2005

BRUCE Hobbs, one of the great old-fashioned trainers and the youngest jockey ever to win the Grand National, died at home in Newmarket last Monday week. He was 84. Hobbs rode 40/1 chance Battleship to victory over the formidable Aintree fences in 1938 when only 17. His father Reg trained the winner as well.

Reg Hobbs was master of the horse to prominent American owner Ambrose Clark, which is how his son came to be born on Long Island, New York, in 1920. When the family returned to Britain, Hobbs senior trained at Lambourn and Hobbs had his first ride in public at the age of 13.

A fine horseman, Bruce Hobbs needed all his strength in the National to hold off Irish challenger Royal Danieli by a head, the pair racing wide apart. Battleship’s owner Marion du Pont Scott was married to film star Randolph Scott. Hobbs rode other big winners over jumps but also broke his back in 1938.

The outbreak of World War II, in which he served in the North Somerset Yeomanry and was later awarded the Military Cross, brought that part of his career to an end.

Through connections with trainer George Beeby and royal jockey Harry Carr, Hobbs concentrated more on flat racing and moved to Newmarket as Cecil Boyd-Rochfort’s assistant in 1952. He later became private trainer to David Robinson, but set up in his own right at Palace House Stables in the mid-1960s.

A stream of big-race winners followed, including Hotfoot, Take A Reef, Touch Paper, Tyrnavos (winner of the 1980 Derby), Tolmi, Cry Of Truth and the brilliant filly Jacinth, ridden by South African John Gorton who was Hobbs’ stable jockey for five years. The trainer also took over Lord Rosebery’s horses following the latter’s split with Doug Smith.

Julian Wilson, for whom Hobbs trained the very talented Tumbledownwind, said: “Bruce was the classic old-fashioned trainer. In those days you made a plan and stuck to it so that a horse would arrive at a big race at its peak. He inspired loyalty and had complete respect for his staff.”

Bruce Hobbs was a credit to his profession from start to finish.

Bunny Cox doubles up at the Curragh

1980

CONSIDERING the day of the week it was and the huge amount of runners, last Tuesday’s first National Hunt meeting at the Curragh was fairly well supported.

After the success of the favourite in the first race, followers of the money were lulled into a false sense of security and several gambles were essayed, only to sink without trace as results ranging from mild surprises to the shock variety continued throughout the remainder of the card.

Bunny Cox’s horses are in top form at the moment and he brought off a 230/1 double with Chester and Fortune Seeker who started at 20/1 and 10/1 respectively. The course rode well, and if there was a fault perhaps it was the vast distance between the third and second last hurdles. This new track will be used for flat racing also and should prove a boon for spectators, presenting, as it does, a perfect view throughout.

[The full list of winners on the card, together with their owners, trainers and jockeys, were Browne Eclipse (Y Tanimoto, Liam Browne, Mr D W Browne); Liffeys Choice (owned, trained and ridden by Mr J P N Parker); Chester (P S MacMathuna, J R Cox, T McGivern); Fortune Seeker (Mrs P J Beagan, J R Cox, M Macklin); Flying Angel (owned and trained by Capt D G Swan, J K Kinane); Black Gay (owned and trained by Countess K Doenhoff, Mr M Brassil) and Aspiring (Thomas P Waters, D T Hughes, Mr P J Finn)]

Stout progress for Knuckleduster

1960

WHEN a horse is a shy feeder it is up to his trainer to discover that little extra something which will titillate his appetite.

I was interested to read when Knuckleduster ran away with the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last Saturday, his trainer and rider, Derek Ancil, attributed his charge’s splendid fitness to the fact that his ration of stout had been increased to two bottles a day.

“The horse is not a big feeder, but I found out that he had a definite liking for stout, and since I increased his ration he has continued to make splendid progress,” said Ancil.

I asked Mr Tom Dreaper if he had any particular recipe for keeping a horse at the top of his form. After all, as trainer of Fortria, the champion two-mile chaser in England and Ireland, and of Olympia, he should have his own definite views on the subject. He did.

“There is nothing, absolutely nothing, to beat good oats and good grass,” he said. “We give them carrots also at this time of year – they are good for the kidneys – and raw apples which they love. Dandelion roots are good too, whenever you can get them, as they are full of iron.

“Later on in the season, before Cheltenham and Aintree, we start them on raw eggs, as many as six or seven a day per horse. It is when a horse has reached the top of the handicap that his trainer must begin to worry about those little extra additions to his diet which help to keep him there.”

First Ulster Derby is set for July

1935

VERY shortly we hope to be able to include in our columns an advertisement from the Down Royal executive for the first Ulster Derby, the promotion of this race having been decided upon formally and its date fixed, the intention being to run it at the July meeting at the Maze.

The race, which will be on the usual ‘classic’ lines, will be for three-year-old colts and geldings, and will be over the statutory Derby distance of one mile and a half. This new classic is the direct result of Lord Derby’s recent visit to Belfast. It was he who suggested it, promised to give the event his wholehearted support, and wound up by expressing the hope that he would win it with one of his horses on the first occasion it was run.

The suggestion at the time did not fall on idle ears. At once the committee of the Down Royal Corporation of Horse-breeders took the matter up, a guarantee fund was opened (close on 800 sovs. being subscribed), and in a short while it was apparent that the project was going to be a big success, sporting Ulster being enthusiastic over the matter.

It has been decided that the value of the Ulster Derby in its first year will be 1,000 sovs., of which the second will receive 150 sovs., and the third 100 sovs. from the stake. It is said that the sanction of the stewards of the Turf Club is necessary, and, if this be the case – and we suppose it is – the matter must be merely just one of form. That they will welcome an event of the kind is certain.

It may be remarked that the prospects of an Ulster Derby coming into being, when Lord Derby dropped the hint in the first instance, was canvassed freely, and always favourably, in the Free State. It was felt that it was up to Ulster now to take the ball on the hop and, knowing the northern sportsman, as all did, and being aware of how keen and practical he is, it was felt its success could be assured.