Prior to riding both on the Flat and over jumps in Britain, Alfred James Parnham had already ridden in several countries and had had a particularly successful career in Denmark. He had also won the Rumanian Derby on Oneaz in 1907. Away from the saddle,
Born in 1880, he was associated from time to time with many stables in England, notably those of Reg Day, Fred Hunt, Bob Colling and Walter Nightingall. Although he had rides on the Flat in England either side of World War I, it was over jumps that he was most successful with 16 wins between 1909 and 1914.
The first of those victories came at Bogside on April 2, 1909, when landing the West of Scotland Handicap Chase on Postscript, beating 15 rivals to land the prize buy a length and a half. He had his first ride on the Flat in England on Craig Esk at Newcastle on 10 days later, finishing unplaced.
Almost two years elapsed before he next visited the winner’s enclosure, but from thereon he increased his score each year, ending with six wins in 1914, the last on selling chaser Stonebridge at Nottingham in October.
He had one ride in the Grand National, in 1914 on Dutch Pennant, a faller.
He rode on the Flat during the war years, then renewed his National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1919.
At Hurst Park on Friday, February 11, 1921, Alfred received severe injuries when falling from his mount, Lady Charity, in the Richmond Hurdle. He died the following morning without regaining consciousness, aged 40.
An inquest into his death at East Molesey on Monday, February 14 recorded a verdict of ‘Accidental death’.
Alfred, who had lived at 1, Laurel Cottages, Burgh Heath Road, Epsom, left a Danish widow and three children. He also left £66. He is buried in Epsom Cemetery.
Although he was not a great jockey, he was regarded as a particularly painstaking and reliable horseman. He was also a first-rate boxer.
Alfred Parnham’s National; Hunt winners were, in chronological order.
1. Postscript, Bogside, April 2, 1909
2. Propeller, Manchester, January 24, 1911
3. Carnforth, Haydock Park, December 17, 1912
4. Gitana’s Pride, Hooton Park, December 26, 1912
5. Baeldi, Clifton Park (Blackpool), December 31, 1912
6. Gitana’s Pride, Haydock Park, January 4, 1913
7. Finchale, Sandown Park, February 27, 1913
8. Davy Jones, Hooton Park, March 7, 1913
9. Dutch Pennant, Birmingham, December 13, 1913
10. Dutch Pennant, Haydock Park, December 13, 1913
11. Thraldom, Haydock Park, January 9 , 1914
12. Click Clack, Birmingham, January 13, 1924
13. Cratinus, Warwick, February 5, 1914
14, Click Clack, Clifton Park (Blackpool), April 11, 1914
15. Comrade II, Tarporley, April 22, 1914
16. Stonebridge, Nottingham, October 27, 1914