Anthony, Algernon

Known as Algy, Algernon Ernest Anthony  was born on 12 June 1871 in Oxenton, Tewkwsbury, Gloucester to parents Charles Richard Anthony and Elizabeth Witts, and lived in Albert Cottage, Upper Butts, Worcester with his grandfather, Richard.(Richard spent 5 months serving hard labour for larceny against his master when he was a youth.)

Photo, left. courtesy of John Griffiths

 Anthony, Cheltenham-born though domiciled in Ireland, was apprenticed for seven years to Sam Darling at Beckhampton House, Avebury, Wilts and was Champion Jockey in Ireland on three occasions - 1896,97,98.

He rode the 1900 Grand National winner Ambush ll for the Prince of Wales, for which he received a present of £500.

He won the 1899 Irish Derby on Oppressor and again in 1901 on Carrigavalla. Algy also rode the 1900 Irish Oaks winner, May Race.

As a trainer, he won the Grand National in 1920 on Troytown and the Grand Steeplechase de Paris on the same horse in 1919.

Algy died on Friday 30 November 1923 in Kildare County Infirmary, and was buried the next day following a service at Kildare Cathedral.

Ambush ll died in 1905. Algy married Mary Titcombe on 7 July 1898 at Avebury. 

Mary , born in 1877, suffered with diabetes and, living in Norfolk, she went blind in 1950.

 Algy Anthony's Grand National record: (12 Rides)

 Swanshot (1896)  fell

Chevy Chase  (1897) pulled up

Dead Level  (1898)  5th

Ambush II  (1899)  7th

Ambush II  (1900)   WON

Covert Hack  (1901)  7th

Drumree (1902) knocked over

Ambush II (1903) fell final fence when leading.

Ambush II (1904) fell at 3rd.

Roman Love  (1907)  pulled up

Flaxman  (1908)  4th, after breaking stirrup leather

Judas (1910) fell.

 Full details of the above Grand Nationals can be found here Heroes and Heroines of the Grand National

Ambush ll wins National

Ambush's early career described in one article (found courtesy of his grandson Ray) was not a natural jumper, and by no means relished the tasks set him. Having occasionally to be dragged with ropes out of some ditch into which he had fallen. But he improved and negotiated the fences at Punchestown at the first time of asking, without making a mistake. it may be accepted as a conclusive fact, that a horse who can negotiate the Punchestown course, in the county of Kildare, where the fences are formidable to a fault, can jump 'anything'.

Ambush with Anthony in the saddle, had failed to finish in the first 3 for the Boyerstown Plate, two miles and a half, at the Meath Hunt Meeting, on March 29, 1898; but a month later saw him cut down a representative field in the Maiden Plate at Punchestown, over four miles of that 'stiff' country. He never put a foot wrong, and as he galloped in, but little distressed, at the head of a field of 15, thre was a pretty general feeling that here was a 'likely' candidate for 'Grand National' honours.  After a rest, the 4 year old, this time ridden by Gourlay, was pulled out again for the Abbeymead Steeplechse at the Liverpool November meeting the same year; but he could only finish a bad 3rd to Lady Gilderoy & Ferryman, both very smart young chasers & previous winners, this defeat was atoned for, however, at Leopardstown, on the succeeding Boxing Day; & here Ambush, with his original pilot, Anthony, in the saddle, scored easily in the St Stephen's Steeplechase, 2 miles from 8 opponents. At Sandown Park, the following February, Ambush, now 5 years old, won, appropriately enough, the Prince of Wales's Steeplechase, 3 miles and a half. An easy victory.

The skeleton of AmbushII was preserved and had been housed at the University of Liverpool's vetenary school before being donated to the National Museums at Liverpool in 1961. No one knows who the mystery donor was, but the skeleton became a great attraction again at the museum in 2008 when it went on display again.