Charles Perry
Born in July 1939, Major Charles Arnold Grosvenor Perry served with the 9th /12th Lancers and won the Grand Military Gold Cup on his own horse Willow King in 1966. His racing colours were light and dark blue diamonds, quartered cap.
Born in July 1939, Major Charles Arnold Grosvenor Perry served with the 9th /12th Lancers and won the Grand Military Gold Cup on his own horse Willow King in 1966. His racing colours were light and dark blue diamonds, quartered cap.
Mr (as he then was) Perry had made his Grand Military Gold Cup debut in 1962, finishing sixth on Lonely Star. He tried again in 1965, trailing in last of nine finishers on Ann’s Legend.
Mr (as he then was) Perry had made his Grand Military Gold Cup debut in 1962, finishing sixth on Lonely Star. He tried again in 1965, trailing in last of nine finishers on Ann’s Legend.
Having been promoted to the rank of Captain, he was successful at his third attempt in 1966, making practically all the running on Willow King, trained by Jack Barratt at Cholderton, near Salisbury, and staying on gamely to win by three lengths from Indian Spice. Willow King’s next race was the 1966 Grand National, in which he was ridden by Irish jockey Liam Mcloughlin. Alas, he couldn’t go the pace of his rivals and was pulled up at the fourteenth fence when in arrears.
Having been promoted to the rank of Captain, he was successful at his third attempt in 1966, making practically all the running on Willow King, trained by Jack Barratt at Cholderton, near Salisbury, and staying on gamely to win by three lengths from Indian Spice. Willow King’s next race was the 1966 Grand National, in which he was ridden by Irish jockey Liam Mcloughlin. Alas, he couldn’t go the pace of his rivals and was pulled up at the fourteenth fence when in arrears.
Captain Perry rode Willow King in the following year’s Grand Military Gold Cup but could finish only sixth this time behind Indian Spice, having faded from halfway.
Captain Perry rode Willow King in the following year’s Grand Military Gold Cup but could finish only sixth this time behind Indian Spice, having faded from halfway.
Returning to Sandown on January 9, 1968, Captain Perry and Willow King performed heroically to win the Wilfred Johnstone Hunters’ Chase by two and a half lengths at odds of 25-1. There were no less than 26 runners in the race, the riders finishing in second, third and fourth places being John Lawrence, Dick Saunders and Ian Balding. Following their Sandown triumph, they came second in that year’s Grand Military Hunters’ Chase, leading throughout until headed by Captain Gerald Connolly-Carew’s mount Moin Na Realtan at the last fence.
Returning to Sandown on January 9, 1968, Captain Perry and Willow King performed heroically to win the Wilfred Johnstone Hunters’ Chase by two and a half lengths at odds of 25-1. There were no less than 26 runners in the race, the riders finishing in second, third and fourth places being John Lawrence, Dick Saunders and Ian Balding. Following their Sandown triumph, they came second in that year’s Grand Military Hunters’ Chase, leading throughout until headed by Captain Gerald Connolly-Carew’s mount Moin Na Realtan at the last fence.
Captain Perry rode one more winner under National Hunt rules, that being on River Rother, the 8-1 outsider of three in the Three-Mile Novices’ Chase at Plumpton on Easter Monday, April 15, 1974. Also in 1974, he was appointed to the ceremonial role of High Sheriff of Dorset.
Captain Perry rode one more winner under National Hunt rules, that being on River Rother, the 8-1 outsider of three in the Three-Mile Novices’ Chase at Plumpton on Easter Monday, April 15, 1974. Also in 1974, he was appointed to the ceremonial role of High Sheriff of Dorset.
Having attained the rank of Major, he eventually retired from the Army and made his home at Park Farmhouse, Astrop, near Banbury.
Having attained the rank of Major, he eventually retired from the Army and made his home at Park Farmhouse, Astrop, near Banbury.
