{{short description|English jockey}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox horseracing personality | name = Seb Sanders | image = | caption = | occupation = Jockey (retired) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|09|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Birmingham, United Kingdom | death_date = | death_place = | nationality = | spouse = | children = | career winnings = | career wins = | race = Cheveley Park Stakes (2010) <br> Qatar Derby (2010) <br> Golden Jubilee Stakes (2008) <br> Oaks (2008)<br> Prix de Diane (2006) <br> Nunthorpe Stakes (2004) <br> Preis von Europa (2004) <br> Irish 2,000 Guineas (2004) <br> July Cup (1997) | awards = British Champion Flat Jockey (2007) <br> British Champion Apprentice Jockey (1995) | honours = | memorials = | horses = Hooray, Beethoven, Kingsgate Native, Look Here, Confidential Lady, Bahamian Pirate, Albanova, Bachelor Duke, Compton Place | website = | module = }} '''Seb Sanders''' (born 25 September 1971 in Birmingham, England) is a former flat race jockey. Sanders was British Champion Flat Jockey in 2007, a title he shared with Jamie Spencer.
==Early life== Born in Birmingham, Sanders' father, a plumber introduced him to racing by a chance meeting of Tamworth based trainer Bryan McMahon. Sanders himself was keen to be a professional footballer for Birmingham City, but his father was able to secure him work at McMahon's yard. After which, McMahon sent Sanders to the British Racing School in Newmarket.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/seb-sanders-the-incredible-journeyman-26439385.html|title=Seb Sanders: The Incredible journeyman|publisher=independent.ie|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Compton+Place+retired+to+stud%3B+July+Cup+hero+for+Whitsbury.-a061442222|title=Compton Place retired to stud; July Cup hero for Whitsbury|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
==Career== Sanders rode his first winner on 12 June 1990 on Band On The Run at Pontefract. In 1994, Sanders moved to Reg Akehurst's yard in Epsom and won the 1995 Champion Apprentice title, with 61 winners. Sanders' first Group 1 success came in the 1997 July Cup where he won on the 50-1 outsider, Compton Place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.championsofracing.com/jockey/seb-sanders/|title=SEB SANDERS|publisher=championsofracing.com|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
In 2004, Sanders joined Sir Mark Prescott in Newmarket replacing George Duffield. Sanders and Prescott had a close relationship, and in his opening year with Prescott, Sanders won the Preis von Europa with Albanova for Kirsten Rausing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingtv.com/news/alpinista-bags-group-one-preis-von-europa|title=Alpinista bags Group One Preis von Europa|publisher=Racing TV|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> He would also win the Irish 2,000 Guineas onboard Bachelor Duke and the Nunthorpe Stakes with Bahamian Pirate .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2004/0819/184822-bahamianpirate/|title=Nunthorpe glory for veteran Pirate|publisher=RTE|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/bachelor-duke-wins-irish-2000-guineas-1.980045|title=Bachelor Duke wins Irish 2000 Guineas|publisher=The Irish Times|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> In 2006, Sanders won the Prix de Diane, giving Prescott his first Classic success, that later saw Sanders receive an eight day ban.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/racing/arid-20005719.html|title=Sanders hit by Confidential ban|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
In the 2007 championship season Seb Sanders shared the British flat racing Champion Jockey's title with Jamie Spencer. On the final day of the season at Doncaster, their seasonal totals finished level at 190-190, when Spencer won the last race of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/nov/10/horseracing1|title= Sanders and Spencer share jockeys' title|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> The following year, Sanders added two more Group 1 successes to his tally with Kingsgate Native in the Golden Jubilee Stakes and Look Here winning the Oaks at Epsom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jun/21/horseracing3|title=Kingsgate Native claims Golden Jubilee Stakes|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/look-here-claims-oaks-win-at-epsom-1.1222016|title=Look Here claims Oaks win at Epsom|publisher=The Irish Times|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> Sanders' last British Group 1 victory came for Sir Mark Prescott in the Cheveley Park Stakes with Hooray.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/140158/hooray-never-looks-back-in-cheveley-park|title=Hooray Never Looks Back in Cheveley Park|publisher=BloodHorse|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> In the same year, he won the Qatar Derby with Beethoven.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/horse-racing/news/12426/6744189|title=Beethoven impresses Sanders|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> In his later career, Sanders was noted for struggling with weight and notably at Goodwood he rode a race not wearing boots.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/9976971/seb-sanders-defends-boot-less-goodwood-ride|title=Seb Sanders defends boot-less Goodwood ride|publisher=Sky Sports Racing|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
==Retirement== Sanders took a hiatus from racing in Britain in 2016. Later, he would be revealed as a work rider for Godolphin at Charlie Appleby's yard in Newmarket.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.attheraces.com/news/2017/March/28/former-champion-jockey-seb-sanders-takes-work-rider-role-with-charlie-appleby|title=Former champion jockey Seb Sanders takes work-rider role with Charlie Appleby|publisher=At The Races|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> Alongside his work riding, Sanders is a member of the Sky Sports Racing broadcast team. In 2022, Sanders returned to ride in the Leger Legends race at Doncaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/12691271/leger-legends-former-champion-jockey-seb-sanders-reveals-emotional-drive-behind-doncaster-return-for-injured-jockeys-fund|title=Leger Legends: Former champion jockey Seb Sanders reveals emotional drive behind Doncaster return for Injured Jockeys Fund|publisher=Sky Sports Racing|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>
==Major wins== {{flagicon|UK}} '''Great Britain''' * Cheveley Park Stakes - (1) - ''Hooray (2010)'' * Golden Jubilee Stakes - (1) - ''Kingsgate Native (2008)'' * July Cup - (1) - ''Compton Place (1997)'' * Nunthorpe Stakes - (1) - ''Bahamian Pirate (2004)'' * Oaks - (1) - ''Look Here (2008)'' ---- {{flagicon|France}} '''France''' * Prix de Diane - (1) - ''Confidential Lady (2006)'' ---- {{flagicon|Germany}} '''Germany''' * Preis von Europa - (1) - ''Albanova (2004)'' ---- {{flagicon|Ireland}} '''Ireland''' * Irish 2,000 Guineas - (1) - ''Bachelor Duke (2004)'' ---- {{flagicon|Qatar}} '''Qatar''' * Qatar Derby - (1) - ''Beethoven (2010)''
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanders, Seb}} Category:1971 births Category:English jockeys Category:Lester Award winners Category:Living people Category:British Champion flat jockeys Category:British Champion apprentice jockeys