Jack Evans

Jack Evans 

1892-1957

Christened John Edward Evans but always known as Jack, he was born on 10 January 1892. He rode a total of 203 winners in Britain between 1908 and 1929 including a four-timer at Wolverhampton and a treble at Birmingham. He took part in 21 English Classic races, finishing third in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in both the 1,000 Guineas and Derby.  

Apprenticed to Lambourn trainer John Hallick, Jack rode his first winner on Camoens, owned by Lord Durham, in the Visitors’ (Apprentices) Handicap Plate at Newmarket on 19 May 1908. 

He enjoyed his most successful season in 1909 while still an apprentice, recording 41 wins. However, he gained his most important success in 1911 on Meleager, trained by Peter Gilpin, in Ascot’s Wokingham Handicap, beating Galleot (ridden by William Griggs) and New Castle II (‘Skeets’ Martin). A stewards’ inquiry found Jack guilty of not keeping a straight line, but the result was allowed to stand. 

That was one of just three wins, from 98 mounts, for Jack that season, but they included another high-profile race, the Castle Irwell Handicap at Manchester, worth £437 to the winner, aboard My Collar, trained by Alfred Sadler Jnr. 

By 1912 he was riding in Germany but returned to the safety of Newmarket shortly before the First World War. He finished third in the 1917 2,000 Guineas on Athdara and rode him in that year’s war substitute Derby but was unplaced. He came fourth in the 1918 1,000 Guineas on Benevente. 

By 1920 he was riding for Reg Day at Newmarket and also for Victor Tabors Epsom stable, becoming known as ‘The Selling Plate King’ due to his healthy tally of wins in sellers. Tabor’s stable extensively patronised this class of race, doing so with much success and healthy profit. 

There were many jockeys attached to more fashionable stables who would more readily catch the eye, but such major opportunities never fell to Jack. Nevertheless, he did alright for himself. 

In 1922 he rode 28 winners and was placed a further 44 times. His last victory that season was in a nursery at Newbury on 4 November on the 100/6 chance Passenham. It was a big field and several of the runners were the subjects of major gambles, but, riding a powerful finish, Jack easily beat Charlie Smirke on Sparkling Eyes.

An accident at Epsom on 5 June 1923 kept Jack out of the saddle for almost a month. Riding the two-year-old Cordobo on the opening day of the Derby meeting, he was going well until another horse collided with him causing his mount to fall and Jack to crash into the railings. 

Proof that he had fully recovered came when he was challenged by fellow jockey Brownie Carslake to a fight in the ring. Both men were keen and very good pugilists and a jockeys’ boxing championship was arranged with Evans versus Carslake the obvious top of the bill. It was generally known that there was bad blood between the two and a large crowd attended. Evans gave away a few pounds, yet the fight was evenly matched and dour, with Carslake getting a close points victory.

Following that Epsom fall Jack was soon reunited with Cordoba, finishing in the frame six times in a row during the season before finally getting their reward on 2 November 1923 with victory in a maiden plate at Worcester.

Riding 100/1 shot Buckfast he finished fourth behind Call Boy in the 1927 Derby. That was his second and last Derby mount. During his career he rode in the 2,000 Guineas seven times, the 1,000 Guineas six times, the Oaks four times and the St Leger twice. 

He rode his last winner on Crown Emblem in the Canal Plate at Folkestone on 6 September 1929. After 1931 he did not hold a licence until the war years, during which he had the occasional mount. He last held a licence in 1944.   

Jack Evans died at Newmarket early in 1957, aged 65.