The son of an innkeeper, Charles Purkiss was born at Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire in 1880.
Apprenticed to Frederick Hunt, he had some notable successes on the Flat, including back to back renewals of Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes on Collar (1898) and Good Luck (1899), before leaving to ride in France.
He had just one ride over jumps in England, but it was a winning one. At Leicester on February 12, 1908, he guided Aughnacloy to a narrow victory in the Humberstone Selling Hurdle, beating John East’s mount Gruinard by a head.
Charles returned to riding in France and was happy to take work as a stable-boy for trainer G. W. Lawrence. However, Lawrence quickly recognised his talents and encouraged him to ride over the sticks. Charles took out his licence again and, riding the filly Asmode, won on his first race back. After much success, he became first jockey to M. Maurice Ephrussi, and rode his famous horse Codoman to victory.
At Auteuil on March 6, 1910, once again riding M. Gaston Dreyfus’ filly, Asmode, he broke his back when the horse fell at the final hurdle.
After lingering for five months, Charles died in hospital at Maisons Laffitte in August.
He died in the same week that claimed the life of Tom French, winning jockey of the 1895 Eclipse Stakes on Justicier.