Marsh, Alexander

Alexander Marsh was born near Newark, Nottingham, on August 12,1908 and rode his first winner,Common Good, (left) at Warwick on February 5, 1929.Alec was the champion amateur three times; 1934-35, 35-36 & 36-37.

A bad fall at Wye in 1940 ended his riding days: he became a starter of note and, in 20 years, started a total of 101 classics.

During the war he was an officer in the RAF,

He rode the winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunters twice: Empire Night (1935) & Herode Bridge (1936)

Over the Aintree fences he won the Liverpool Foxhunters on Don Bradman in 1936 and also dead-heated on Don Bradman for that year's Grand Sefton Chase.

Alec Marsh died in Grantham on November 17, 1996, aged 88.

Article by Chas Hammond