Lord Roderic Pratt

1915 - 1997

Lord Roderic Arthur Neville Pratt was born in London on February 13, 1915, the son of Sir John Charles Pratt, 4th Marquess Camden. He was educated at Eton College and then at Trinity College Cambridge, from where he emerged in 1936 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).

He rode under National Hunt rules in the years immediately before the Second World War. His first winner was Tangerine Boy, trained by Harry Whiteman, in a Wye selling chase on May 10, 1937.

He built up a good partnership with The Bear during the 1937/38 season, winning five times on him, comprising a Cheltenham selling chase, Sandown’s Grand Military Handicap Chase and victories at three long gone courses, Wye, Cardiff and Glamorgan Hunt. The Bear completed a double for Lord Roderic when winning at the venue. He won twice more on The Bear the following season, at Wye and at Colwall Park.

His last win was on Silver Linnet in the United Services’ Handicap Chase at Newbury on December 6,

1939. By then, World War Two was under way. He served in the Life Guards during the war and fought in the Middle East, Italy and Germany, attaining the rank of Major.

On January 17, 1945, he married Ursula Wyndham-Quin, daughter of Captain Hon. Valentine Wyndham-Quin. He later became chairman and managing director of Roderick Pratt and Company.

After the war he served as a steward at Lingfield Park, Folkestone and Wye.

Lord Roderick Pratt died on May 30, 1997 at Tunbridge Wells, aged 82.

His winners were:

1. Tangerine Boy, Wye, May 10, 1937

2. The Bear, Cheltenham, November 17, 1937

3. Stoic, Newbury, February 19, 1938

4. The Bear, Sandown Park, March 19, 1938

5. The Bear, Cardiff, April 18, 1938

6. The Bear, Wye, May 3, 1938

7. Thieffry, Glamorgan Hunt, May 21, 1938

8. The Bear, Glamorgan Hunt, May 21, 1938

9. The Bear, Wye, September 6, 1938

10. The Bear, Colwall Park, September 29, 1938

11. Pencraik, Kempton Park, January 27, 1939

12. Silver Linnet, Newbury, December 6, 1939