Leslie Pascoe

Born in 1900, Leslie Pascoe had a few rides as an apprentice in 1917. Despite a promising start with a place on his first outing, progress was limited and he faded from the scene.

Leslie Anthony Sargeant Pascoe served his time with Frank Barling (1869-1935) who was based at Ilsley and trained 18 winners in 1917, a total only exceeded by George Lambton (26) and Alec Taylor (25).

Leslie’s first ride was at Newmarket on August 29, 1917 when he finished third of six in the Apprentices’ Plate. The one-length winner was a horse named C.P., ridden by Francis Rhodes. The runner-up was La Flotte, partnered by Keith Piggott, Lester’s father and a future Grand National-winning trainer. Just a head further back in third came Leslie on William the Beau, who had run unplaced only two days before, also at Newmarket.

Although Leslie had a few mounts in September, none was placed. His final ride as an apprentice was at Newmarket on October 9, in the seven-furlong Apprentices’ Handicap, this time on the six-year-old Clap Gate, who had won a handicap at Manchester on August 4 when ridden by the promising Arthur Smith. Leslie finished sixth of the ten runners. The race resulted in a dead-heat between Bramble Twig, ridden by Arthur Garnham, and Toruno, with William Malem up.

Leslie was included in the list of apprentices for the 1918 season but does not appear to have had any rides.

He was granted a professional jockey’s licence for 1922 but had very few mounts, the final one that year being on June 21, when finishing last of 17 runners on Suncircle, who was making his racecourse debut, in the Kennet Two-Year-Old Stakes at Newbury. He also had a licence for 1923 but does not seem to have ridden at all that season.

He resurfaced somewhat unexpectedly in 1928 to ride Burnt Heather at Southwell on Monday, March 5, 1928: this proved to be his final outing as a jockey.