Former Swanton Morley soldier makes history at racecourse
Guy Disney after a race at Fakenham Racecourse. PHOTO: IAN BURT - Credit: IAN BURT
A former soldier and army captain who was based in Swanton Morley has become the first back-to-back winner of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown.
Captain Guy Disney, 35, lost his right leg below the knee when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2009.
However, he did not let the injury hold him back and with the help of a prosthetic leg he became the first amputee jockey to win at a professional racecourse in Britain in 2017.
On Friday he has showed his skills once more as he rode 9-4 favourite Rathlin Rose to victory in the race for military amateur riders.
After the race Mr Disney said he hopes to return to Sandown on March 9 and defend the Grand Military Gold Cup, which he also won with Rathlin Rose last year.
'Last time feels like a long time ago,' he said. 'I want to win the next time. I would like to come here in March and win the race again.'