Scudamore was born in June 1958 to jockey Michael Scudamore and his wife Mary. Michael Scudamore won the 1959 Grand National on Oxo, when his son was still a baby. Scudamore remembers little about his father's career, except forthe fall that ended it. He has, however, spoken of his father's toughness as a jockey and of wanting to live up to him.
Racing career
Scudamore's first competitive ride came in 1978, the start of a 15-year career which would see him break many jumps racing records. He benefited particularly from being a stable jockey for the record breaking trainer Martin Pipe and the partnership was an extremely successful one throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. As well as setting the then all-time career record of 1,678 winners, he also set the record for most winners in a season in 1988-89, surpassing Jonjo O'Neill's mark to become the first jockey to exceed 150 in one season. Although both records have since been surpassed, Scudamore's records were set before the advent of year-round National Huntracing. In all, he was champion eight times. He won 13 times at the Cheltenham Festival including two Champion Hurdles - Celtic Shot in 1988 and Granville Again in 1993 - and a Queen Mother Champion Chase on Pearlyman. Other major victories included the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, Mackeson Gold Cup, four Welsh Nationals and two Scottish Nationals. Horses with which he was associated during his racing career included Grand National winners Miinnehoma and Little Polveir although he himself won neither a National nor a Cheltenham Gold Cup nor a King George. He retired on 7 April 1993 with a winning ride on Sweet Duke at Ascot, his 1,678th winner.
Post-retirement
Immediately after retirement, Scudamore became an assistant trainer to his business partnerNigel Twiston-Davies. He now lives with, and is assistant trainer to, Scottish jumps trainer, Lucinda Russell at Arlary House Stables near Milnathort. He has also pursued a career in media, featuring regularly as a pundit on BBC racing coverage and writing a racing column for the Daily Mail. He is involved with his son Michael’s yard in Herefordshire and his other son Tom Scudamore is also now a professional jockey. Peter is second cousin to former Chief Executive of the F.A. Premier League, Richard Scudamore.
