Michael Church Racing Books

Herbert Jones, Lester Reiff & Danny Maher

Derby winning jockeys of the Edwardian era

 Herbert Jones (1881-1951), having started as an apprentice to royal trainer, Richard Marsh at the age of 10, he later developed a talent for humouring difficult horses, including the bad tempered Diamond Jubilee (see below). And since none of the stables regular jockeys could master him, not only did he keep the ride, but in 1900, won the Triple Crown on him for the Prince of Wales.

Jones won five other Classic races, including the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby for the now, King Edward VII on Minoru (1909), and the Oaks for William Hall Walker on Cherry Lass (1905). He is also remembered as the jockey thrown from the King’s horse, Amner, when brought down by the suffragette, Emily Davison in the 1913 Derby. Marsh wrote of Jones in his autobiography, “A better servant no man ever had, and a straighter or more honest jockey never got on a horse.”

Lester Reiff (1877-1948), and his brother John were two talented American jockeys who came to England at the turn of the century. Riding in the short-stirrup, crouching style made famous by Tod Sloan, Lester Reiff became Champion Jockey in 1900 with 143 winners. The following year, 1901 he won the Derby for William Whitney on Volodyovski (see below).

However, ‘the American invasion’, as it became known, also included a ring of unscrupulous gamblers and trainers, who, in the main, had taken doping – not unlawful in Britain at this time – to a new level of expertise. Race riding to suit heavy gamblers was also a thorn in the Jockey Club’s side and, after watching Lester Reiff (see below), carefully for many weeks, culminating in his short-head defeat by his brother at Manchester on 27 September, 1901, they withdrew his licence and warned him off.

Danny Maher (1881-1916), was born of Irish parents in Hartford, Connecticut. He became Champion Jockey in the U.S.A. at the age of 17, then around 1900, together with many other top American jockeys, he came to England. Soon after, riding regularly for Newmarket trainer George Blackwell, he won the Triple Crown on Rock Sand in 1903 (see below).

Three years later, he set a new record time of 2 min. 36.80 sec. when winning the Derby for Major Eustace Loder on Spearmint. In 1908, Maher became Champion Jockey with 139 winners and again in 1913 with 115 winners. Maher rode with style and was strong at the finish. However, unable to ride at less than 8st 0lb, his efforts to waste took their toll and he died of consumption in 1916. A British citizen from 1913, he was buried in Paddington Cemetery, Mill Hill, London.

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The hottest handicap in the history of Hurst Park

Hurst Park racecourse was situated in Molesey Hurst, Surrey, close to the River Thames. The Victoria Cup was first run there in 1901 over two miles, then over various distances, until establishing itself in 1908 as a handicap run over a straight seven furlongs.

History relates that four days after Emily Davison brought down the Kings horse in the 1913 Derby suffragettes were reported setting fire to the stands at Hurst Park, causing an estimated damage of £10,000. The delayed repairs followed by the outbreak of war, prevented racing at Hurst Park from 1916-1918.

Later, due to World War II, there was also no racing from 1941-1945, during which, it was used as a prisoner of war camp. However, in 1946, racing was back with recorded crowds of over 70,000 and the need to close the gates.

In 1948, with racing and the Classics back in full swing, My Babu, ridden by Charlie Smirke, won the 2,000 Guineas equalling the record time of 1 min. 35.6 secs, beating The Cobbler (Gordon Richards) by a head, (see below). Four lengths away, third, was Pride of India (Edgar Britt).

  A year later, on 21^st May at Hurst Park, the three re opposed in the Victoria Cup (Handicap), over the straight 7 furlongs; My Babu with 9st 7lbs, The Cobbler 9st 5lb and Pride of India 8st 0lb.

The star packed field of 14 also included: Combined Operations (7y-9st-7lb), winner of the Diadem Stakes at Royal Ascot, Master Vote (6y-9st-4lb), twice winner of the Royal Hunt Cup and Fair Judgement (4y-8st-12lb), favourite when a two-length winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap from 42 rivals.

The betting was heavy, with The Cobbler, a recent winner at Newmarket, backed from 4-1 to 5-2 favourite. There was strong support, 5-1 from 6’s, for the lightly weighted Pride of India, thought by many the blot on the handicap; whereas My Babu, coming from a victory at Alexandra Park, was thought to need further and drifted from 4-1 to 7’s. At 100-8, there was good each-way support for Welsh Honey (5y-8st-6lb), a recent three-length winner over a mile at Newmarket.

The race underway on good ground, Brogue took them along, with Kety, Pride of India, Welsh Honey and Combined Operations close up. Two furlongs out The Cobbler rushed to the front, only to give way at the distance when passed by Welsh Honey, Pride of India and My Babu, the latter, striding out impressively to win by three lengths. Pride of India ran on well to be second, with Welsh Honey a head away third.

Without doubt, this was the hottest handicap in the history of Hurst Park.

The last days’ racing at Hurst Park was on 10^th October 1962, after which it was sold for housing-development.

In 1963, the Victoria Cup was transferred to Ascot, though the fixture was temporarily moved to Newbury for one year in 1964, both races run over seven furlongs, as it remains at Ascot today.

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