Matt Feakes
1908 - 1998
1908 - 1998
Matthew William Imari Feakes was born at North Walsham, Norfolk, on September 5, 1908 and was apprenticed to Harvey Leader. Too heavy to ride on the Flat, he had his first ride on Clochette in a handicap hurdle at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928, finishing unplaced. More than a year passed before he rode his first winner, on Starless in the Montrose Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Leicester on December 2, 1929.
Matthew William Imari Feakes was born at North Walsham, Norfolk, on September 5, 1908 and was apprenticed to Harvey Leader. Too heavy to ride on the Flat, he had his first ride on Clochette in a handicap hurdle at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928, finishing unplaced. More than a year passed before he rode his first winner, on Starless in the Montrose Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Leicester on December 2, 1929.
On September 5, 1934 he married Mary Goldsack. They would go on to have two daughters, Patricia and Jill. Patricia married top Flat jockey Jimmy Lindley.
On September 5, 1934 he married Mary Goldsack. They would go on to have two daughters, Patricia and Jill. Patricia married top Flat jockey Jimmy Lindley.
Matt’s biggest success came in the 1935 Becher Chase on 2-1 favourite Belted Hero. That same season, 1935/36, was also his most successful in terms of winners, recording a score of 26, which placed him seventh in the National Hunt jockeys’ table.
Matt’s biggest success came in the 1935 Becher Chase on 2-1 favourite Belted Hero. That same season, 1935/36, was also his most successful in terms of winners, recording a score of 26, which placed him seventh in the National Hunt jockeys’ table.
He came close to winning two other important Liverpool races, finishing second on Sea Rover in the 1933 Liverpool Hurdle and third on Oranstown in the 1937 Stanley Chase.
He came close to winning two other important Liverpool races, finishing second on Sea Rover in the 1933 Liverpool Hurdle and third on Oranstown in the 1937 Stanley Chase.
Matt rode in three Grand Nationals. He didn’t get far on his first attempt, falling at the first fence on 100-1 shot Oeil de Boeuf in 1936. However, he fared considerably better in both his others. Riding the Dudley Williams-trained former Galway Plate and Troytown Chase winner Symaethis, he finished fifth behind Workman in 1939.
Matt rode in three Grand Nationals. He didn’t get far on his first attempt, falling at the first fence on 100-1 shot Oeil de Boeuf in 1936. However, he fared considerably better in both his others. Riding the Dudley Williams-trained former Galway Plate and Troytown Chase winner Symaethis, he finished fifth behind Workman in 1939.
Having landed the Herne the Hunter Handicap Chase at Windsor on Boxing Day 1939, Matt and Symaethis were returned to Liverpool as fancied 100-6 shots for the 1940 Grand National, in which they performed creditably to finish fourth to Bogskar.
Having landed the Herne the Hunter Handicap Chase at Windsor on Boxing Day 1939, Matt and Symaethis were returned to Liverpool as fancied 100-6 shots for the 1940 Grand National, in which they performed creditably to finish fourth to Bogskar.
With the Second World War at an end, Matt took out a trainer’s licence in 1946, based at Winterbourne Stable in Lewes. He combined the roles of trainer and jockey for one season, riding the last of his career total of 156 winners on Home From Home, whom he also trained, in division three of the Ovingdean Novices’ Hurdle at Plumpton on April 22, 1946. He rode for the final time the following month, May 6, finishing second on another of his horses, Kinglet, in division two of the Novices’ Hurdle at Wye.
With the Second World War at an end, Matt took out a trainer’s licence in 1946, based at Winterbourne Stable in Lewes. He combined the roles of trainer and jockey for one season, riding the last of his career total of 156 winners on Home From Home, whom he also trained, in division three of the Ovingdean Novices’ Hurdle at Plumpton on April 22, 1946. He rode for the final time the following month, May 6, finishing second on another of his horses, Kinglet, in division two of the Novices’ Hurdle at Wye.
Matt trained successfully under both codes. His best horse was King’s Bench, with which he won Coventry Stakes and Middle Park Stakes in 1951 and the St James’s Palace Stakes in 1952. He moved to Rhonehurst Stables, Upper Lambourn in 1953, from where he sent out Tudor Jinks to win Kempton Park’s Great Jubilee Handicap in 1956. He retired in 1966.
Matt trained successfully under both codes. His best horse was King’s Bench, with which he won Coventry Stakes and Middle Park Stakes in 1951 and the St James’s Palace Stakes in 1952. He moved to Rhonehurst Stables, Upper Lambourn in 1953, from where he sent out Tudor Jinks to win Kempton Park’s Great Jubilee Handicap in 1956. He retired in 1966.
Matt died on April 18, 1998, aged 89.
Matt died on April 18, 1998, aged 89.
