Jim Drinkwater

Article by Chris Pitt

James Pratchett Drinkwater held a jump jockey’s licence for 15 years, from 

1952/53 to 1967/68 yet only rode three winners during that time. 

Interestingly, they were all in the same race, a selling hurdle on Cartmel’s 

Whit Monday Bank Holiday card.

A chestnut filly named Oxheys arrived in Britain as a four-year-old 

in the spring of 1957, having been unplaced in four maiden hurdles in 

Ireland, and joined the Garswood, Lancashire stable of permit trainer 

George Stothard. She ran five times the following season without making 

the frame. 

Jim Drinkwater, who had yet to ride a winner, first rode Oxheys at 

Uttoxeter in November 1958, finishing seventh. They were sent off as 

favourite when dropped into selling company at Market Rasen six months later 

but could only finish second. Nine days later, they achieved the first victories 

of their respective careers when winning the Grange Selling Handicap Hurdle at 

Cartmel on Whit Monday, May 18, 1959.

The following season Jim rode Oxheys seven times. Their sole attempt at 

steeplechasing didn’t get far as they parted company at the second fence 

of a Warwick selling chase. Back hurdling they finished third at Market 

Rasen on Easter Monday and then returned to Cartmel to win the Grange

Selling Handicap Hurdle for a second time on Whit Monday, June 4, 1960.

Jim rode Oxheys in three races in the first month of the 1960/61 campaign 

but the horse was not seen again until Cartmel at Whitsun when, partnered 

this time by Frank Dever, he finished third in his attempt for a third Grange 

Selling Handicap Hurdle on what was to prove his final start.

Scotch Fair was bought by Mr A. E. George for 220 guineas after winning a 

Worcester selling hurdle for Tommy Cross in December 1961. He was sent 

to J. C. Mason, who trained at Wigston, near Leicester. Jim Drinkwater rode 

Scotch Fair a couple of times that season and five times the next, their best 

effort being a third place finish in, yes, Cartmel’s Grange Selling Handicap 

Hurdle on Whit Monday 1963.

The following season, having made the frame on their two most recent efforts at 

Uttoxeter and Bangor-on-Dee, they returned to Cartmel and dead-heated with Johnnie East’s mount Rapin for first place in the Grange Selling 

Handicap Hurdle on Whit Monday, May 18, 1964.

That was as good as it got for Jim Drinkwater and for Scotch Fair. They were 

united in 17 more races over the next four seasons, including an ambitious 

attempt in the Liverpool Hurdle on Grand National day 1967, but were never 

so much as placed again.

Jim had his last ride in public and 12-year-old Scotch Fair had his final race before retirement in the Uttoxeter selling hurdle on June 4, 1968.

Having combined in almost 30 races over hurdles, it was perhaps appropriate the they should bow out together.