Article by Chris Pitt
Alec Montgomery served his time with Verly Bewicke. He rode ten winners, nine over jumps and one on the Flat.
His first under National Hunt Rules came on the mare Maureen Hill in division one of the Bedale Novices’ Hurdle at Catterick Bridge on January 26, 1957. A year passed before he rode his second, the Tommy Robson-trained hurdler Fellermelad, also at Catterick, then there was a two-year wait for his third, on Verneuil II over fences at Warwick in February 1960.
The 1960/61 campaign saw him ride three winners, the first being for Epsom trainer Jack Reardon on Great Success at Wye in October.
On March 15, 1961, Alec, who was then 28, married Miss Eileen Fraser, aged 25. By that time he was attached to Fergie Sutherland’s Newmarket stable and he rode an Easter Monday winner for him on Fox King at Manchester. Another Bank Holiday Monday winner, at Whitsun, came aboard St Kilda at Towcester for another Newmarket jumps trainer, Pat Moore.
The following season 1961/62 he rode three winners from 43 rides. The first was an early success on St Kilda at Devon & Exeter in August, but he then had to wait until the Easter period (Maundy Thursday) before registering his second on Edward the Third for yet another Newmarket trainer, Bill Holden. Then it was up north to Hexham for another Bank Holiday weekend winner, Fair Dawn for Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland trainer Bobby Hall on the Saturday of Whitsun. That was his tenth winner altogether, resulting in his claim being cut from 7lb to 5lb.
Two days later, on Whit Monday, Alec journeyed to Wetherby for two rides for Felbrigg, near Norwich permit holder H. L. Arnes. Both finished unplaced. After that, Alec Montgomery seemed to disappear from the racing scene.
He did not hold a licence for the next two seasons but renewed it for 1964/65, by which time he was working and riding for Arnes at Felbrigg. He only had a few rides, the closest he came to winning being a fourth place finish on Faveron at Leicester on January 9, 1965. He had his last mount for Arnes on April Sunrise at Fakenham on Easter Monday, 1965.
That looked to have been the end of his career but he took out a licence once more in 1969/70, this time riding for former jump jockey Derek Leslie, who trained at Billesdon, near Leicester. Again, opportunities were few and the nearest he got to winning was fourth, on Mistress Nell at Fakenham on February 27, 1970. Mistress Nell was also his final ride, finishing unplaced at Southwell on March 28, 1970.
Alec Montgomery’s nine National Hunt winners were, in chronological order:
1. Maureen Hill, Catterick, January 26, 1957
2. Fellermelad, Catterick, January 11, 1958
3. Verneuil II, Warwick, February 8, 1960
4. Great Success, Wye, October 3, 1960
5. Fox King, Manchester, April 3, 1961
6. St Kilda, Towcester, May 22, 1961
7. St Kilda, Devon & Exeter, August 23, 1961
8. Edward the Third, Southwell, April 19, 1962
9. Fair Dawn, Hexham, June 9, 1962