Ernest Johnson (born 1948) is an Epsom Derby winning British flat racing jockey. Career He began his apprenticeship with Captain Peter Hastings-Bass at Kingsclere. On that trainer's death in 1964, he transferred to Ian Balding. His first win came on Balding's Abel at York on 18 May 1965 and his first big win came on Salvo in the 1966 Vaux Gold Tankard for Harry Wragg. In 1967, he won the Ebor on Ovaltine and the Cesarewitch on Boismoss, and ended the season as Champion Apprentice with 39 victories. In 1968, he moved to Middleham, North Yorkshire where he rode for Sam Hall, although he still rode for many leading southern stables. That year he won 68 races, including a second Ebor on Alignment, the Free Handicap at Newmarket on Panpiper and the Portland Handicap on Gold Pollen. 1969 brought Johnson his biggest career victory - a "faultless ride" in The Derby on Blakeney - and his biggest seasonal haul to that date of 79. In 1972, he became stable jockey to Barry Hills, for whom he almost won a second Derby on Rheingold, when he finished beaten by a short head by Lester Piggott on Roberto. Although Roberto was a very good horse, Johnson himself believes that the combination of the Epsom track and the fact that Piggott was at the peak of his powers got him beat. By September 1974, he had completed the feat of at least one winner at each racecourse in Britain. Shortly after Royal Ascot 1977, Johnson sustained shoulder injuries and a broken leg in an incident at Newmarket when his mount Courjet swerved, ran off the course and threw him against a post. This caused him to miss the rest of the season. He bounced back the following season with his best ever end of season total of 86 and a second classic win on the Hills-trained Enstone Spark in the 1,000 Guineas. His arrangement with Hills ended with the arrival of American jockey Steve Cauthen at the stable in 1979. Though he still rode some horses for the yard, Cauthen was very much the first choice jockey and by 1982 Johnson was riding more or less as a freelance. He had a spell riding for Clive Brittain during 1980-81 and also a number of winners for Michael Stoute. His seasonal totals of winners dropped away dramatically, - 61 in 1979, 49 in 1980,