Atty Persse
1869 -1960
1869 -1960
Irishman Henry Seymour ‘Atty’ Persse is best remembered as trainer of wonder horse The Tetrarch and his offspring Tetratema. However, he was also a noted amateur steeplechase jockey around the start of the twentieth century.
Irishman Henry Seymour ‘Atty’ Persse is best remembered as trainer of wonder horse The Tetrarch and his offspring Tetratema. However, he was also a noted amateur steeplechase jockey around the start of the twentieth century.
Born on June 17 1869 in Rahoon, Co. Galway he was educated at Cheltenham and Oxford. Instead of going to work in the family’s whisky distillery in Galway, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry in June 1899 but resigned his commission in September 1902
Born on June 17 1869 in Rahoon, Co. Galway he was educated at Cheltenham and Oxford. Instead of going to work in the family’s whisky distillery in Galway, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry in June 1899 but resigned his commission in September 1902
Based in Ireland during his time in the Yeomanry, his rode in races with great success. On one of his occasional visits to England he finished second on Castlenock in the 1901 National Hunt Chase, run that year over the Melton Hunt Steeplechases course at Burton Lazars. Later that year he rode Castlenock in the Belvoir Steeplechase at Leicester, in which he dead-heated with the five-year-old Kirkland, destined to become the first – and thus far only – Welsh-trained Grand National winner in 1905.
Based in Ireland during his time in the Yeomanry, his rode in races with great success. On one of his occasional visits to England he finished second on Castlenock in the 1901 National Hunt Chase, run that year over the Melton Hunt Steeplechases course at Burton Lazars. Later that year he rode Castlenock in the Belvoir Steeplechase at Leicester, in which he dead-heated with the five-year-old Kirkland, destined to become the first – and thus far only – Welsh-trained Grand National winner in 1905.
Atty scored his most important success in the saddle when winning the 1902 National Hunt Chase, held this time at Warwick, on Marpessa, who scored by six lengths. By then he was at the height of his fame and finished that year as Ireland’s champion amateur rider. His wins in 1902 included the Visitors’ Handicap Hurdle at the Curragh on Sallypark; a double at Louth Hunt Chases on Dramatist and Little Mot; the Mullingar Town Handicap Chase on Brown Owl; finishing alone on Castlenock in the Town Chase at Thurles; the Dunmore Chase at Dunmore and the Smith Cup Chase at Kells on Louisville; the Commercial Handicap Chase at Claremorris and the Mullingar Handicap Chase on Ballista; and a double at Carrickmacross Steeplechases on Hampton Boy in the Farney Handicap and Rose Graft in the Carrickmacross Challenge Cup.
Atty scored his most important success in the saddle when winning the 1902 National Hunt Chase, held this time at Warwick, on Marpessa, who scored by six lengths. By then he was at the height of his fame and finished that year as Ireland’s champion amateur rider. His wins in 1902 included the Visitors’ Handicap Hurdle at the Curragh on Sallypark; a double at Louth Hunt Chases on Dramatist and Little Mot; the Mullingar Town Handicap Chase on Brown Owl; finishing alone on Castlenock in the Town Chase at Thurles; the Dunmore Chase at Dunmore and the Smith Cup Chase at Kells on Louisville; the Commercial Handicap Chase at Claremorris and the Mullingar Handicap Chase on Ballista; and a double at Carrickmacross Steeplechases on Hampton Boy in the Farney Handicap and Rose Graft in the Carrickmacross Challenge Cup.
He finished third in the 1906 Grand National on Aunt May.
He finished third in the 1906 Grand National on Aunt May.
Atty began training horses in Ireland towards the end of 1902 but continued to ride successfully for a couple more years. In 1903 he recorded doubles at long-lost venues Trim and Slane; rode Silly Girl to win hurdle races at Tuam and Dunmore on consecutive days in July; and won the Tally-Ho Hunters’ Flat Race at Cork Park on Yeoman II. He also won the Seaside Handicap Hurdle on Little Mot at Laytown Strand – yes, Laytown once held hurdle races as well as Flat – and rode Girton M.A. to win a Leopardstown bumper plus chases at Tuam and Ballinasloe. He rode his National Hunt Chase winner Marpessa in the 1903 Grand National but was among the many fallers.
Atty began training horses in Ireland towards the end of 1902 but continued to ride successfully for a couple more years. In 1903 he recorded doubles at long-lost venues Trim and Slane; rode Silly Girl to win hurdle races at Tuam and Dunmore on consecutive days in July; and won the Tally-Ho Hunters’ Flat Race at Cork Park on Yeoman II. He also won the Seaside Handicap Hurdle on Little Mot at Laytown Strand – yes, Laytown once held hurdle races as well as Flat – and rode Girton M.A. to win a Leopardstown bumper plus chases at Tuam and Ballinasloe. He rode his National Hunt Chase winner Marpessa in the 1903 Grand National but was among the many fallers.
He relocated to England in 1906 and had a short spell at Epsom and as private trainer to Colonel Hall-Walker at Russley Park before moving to Stockbridge as a public trainer in the summer of 1908. He made an immediate impact as a trainer of two-year-olds and was also successful in some important handicaps. He had his first Classic success in 1912 when Sweeper II won the 2,000 Guineas.
He relocated to England in 1906 and had a short spell at Epsom and as private trainer to Colonel Hall-Walker at Russley Park before moving to Stockbridge as a public trainer in the summer of 1908. He made an immediate impact as a trainer of two-year-olds and was also successful in some important handicaps. He had his first Classic success in 1912 when Sweeper II won the 2,000 Guineas.
The Tetrarch, nicknamed the ‘Spotted Wonder’, was among the fastest two-year-olds of the twentieth century, going through 1913 unbeaten in seven races including the Woodcote Stakes, Coventry Stakes and Champagne Stakes. His son Tetratema gave Atty his second 2,000 Guineas victory in 1920. He enjoyed further Classic success with Silver Urn in the 1922 1,000 Guineas and Mr Jinks in the 1929 2,000 Guineas.
The Tetrarch, nicknamed the ‘Spotted Wonder’, was among the fastest two-year-olds of the twentieth century, going through 1913 unbeaten in seven races including the Woodcote Stakes, Coventry Stakes and Champagne Stakes. His son Tetratema gave Atty his second 2,000 Guineas victory in 1920. He enjoyed further Classic success with Silver Urn in the 1922 1,000 Guineas and Mr Jinks in the 1929 2,000 Guineas.
He was leading trainer in Britain in 1930. Outside of training, he co-wrote the novel ‘Trainer and Temptress’ which formed the basis for the 1925 silent film of the same name.
He was leading trainer in Britain in 1930. Outside of training, he co-wrote the novel ‘Trainer and Temptress’ which formed the basis for the 1925 silent film of the same name.
A gambler of the old school, he believed that stable information should be confidential between a trainer and his owners. To his lads he was the sternest of disciplinarians.
A gambler of the old school, he believed that stable information should be confidential between a trainer and his owners. To his lads he was the sternest of disciplinarians.
When his only son, John, was killed on active service in Italy in 1944, Atty retired from training, but was persuaded by friends to renew his licence. He moved to a stable in Upper Lambourn and won the Royal Hunt Cup two years running with Val d’Assa in 1951 and Queen of Sheba in 1952. He also saddled Durante to win back-to-back renewals of Kempton Park’s Great Jubilee Handicap in 1952 and 1953. He finally retired at the end of 1953, aged 84, following the death of his wife Emily, sister of the Newmarket trainer Geoffrey Brooke.
When his only son, John, was killed on active service in Italy in 1944, Atty retired from training, but was persuaded by friends to renew his licence. He moved to a stable in Upper Lambourn and won the Royal Hunt Cup two years running with Val d’Assa in 1951 and Queen of Sheba in 1952. He also saddled Durante to win back-to-back renewals of Kempton Park’s Great Jubilee Handicap in 1952 and 1953. He finally retired at the end of 1953, aged 84, following the death of his wife Emily, sister of the Newmarket trainer Geoffrey Brooke.
Until he was a very old man he was almost as hard and fit as he had been in his riding days. He died on September 4, 1960, aged 91. He left £152,668.
Until he was a very old man he was almost as hard and fit as he had been in his riding days. He died on September 4, 1960, aged 91. He left £152,668.