Sean Bowen

Sean Bowen
Personal information
Born (1997-09-05) 5 September 1997 (age 29)
Little Newcastle, Pembrokeshire, Wales
OccupationJockey
Horse racing career
SportHorse racing
Major racing wins
Tolworth Novices Hurdle (2021)
Liverpool Hurdle (2019)
Racing awards
Lester Awards x2 (2015)
Honours
Champion Conditional Jockey (2014-15)
Racing Excellence Hands and Heels Series Champion (2015)
British jump racing Champion Jockey (2024–25, 2025–26)
Significant horses
Metier, If The Cap Fits, Haiti Couleurs

Sean Bowen (born 5 September 1997) 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 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. 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.

Career as a jockey

In 2015, Bowen won both the conditional jockey championship and the Racing Excellence hands and heels championship. 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.

In 2015, Bowen achieved his first Grade race win, riding Just A Par for trainer Paul Nicholls in the Grade 3 Bet365 Gold Cup. His first Grade 1 victory was on board If The Cap Fits in the 2019 Liverpool Hurdle.

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. Bowen rode his 1,000th winner at Fakenham in February 2025. Riding as stable jockey to Warwickshire trainer Olly Murphy, he became champion jockey in the 2024–25 season with 180 wins. 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.

In 2019, Bowen became an official ambassador to Ffos Las Racecourse.

Major wins

United Kingdom Great Britain

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sean Bowen Becomes Official Ambassador To Ffos Las Races". Ffos Las Racecourse. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Jockey Sean Bowen is among those celebrating on Wednesday". Racing Post. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "From the Canvas to the Championship - Sean Bowen". Great British Racing. 24 April 2025.
  4. ↑ "New start for Bowen family as father Peter hands over training licence after 30-year career". Racing Post. 6 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sean Bowen - Marching Towards The Title". Great British Racing. 29 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Welsh jockey Sean Bowen wins National Hunt conditional riders' title with Sandown victory". Wales Online. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Sean Bowen comes out on top in the Conditional Hands and Heels title". British Horse Racing Authority. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  8. ↑ "RACING: Jockey Tom Marquand wins his first 'Lester' award". Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "Sean Bowen". Racing Post. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "If The Cap Fits wins thrilling Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle". Sporting Life. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Championship leader Sean Bowen raring to go". Racing Post. 30 January 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Sean Bowen: Nobody can begrudge Welshman jockeys' title - Olly Murphy". BBC Sport. 1 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Sean Bowen celebrates landmark 1,000th career winner". RacingTV. 14 February 2025.
  14. ↑ Hudson, Elizabeth (26 April 2025). "Mullins passes Skelton to retain trainers' title". BBC Sport.
  15. ↑ Nelson, Craig (25 April 2026). "Havaila wins Gold Cup as champions crowned at Sandown". BBC Sport.