Monte Pearson
(1924-2006)
(1924-2006)
Monte William Pearson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on March 29, 1924. He was apprenticed to Gerald Armstrong at Middleham for seven years and rode his first winner on Winter Garden in the Apprentice Handicap at Pontefract on June 5, 1943.
Monte William Pearson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on March 29, 1924. He was apprenticed to Gerald Armstrong at Middleham for seven years and rode his first winner on Winter Garden in the Apprentice Handicap at Pontefract on June 5, 1943.
With the war being at its height, racing took place at a vastly restricted number of courses.
With the war being at its height, racing took place at a vastly restricted number of courses.
Thus, the 1944 Lincolnshire Handicap, instead of its traditional home at Lincoln, was held at Pontefract as the ‘Substitute Lincolnshire Handicap’ on April 22. That didn’t matter to 7lb claimer Monte, who won the race on the Alex Boyd-trained 33/1 outsider Backbite.
Thus, the 1944 Lincolnshire Handicap, instead of its traditional home at Lincoln, was held at Pontefract as the ‘Substitute Lincolnshire Handicap’ on April 22. That didn’t matter to 7lb claimer Monte, who won the race on the Alex Boyd-trained 33/1 outsider Backbite.
Soon afterwards Monte was enlisted into the forces and was thus unable to capitalise on his biggest winner.
Soon afterwards Monte was enlisted into the forces and was thus unable to capitalise on his biggest winner.
He resumed his career after the war and rode about 20 winners in Britain. He also rode winners abroad including in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
He resumed his career after the war and rode about 20 winners in Britain. He also rode winners abroad including in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
He enjoyed his best British season in 1949 with seven winners from 96 rides, most of them for Alex Boyd. They included two on Boyd’s four-year-old Crimson Rambler, (right), most notably in the Harewood Handicap at Doncaster.
He enjoyed his best British season in 1949 with seven winners from 96 rides, most of them for Alex Boyd. They included two on Boyd’s four-year-old Crimson Rambler, (right), most notably in the Harewood Handicap at Doncaster.
He drew a blank in 1950 from 32 rides, and achieved his final success on Fancy Fly in the one-mile Symington Handicap at Lanark on April 28, 1951, his sole victory that year from 31 rides.
He drew a blank in 1950 from 32 rides, and achieved his final success on Fancy Fly in the one-mile Symington Handicap at Lanark on April 28, 1951, his sole victory that year from 31 rides.
He relinquished his licence the following season.
He relinquished his licence the following season.
Monte lived in North Shields in his later years, dying there on January 10, 2006, aged 81.
Monte lived in North Shields in his later years, dying there on January 10, 2006, aged 81.