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Captain Hugh Pease
Captain Hugh Pease
1862-1938
1862-1938
Amateur rider Hugh Robinson Pease was born on 23 February 1862. He rode 43 winners – 13 of them at the Sheffield & Rotherham National Hunt meetings – in the early 1890s.
Amateur rider Hugh Robinson Pease was born on 23 February 1862. He rode 43 winners – 13 of them at the Sheffield & Rotherham National Hunt meetings – in the early 1890s.
Like his elder brother Harold (born 1860) he served in the 2nd East Yorkshire Militia; East Yorkshire Regiment during the 1880s, attaining the rank of captain.
Like his elder brother Harold (born 1860) he served in the 2nd East Yorkshire Militia; East Yorkshire Regiment during the 1880s, attaining the rank of captain.
He had his first ride under National Hunt rules when finishing second, beaten a length and a half, on Petit Duc in the Selling Hunters’ Flat Race at Ripon in 5 August 1890. That was a year after the inaugural meeting had taken place at Sheffield & Rotherham, held on land farmed by a Mr Gilberthorpe at Rotherham.
He had his first ride under National Hunt rules when finishing second, beaten a length and a half, on Petit Duc in the Selling Hunters’ Flat Race at Ripon in 5 August 1890. That was a year after the inaugural meeting had taken place at Sheffield & Rotherham, held on land farmed by a Mr Gilberthorpe at Rotherham.
Captain Pease’s first winner was obtained courtesy of the stewards at Sheffield & Rotherham on 16 February 1891. He finished second, beaten eight lengths, on Wayfarer in the Maiden Hunters’ Hurdle but was awarded the race when the winner was disqualified on ‘technical grounds’, no elaboration being given. Later that same afternoon he completed a double by riding Convent to win the Wentworth Hunters’ Chase.
Captain Pease’s first winner was obtained courtesy of the stewards at Sheffield & Rotherham on 16 February 1891. He finished second, beaten eight lengths, on Wayfarer in the Maiden Hunters’ Hurdle but was awarded the race when the winner was disqualified on ‘technical grounds’, no elaboration being given. Later that same afternoon he completed a double by riding Convent to win the Wentworth Hunters’ Chase.
He won again on Wayfarer, this time without the help of the stewards, at Sheffield & Rotherham’s next meeting on 28 March. On 4 November he rode a double at the annual Anglesey Hunt fixture, winning both races on the same horse, Sir Lancelot. They first won the Ladies Steeplechase then reappeared later in the afternoon to win a match for the Anglesey Hunt Chase, finishing alone after their sole rival, Stately, has refused. Captain Pease finished the year with a total of six wins.
He won again on Wayfarer, this time without the help of the stewards, at Sheffield & Rotherham’s next meeting on 28 March. On 4 November he rode a double at the annual Anglesey Hunt fixture, winning both races on the same horse, Sir Lancelot. They first won the Ladies Steeplechase then reappeared later in the afternoon to win a match for the Anglesey Hunt Chase, finishing alone after their sole rival, Stately, has refused. Captain Pease finished the year with a total of six wins.
He rode 15 winners in 1892, which included two doubles at Sheffield & Rotherham. The first of those was on 3 March, when he won the Sandbeck Hurdle on Grab All and the Wickersley National Hunt Flat Race on Raby. The second was on 8 November, when he landed a pair of NH Flat races aboard 7-4 on shot Tottie and even-money favourite Raby. Raby won five such ‘bumpers’ for Captain Pease that year, scoring at Hexham, Lanark and Edinburgh in addition to those two at Sheffield & Rotherham.
He rode 15 winners in 1892, which included two doubles at Sheffield & Rotherham. The first of those was on 3 March, when he won the Sandbeck Hurdle on Grab All and the Wickersley National Hunt Flat Race on Raby. The second was on 8 November, when he landed a pair of NH Flat races aboard 7-4 on shot Tottie and even-money favourite Raby. Raby won five such ‘bumpers’ for Captain Pease that year, scoring at Hexham, Lanark and Edinburgh in addition to those two at Sheffield & Rotherham.
Captain Pease exceeded that tally with a best score of 20 successes in 1893, placing him joint-eighth in that year’s amateur riders’ table. His wins included an Easter Monday double at Wetherby on Monteagle in the Walton Hurdle and Cyril in the Wharfedale Selling Chase, the latter being a dead-heat. On 17 April he notched yet another Sheffield & Rotherham double aboard Cyril in the Selling Steeplechase and Raby in the Selling National Hunt Flat Race.
Captain Pease exceeded that tally with a best score of 20 successes in 1893, placing him joint-eighth in that year’s amateur riders’ table. His wins included an Easter Monday double at Wetherby on Monteagle in the Walton Hurdle and Cyril in the Wharfedale Selling Chase, the latter being a dead-heat. On 17 April he notched yet another Sheffield & Rotherham double aboard Cyril in the Selling Steeplechase and Raby in the Selling National Hunt Flat Race.
That year pretty much marked the end of Captain Pease’s serious riding career. He retired on a winning note following victory aboard 9-2 on favourite Redhill in the Surbiton Steeplechase at Hurst Park on 26 January 1894. From thereon he became ever more focused on his military duties.
That year pretty much marked the end of Captain Pease’s serious riding career. He retired on a winning note following victory aboard 9-2 on favourite Redhill in the Surbiton Steeplechase at Hurst Park on 26 January 1894. From thereon he became ever more focused on his military duties.
Sheffield & Rotherham, where Captain Pease had enjoyed so much success, continued to operate throughout the 1890s. It staged three two-day meetings a year and they proved highly popular with the locals. Several decent horses ran there including Wild Man From Borneo, who won the Half-Bred Chase as a four-year-old in November 1892. Shortly afterwards he was bought by Joe Widger, who rode him to finish third in the 1894 Grand National before winning the great race 12 months later.
Sheffield & Rotherham, where Captain Pease had enjoyed so much success, continued to operate throughout the 1890s. It staged three two-day meetings a year and they proved highly popular with the locals. Several decent horses ran there including Wild Man From Borneo, who won the Half-Bred Chase as a four-year-old in November 1892. Shortly afterwards he was bought by Joe Widger, who rode him to finish third in the 1894 Grand National before winning the great race 12 months later.
Plans to introduce Flat racing to Sheffield & Rotherham were thwarted by a rule then in force which stated that any new Flat course must posses a straight mile. The course’s directors put together a consortium to acquire adjacent land on which to build a straight mile course, only for the owner of that land, a Mr Jupp, to become seriously ill and die soon after. The various wills he left were in such disarray that the racecourse was unable to acquire a legal title for the land. In addition, Jupp’s heir to the estate refused to allow racing on it, so the Flat racing initiative had to be abandoned.
Plans to introduce Flat racing to Sheffield & Rotherham were thwarted by a rule then in force which stated that any new Flat course must posses a straight mile. The course’s directors put together a consortium to acquire adjacent land on which to build a straight mile course, only for the owner of that land, a Mr Jupp, to become seriously ill and die soon after. The various wills he left were in such disarray that the racecourse was unable to acquire a legal title for the land. In addition, Jupp’s heir to the estate refused to allow racing on it, so the Flat racing initiative had to be abandoned.
The racecourse’s directors were lukewarm about continuing purely with National Hunt racing, hence the final meeting at Sheffield & Rotherham took place in November 1901. It was an ignominious end. The first day (a Monday) was abandoned when thick fog made racing impossible. The programme was carried over to the Tuesday and that day’s card abandoned. The first race, a selling chase, took place in poor visibility, then the fog returned and wiped out the remainder of the card.
The racecourse’s directors were lukewarm about continuing purely with National Hunt racing, hence the final meeting at Sheffield & Rotherham took place in November 1901. It was an ignominious end. The first day (a Monday) was abandoned when thick fog made racing impossible. The programme was carried over to the Tuesday and that day’s card abandoned. The first race, a selling chase, took place in poor visibility, then the fog returned and wiped out the remainder of the card.
As for Captain Pease, he earned promotion to the rank of major in the East Yorkshire Regiment. During World War One he served alongside his brother in that same regiment and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
As for Captain Pease, he earned promotion to the rank of major in the East Yorkshire Regiment. During World War One he served alongside his brother in that same regiment and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Hugh Robinson Pease died in 1938, aged 76.
Hugh Robinson Pease died in 1938, aged 76.
Capt. Pease's double at Sheffield & Rotherham, Cyril & Raby
Capt. Pease's double at Sheffield & Rotherham, Cyril & Raby
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