Ernest Elgie

1891-1950

Article by Alan Trout

Born at Hutton Rudby, Yorkshire, on April 22, 1891, Ernest Clement Elgie was the stable apprentice of one of the leading northern trainers of the early 20th century. It is therefore a little surprising that he only managed to ride 15 winners in a career that lasted from 1907 to 1911.

The trainer was Captain Nathan Scott, who sent out nearly 150 winners from his base at Tupgill. It was on one of Captain Scott’s horses that Ernest had his first ride when finishing unplaced on Stream Of Light in the Studley Royal Handicap at Ripon on May 10, 1907. It was another of Captain Scott’s team that provided him with his first win when Waveline was successful in the four-runner Lowther Apprentice Plate at Carlisle on July 2, scoring by half a length. Stream Of Light provided him with his second winner when landing the Mauldslie Castle Apprentice Plate at Lanark on October 2.

There were two further winners in 1908, but 1909 was Ernest’s most successful season with seven wins including a dead-heat at Bogside on October 29 when his mount Tuapiko and Yathodaya, ridden by Richard Crisp, could not be separated by the judge in the Maiden (at closing) Plate.

There were three more wins in 1910, and then a final success when Gondolier, again trained by Captain Scott, won the Craven Plate at Catterick on April 20, 1911. Ernest’s last ride was when finishing third on East River in the Rievaulx Plate at Thirsk on October 14, 1911.

Ernest Elgie died at Middleham on June 20, 1950, aged 59.

Ernest Elgie’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Waveline, Carlisle, July 2, 1907

2. Stream Of Light, Lanark, October 2, 1907

3. Blundella, Redcar, June 9, 1908

4. Blundella, Newcastle, October 21, 1908

5. Ormiston, Catterick Bridge, April 16, 1909

6. Newstead, Thirsk, April 30, 1909

7. Kishon, Ripon, May 8, 1909

8. Glenfuir, Haydock Park, July 9, 1909

9. Punctual, Redcar, August 12, 1909

10. Haddington, Ayr, August 14, 1909

11. Tuapiko, Bogside, October 29, 1909 (dead-heat)

12. ch. c. by Veles-Silver Tyne, Thirsk, April 30, 1910

13. Ormiston, Beverley, June 9, 1910

14. Lichen, Lanark, September 27, 1910

15. Gondolier, Catterick Bridge, April 20, 1911.