Percy Edwards

Percy Edwards

Article by Alan Trout

Granted a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1926/27 season, Percy Edwards had to wait until March 3, 1930, to ride his first winner, and then exactly 15 years more to ride his second. 

It was at Uttoxeter that Percy had his first success when Essandar took the Mansfield Selling Handicap Hurdle by two lengths. After the race, Billy Parvin, who had finished second on Golden Ermine, objected to the winner on grounds of crossing, but this was overruled. Despite winning the race, Percy did not retain the ride and, ironically, it was Billy Parvin who took over and won three times on Essandar before the end of the season. 

Percy held a licence until the 1933/34 season. Following a long absence from the weighing room, he returned towards the end of the war. It was at Cheltenham on March 3, 1945, just two months after National Hunt racing had resumed, that he had that second winner, when Albion, trained by former champion jockey Gerry Wilson, landed the Rodborough Novices’ Chase by half a length from Jack Tar, ridden by future champion trainer Fred Rimell. 

Percy Edwards’ comeback was, alas, a brief one, for he did not renew his licence the following season.