[National Hunt racing]]. He was champion conditional jockey in 2014-15 and [[British jump racing champion jockey]] in 2024-25 and 2025–26.

==Background== Bowen comes from a racing background. His father, Peter, is a trainer. His mother, Karen, is a former champion [[Point-to-point (steeplechase)|point-to-point]] rider. His younger brother, James, is a jockey, while his older brother, Mickey, trains with his father, taking over the licence in May 2025 after sharing it for a season.<ref name="BowenFL"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatbritishracing.com/features/from-the-canvas-to-the-championship/|title=From the Canvas to the Championship - Sean Bowen|date=24 April 2025|publisher=Great British Racing}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/the-front-runner/new-start-for-bowen-family-as-father-peter-hands-over-training-licence-after-30-year-career-aotx25l9FGfn/|title=New start for Bowen family as father Peter hands over training licence after 30-year career|date=6 May 2025|work=Racing Post}}</ref> Bowen won a pony racing championship before riding in point-to-points, where he was awarded the Wilkinson Sword title for top novice rider in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatbritishracing.com/features/sean-bowen-marching-towards-the-title/|title=Sean Bowen - Marching Towards The Title|date=29 November 2025|publisher=Great British Racing}}</ref>

==Career as a jockey== In 2015, Bowen won both the conditional jockey championship and the Racing Excellence hands and heels championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/welsh-jockey-sean-bowen-wins-9117159|title=Welsh jockey Sean Bowen wins National Hunt conditional riders' title with Sandown victory|publisher=Wales Online|access-date=18 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishhorseracing.com/sean-bowen-comes-out-on-top-in-the-conditional-hands-and-heels-title/|title=Sean Bowen comes out on top in the Conditional Hands and Heels title|publisher=British Horse Racing Authority|access-date=18 September 2022}}</ref> In the same year, Bowen won his first two [[Lester Awards]] for both Racing Excellence Conditional Jockey and the AtTheRaces Jump Ride of the Year for his win on Just A Par at [[Sandown Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/14165481.racing-jockey-tom-marquand-wins-first-lester-award/|title=RACING: Jockey Tom Marquand wins his first 'Lester' award|publisher=Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref>

In 2015, Bowen achieved his first Grade race win, riding Just A Par for trainer [[Paul Nicholls (horse racing)|Paul Nicholls]] in the Grade 3 [[Bet365 Gold Cup]].<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/jockey/93186/sean-bowen/stats|title=Sean Bowen|work=Racing Post|access-date=5 May 2026}}</ref> His first Grade 1 victory was on board If The Cap Fits in the 2019 [[Liverpool Hurdle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/cap-fits-in-thriller/164831|title=If The Cap Fits wins thrilling Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle|publisher=Sporting Life|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref>

During the 2023–24 season Bowen had a 31 win lead in the championship when he injured his knee in a Boxing Day fall and was overtaken by [[Harry Cobden]], who went on to secure the title.<ref>{{cite web |title=Championship leader Sean Bowen raring to go |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/championship-leader-sean-bowen-raring-to-go-as-he-prepares-to-return-from-injury-next-week-a4gnp1G2xXgK/ |publisher=Racing Post |date=30 January 2024}}</ref><ref name=BBCtitle>{{cite web |title=Sean Bowen: Nobody can begrudge Welshman jockeys' title - Olly Murphy |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/articles/c99p094mlelo |website=BBC Sport |date=1 April 2025}}</ref> Bowen rode his 1,000th winner at [[Fakenham Racecourse|Fakenham]] in February 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingtv.com/news/sean-bowen-celebrates-landmark-1000th-career-winner|title=Sean Bowen celebrates landmark 1,000th career winner |date=14 February 2025|work=RacingTV}}</ref> Riding as stable jockey to [[Warwickshire]] trainer Olly Murphy, he became champion jockey in the 2024–25 season with 180 wins.<ref name=BBCtitle/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hudson |first1=Elizabeth |title=Mullins passes Skelton to retain trainers' title |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/articles/c8dg8gl591zo |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2025}}</ref> In the 2025–26 season he rode more than 200 winners for the first time and was champion jockey for the second time, with 241 wins.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Craig |title=Havaila wins Gold Cup as champions crowned at Sandown |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/articles/cddq1qvqyzro |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 April 2026}}</ref>

In 2019, Bowen became an official ambassador to [[Ffos Las Racecourse]].<ref name="BowenFL"/>

== Major wins == {{flagicon|UK}} '''[[Great Britain]]''' * [[Fighting Fifth Hurdle]] - (1) '' [[Not So Sleepy]] (2023) '' * [[Liverpool Hurdle]] - (2) ''If The Cap Fits (2019), Strong Leader (2024)'' * [[Tolworth Novices' Hurdle]] - (1) '' Metier (2021) ''

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== [https://www.britishhorseracing.com/racing/participants/jockeys/jockey/#!/1060175 Sean Bowen profile at the British Horse Racing Authority]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowen, Sean}} [[Category:1997 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Welsh jockeys]] [[Category:Lester Award winners]] [[Category:British Champion jumps jockeys]]