Ernest Pratt

Ernest Pratt

1889-1917

Article by Alan Trout

Ernest Hayward Pratt rode four winners on the Flat in 1904 and one in 1905, then added another six under National Hunt rules between 1910 and 1912.

Born in Aston, Birmingham, in 1889, he was the son of trainer Fred Pratt and younger brother of Arthur Pratt who rode 22 winners over jumps plus two on the Flat. He was apprenticed to his father at Lambourn and had his first ride at Lincoln on March 22, 1904, when Sir William was unplaced in the Brocklesby Trial Stakes. 

He registered his first success on April 13 when Palace Yard, trained by his father, beat 18 rivals to land the Apprentices’ Handicap at Newmarket’s Craven meeting. His second win, his first against senior jockeys, came at Salisbury on July 5 when Palace Yard obliged again in the July Welter Handicap, with top jockeys Morny Cannon, Otto Maden and ‘Skeets’ Martin among those who finished behind them. The following day at the same course, Ernest guided Ripple to a two-length victory in the All-Aged Maiden. 

He rounded off the season on October 18 with victory on Swannington in the Newcastle Autumn Handicap at that course. The four-year-old was owned and trained by Jim Fagan, a leading jockey in the north for almost 30 years. 

Ernest made the best possible start to the 1905 Flat campaign, winning the first race of the season when Transfer, trained by James Chandler, won the Trial Plate at Lincoln on March 27 by three lengths. Yet, despite having almost 50 rides that year, that one win was all he managed.  

He did not ride between 1906 and 1909 but at Plumpton on December 13, 1910, he made his debut under National Hunt rules in the Three-Year-Old Hurdle. It was a winning debut too, for his partner Clannish, also making his debut over jumps, beat Undine, ridden by Bill Escott, by half a length. Eight days later, the combination scored again when winning the Novices’ Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Cheltenham, beating Algy Anthony’s mount Sing On by a length. 

Ernest failed to ride a winner in 1911 but hit a good run of form in 1912, winning four of the first five races he rode in. He began by taking the Ledbury Selling Hurdle at Colwall Park on May 20 on Sea Kid, then seven days later at Cardiff on Whit Monday he won the Barry Selling Chase on Mauvillon and the following day at the same course landed the Penllyn Selling Hurdle, again on Mauvillon, going on to complete a double on Alcyon in the Tredegar Handicap Hurdle.

Despite those four wins in the space of eight days, there were to be no more. He had his final ride at Colwall Park on May 18, 1914, when Time Tide finished fourth in the Barton Court Maiden Optional Selling Chase.

Ernest lived in Woodmancote, Gloucestershire, in 1901, and, in 1911, in Withington, Gloucestershire. In the late summer of the following year, he moved to Australia, where he worked as a jackaroo (ranch hand) for a few months. 

Ernest Pratt’s winners were, in chronological order.

1. Palace Yard, Newmarket, April 13, 1904

2. Palace Yard, Salisbury, July 5, 1904

3. Ripple, Salisbury, July 6, 1904

4. Swannington, Newcastle, October 18, 1904

5. Transfer, Lincoln, March 27, 1905

6. Clannish, Plumpton, December 13, 1910

7. Clannish, Cheltenham, December 21, 1910

8. Sea Kid, Colwall Park, May 20, 1912

9. Mauvillon, Cardiff, May 27, 1912

10. Mauvillon, Cardiff, May 28, 1912

11. Alcyon, Cardiff, May 28, 1912