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1913-1991
photo courtesy John Griffiths
On Monday, June 4, 1968, Stanley Ronald Smith - aged 54 and the oldest English jockey riding at the time - donned the Queen's colours and climbed aboard the five-year-old Castle Yard at Redcar.
Trained by Captain Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, Castle Yard produced a real turn of speed in the final furlong to pass Midnight Marauder and High Table and win the £2,548 Zetland Gold Cup.
It was the Queen's second winner of the season.
Stan, born at Croydon on June 17, 1913, rode Stewards' Cup winner Creole and, in 1963, was third in the St Leger on Fighting Ship, both owned by Lord
Rosebery.
Stan had served his apprenticeship with George Batchelor from 1926 to 1934.
He spent his early riding career in France, not coming to England until 1949. His first winner in France, Rhumrow, had come in 1927 at Le Tremblay. He also rode and won over hurdles and fences there.
After being interned for three years he found it hard to get going, so he returned to England.
In England, he lived at 9 Hill Close, Newmarket, while being retained by local trainer Fergus Sutherland.
On July 7, 1934, he married Odette Glynn. She gave him a son, Reginald.
Stan's hobbies included gardening, walking and swimming.
Among his best wins were Creole (1963 Stewards' Cup), Fighting Ship (1963 Greenham), Compensation (1961 Imperial Stakes) and The Bo'sun (1964 City & Suburban).
In total, Stan rode 299 winners.
Stan died at Newmarket on June 3, 1991, aged 77. He left £75.500
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