Horace Peakman

Horace Peakman

1887 - 1940

Article by Alan Trout

Horace Peakman had one win under National Hunt rules in 1914, then returned a decade later to add four more.

Born in 1887, he had his first ride on May 22, 1911, when his mount Philiron was a faller in the Uttoxeter Selling Chase at that Staffordshire venue. The race was won by Tip Cat, ridden by Bill Payne Senior, by then well on his way to securing his only jockeys’ championship title. 

Horace had few rides until 1914 but at Warwick on February 5 of that year he rode the six-year-old St. Bruno to win the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle by three lengths. He had partnered the gelding on his two previous unsuccessful starts, and he finished down the field on him in two subsequent outings, the second of which, at Sandown Park on April 25, 1914, was his last appearance on a British racecourse for many years. 

His comeback ride was on Our Ben in the Village Chase at Chelmsford on March 26, 1924, and the five-year-old provided him with a perfect return by beating Bright Blue by a short head. Our Ben was trained by Tom Leader at Newmarket and he put his son, future champion and Grand National-winning jockey Ted Leader, up on subsequent starts, although two fourth place finishes was all they managed. 

While Horace had few other rides that year, he did score again when Prince Sadim won the Slindon Cup Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell Park by eight lengths on October 6, although the 37lbs the winner was receiving from the runner-up Beyrob, ridden by Tony Escott, must surely have helped. That was his only ride on the four-year-old as Ted Leader again took over in the saddle.

Horace’s ability to do light weights, in this case 9st 9lb, probably helped him secure the ride on his next winner, Gold Willow, in the Mortlake Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on January 14, 1925. He had ridden the five-year-old to finish second on his previous start at Windsor in December and now beat Bandyball, the mount of Billy Speck, by four lengths, with George Duller aboard Confirmation six lengths away in third place. To have beaten two of the finest jockeys of that era did not appear to help Horace’s cause as, once again, Ted Leader took over thereafter.  

Horace’s final winner did not follow the usual pattern. Ted Leader had ridden the five-year-old Moro earlier in the season but at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting on March 12, 1925, Horace was given the ride and finished fourth in the Bredon Selling Handicap Hurdle. He kept the ride when Moro contested the Coombe Springs Open Selling Handicap Hurdle at Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting on March 20 and, carrying just 9st 12lb, beat Victor by three-quarters of a length. 

The word ‘Open’ in the race’s title, incidentally, meant that it was open to professional jockeys rather than confined to military riders. This tradition of using the word ‘open’ at this particular meeting was maintained until as recently as 1985. 

Moro never ran again but Horace continued his somewhat less than spectacular career until having his final ride on Prince Jerome, finishing fourth in the Hindlip Chase at Worcester on April 29, 1927. 

Horace George Peakman, born in January 1887, died at his home, 'Hertford', Queen Street, Newmarket, on Sunday 18 February, aged 55. He had been working as a stablehand for Miss Clayton at the Bedford House training establishment. The interment took place at Newmarket Cemetery on Thursday, February 22.

Horace Peakman’s winners were, in chronological order

1. St. Bruno, Warwick, February 5, 1914

2. Our Ben, Chelmsford, March 26, 1924

3. Prince Sadim, Fontwell Park, October 6, 1924

4. Gold Willow, Hurst Park, January 15, 1925

5. Moro, Sandown Park, March 20, 1925