John Eland
John Eland
John Eland
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Although John Eland held a licence to ride on the Flat at various times for nearly three decades, he did not manage to ride a winner. He did, though, enjoy some success over jumps with eight wins between 1903 and 1915.
Although John Eland held a licence to ride on the Flat at various times for nearly three decades, he did not manage to ride a winner. He did, though, enjoy some success over jumps with eight wins between 1903 and 1915.
Born in 1881, he was apprenticed to William I’Anson, who trained at Malton, and one of his earliest rides was when finishing third on Lily Tweed in the Beverley Handicap at that course on June 16, 1897. His first victory over jumps came at Shincliffe on March 18, 1903 when Montauk won the Shincliffe Selling Handicap Chase by a head from Quick Wit, the mount of John Priestman.
Born in 1881, he was apprenticed to William I’Anson, who trained at Malton, and one of his earliest rides was when finishing third on Lily Tweed in the Beverley Handicap at that course on June 16, 1897. His first victory over jumps came at Shincliffe on March 18, 1903 when Montauk won the Shincliffe Selling Handicap Chase by a head from Quick Wit, the mount of John Priestman.
He had to wait until February the following year for his next win, which came via a double at Malton. He began by taking the Highfield Handicap Chase on Honestus by a head, then two races later, Holoscope won the Yorkshire Maiden Chase by no less than 50 lengths. Honestus changed stables soon afterwards, while Holoscope only ran once more, hence John was unable to follow up his successes. Instead, he had to wait five years for another win, although he relinquished his licence for part of that time.
He had to wait until February the following year for his next win, which came via a double at Malton. He began by taking the Highfield Handicap Chase on Honestus by a head, then two races later, Holoscope won the Yorkshire Maiden Chase by no less than 50 lengths. Honestus changed stables soon afterwards, while Holoscope only ran once more, hence John was unable to follow up his successes. Instead, he had to wait five years for another win, although he relinquished his licence for part of that time.
It was on two horses owned by a former weighing room rival, John Priestman, recently retired from riding, that John Eland bounced back. Cannon Ball won the Croxdale Hurdle at Shincliffe on March 17, 1909, then Persian Rose rattled off two victories in quick succession during May. The latter was then sold, hence John was again unable to build on those successes, and another eighteen months elapsed before he next visited the winner’s enclosure.
It was on two horses owned by a former weighing room rival, John Priestman, recently retired from riding, that John Eland bounced back. Cannon Ball won the Croxdale Hurdle at Shincliffe on March 17, 1909, then Persian Rose rattled off two victories in quick succession during May. The latter was then sold, hence John was again unable to build on those successes, and another eighteen months elapsed before he next visited the winner’s enclosure.
At Southwell on December 19, 1910 Coolmoon won the Osmaston Manor Handicap Hurdle. That was followed by another period without a licence before John returned again to record a final success over jumps when The Village Schoolmaster won the City Selling Hurdle at Manchester on March 5, 1915. After the race there was an unusual objection by Ernie Piggott, who had ridden the unplaced odds-on favourite Persian Chief. Piggott objected on the grounds that “some ‘dolls’ had not been removed from the course, and that in consequence, the horses could not go the proper course”. The stewards decided that the result was not affected, but the Clerk of the Course was fined for gross negligence. Yet again, one of John’s winners was sold before he had the chance to follow up the success.
At Southwell on December 19, 1910 Coolmoon won the Osmaston Manor Handicap Hurdle. That was followed by another period without a licence before John returned again to record a final success over jumps when The Village Schoolmaster won the City Selling Hurdle at Manchester on March 5, 1915. After the race there was an unusual objection by Ernie Piggott, who had ridden the unplaced odds-on favourite Persian Chief. Piggott objected on the grounds that “some ‘dolls’ had not been removed from the course, and that in consequence, the horses could not go the proper course”. The stewards decided that the result was not affected, but the Clerk of the Course was fined for gross negligence. Yet again, one of John’s winners was sold before he had the chance to follow up the success.
John Eland did not take out a jumps licence for 1916 but was still holding a Flat jockey’s licence as late as 1927. One of his last rides was on Jingle Stone, which finished unplaced in the Craven Plate at Catterick Bridge on April 1 of that year.
John Eland did not take out a jumps licence for 1916 but was still holding a Flat jockey’s licence as late as 1927. One of his last rides was on Jingle Stone, which finished unplaced in the Craven Plate at Catterick Bridge on April 1 of that year.
John Eland’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Eland’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Montauk, Shincliffe, March 18, 1903
1. Montauk, Shincliffe, March 18, 1903
2. Honestus, Malton, February 4, 1904
2. Honestus, Malton, February 4, 1904
3. Holoscope, Malton, February 4, 1904
3. Holoscope, Malton, February 4, 1904
4. Cannon Ball, Shincliffe, March 17, 1909
4. Cannon Ball, Shincliffe, March 17, 1909
5. Persian Rose, Shincliffe, May 12, 1909
5. Persian Rose, Shincliffe, May 12, 1909
6. Persian Rose, Hexham, May 31, 1909
6. Persian Rose, Hexham, May 31, 1909
7. Coolmoon, Southwell, December 19, 1910
7. Coolmoon, Southwell, December 19, 1910
8. The Village Schoolmaster, Manchester, March 5, 1915
8. The Village Schoolmaster, Manchester, March 5, 1915