Guy Packer
1929 - 2018
1929 - 2018
Guy Coleman Packer was born on November 5, 1929. He lived at Railway Villa, Newmarket, was apprenticed to Newmarket trainer Robert Colling and had a riding weight of six stone three.
Guy Coleman Packer was born on November 5, 1929. He lived at Railway Villa, Newmarket, was apprenticed to Newmarket trainer Robert Colling and had a riding weight of six stone three.
Despite 16-year-old Guy’s lack of experience – he had not yet ridden a winner – Colling had sufficient confidence to entrust him with the ride on Esquire in the 1946 Cambridgeshire. Priced at 40/1, few gave Guy’s mount more than a cursory glance. They ignored him at their peril.
Despite 16-year-old Guy’s lack of experience – he had not yet ridden a winner – Colling had sufficient confidence to entrust him with the ride on Esquire in the 1946 Cambridgeshire. Priced at 40/1, few gave Guy’s mount more than a cursory glance. They ignored him at their peril.
Giving Esquire a peach of a ride, Guy crossed the line just a neck clear of Joan’s Star with topweight Grandmaster back in third.
Giving Esquire a peach of a ride, Guy crossed the line just a neck clear of Joan’s Star with topweight Grandmaster back in third.
That day, Wednesday, 31 October 1945, two racing milestones occurred. Gordon Richards rode his 3,000th winner. And Guy Packer rode his first – in one of the most competitive handicaps of the season.
That day, Wednesday, 31 October 1945, two racing milestones occurred. Gordon Richards rode his 3,000th winner. And Guy Packer rode his first – in one of the most competitive handicaps of the season.
It was a great start, yet, within three years, it was all over. Guy rode for the last time when finishing third on Fair Maundy at Folkestone on 19 July 1948. With rides becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, he called it a day. He had ridden a total of five winners.
It was a great start, yet, within three years, it was all over. Guy rode for the last time when finishing third on Fair Maundy at Folkestone on 19 July 1948. With rides becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, he called it a day. He had ridden a total of five winners.
Guy Packer later changed his name to Guy Hart. He moved to live in Hampstead, in London and invested in property. Sadly, however, he also got involved with the wrong crowd.
Guy Packer later changed his name to Guy Hart. He moved to live in Hampstead, in London and invested in property. Sadly, however, he also got involved with the wrong crowd.
On December 13, 1960, Guy Coleman Hart was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at the Old Bailey for his part in a greyhound racing conspiracy and for assaulting two Detective Sergeants.
On December 13, 1960, Guy Coleman Hart was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at the Old Bailey for his part in a greyhound racing conspiracy and for assaulting two Detective Sergeants.
He was sentenced to 15 months on two charges of conspiring to cheat and defraud owners of greyhounds and persons who might bet on the results of races in which such greyhounds were running at White City and Wembley Stadiums.
He was sentenced to 15 months on two charges of conspiring to cheat and defraud owners of greyhounds and persons who might bet on the results of races in which such greyhounds were running at White City and Wembley Stadiums.
He received a further nine months jail sentence for assaulting Det.-Sgts. Arthur William Marshall and Ivor Reynolds at Huddleston Road, Holloway, on Sept 17 (1960), occasioning them actual bodily harm.
He received a further nine months jail sentence for assaulting Det.-Sgts. Arthur William Marshall and Ivor Reynolds at Huddleston Road, Holloway, on Sept 17 (1960), occasioning them actual bodily harm.
Guy Hart died in July 2018, aged 88.
Guy Hart died in July 2018, aged 88.
