David Davies
Welsh National Hunt jockey David Davies was born circa 1870. He had his first ride in public on a horse named Magenta in the Wolverhampton Handicap Hurdle on January 20, 1890, finishing unplaced.
Welsh National Hunt jockey David Davies was born circa 1870. He had his first ride in public on a horse named Magenta in the Wolverhampton Handicap Hurdle on January 20, 1890, finishing unplaced.
Unusually, he rode the first two winners of his career on the same horse on the same day, at Cheltenham on April 18, 1890. He first rode Honeycomb to win the Selling Hunters’ Steeplechase, the winner being bought in for 115 guineas. Connections evidently felt the race had taken little out of the horse, for he turned out again later that afternoon and won the Selling Hunters’ Hurdle, once more being bought back by his owner, this time for a mere 80 guineas.
Unusually, he rode the first two winners of his career on the same horse on the same day, at Cheltenham on April 18, 1890. He first rode Honeycomb to win the Selling Hunters’ Steeplechase, the winner being bought in for 115 guineas. Connections evidently felt the race had taken little out of the horse, for he turned out again later that afternoon and won the Selling Hunters’ Hurdle, once more being bought back by his owner, this time for a mere 80 guineas.
David had just one ride in the Grand National, in 1894, completing the course last of nine finishers on Varteg Hill, owned by Freddie Lort Phillips, well behind the winner, Why Not.
David had just one ride in the Grand National, in 1894, completing the course last of nine finishers on Varteg Hill, owned by Freddie Lort Phillips, well behind the winner, Why Not.
He achieved by far his biggest victory on Mr F. W. Holden’s 5-1 chance Hedgehog in the 1898 Welsh Grand National at Cardiff. His task was made easier when the well-backed Nat Gould fell at the last open ditch, as did the Irish challenger Katabasis, who was travelling well at the time, and the previous year’s runner-up Filbert. With those three fancied rivals out of the way, the race turned into a duel between Hedgehog and Pyracantha, the mount of Ernest Morgan. In the end, it was Hedgehog who prevailed by two lengths.
He achieved by far his biggest victory on Mr F. W. Holden’s 5-1 chance Hedgehog in the 1898 Welsh Grand National at Cardiff. His task was made easier when the well-backed Nat Gould fell at the last open ditch, as did the Irish challenger Katabasis, who was travelling well at the time, and the previous year’s runner-up Filbert. With those three fancied rivals out of the way, the race turned into a duel between Hedgehog and Pyracantha, the mount of Ernest Morgan. In the end, it was Hedgehog who prevailed by two lengths.
It was a memorable day for David, as he had also won the previous race – the St Nicholas Hurdle – on Silent Watch, beating the noted amateur rider Gwyn Saunders-Davies by a head in a tight finish.
It was a memorable day for David, as he had also won the previous race – the St Nicholas Hurdle – on Silent Watch, beating the noted amateur rider Gwyn Saunders-Davies by a head in a tight finish.
David enjoyed plenty of success at Cardiff, recording 19 winners at the Ely track during his career. He also did well at Chepstow (15 wins) and Abergavenny (12 wins). He was successful further afield too. He rode a double – both in matches – on the final day’s racing at Bromyard on September 3, 1900: the Thistle Selling Hurdle aboard Sophos (at 8-1 on) and the concluding Bryngwyn Hurdle on Chrism (6-1 on). In 1901 he rode Chrism to win races on both days of the 1901 Bridgwater Hunt fixture, landing the Halswell Chase on the first day and the Taunton Hurdle on the second. He enjoyed his best year numerically in 1902 with 13 winners to his name.
David enjoyed plenty of success at Cardiff, recording 19 winners at the Ely track during his career. He also did well at Chepstow (15 wins) and Abergavenny (12 wins). He was successful further afield too. He rode a double – both in matches – on the final day’s racing at Bromyard on September 3, 1900: the Thistle Selling Hurdle aboard Sophos (at 8-1 on) and the concluding Bryngwyn Hurdle on Chrism (6-1 on). In 1901 he rode Chrism to win races on both days of the 1901 Bridgwater Hunt fixture, landing the Halswell Chase on the first day and the Taunton Hurdle on the second. He enjoyed his best year numerically in 1902 with 13 winners to his name.
He rode 118 winners during his career, the last of them on Flattery in the Licensed Victuallers’ Selling Chase at Newport on May 20, 1907. Newport was also the venue for his final mount, finishing unplaced on Bettanby in the Caerleon Selling Hurdle on November 12, 1908.
He rode 118 winners during his career, the last of them on Flattery in the Licensed Victuallers’ Selling Chase at Newport on May 20, 1907. Newport was also the venue for his final mount, finishing unplaced on Bettanby in the Caerleon Selling Hurdle on November 12, 1908.
There is, however, some doubt concerning the end of his career. A jockey listed as ‘D. Davies’ is listed as riding winners at Uttoxeter on May 20, 1924; at Wenlock on May 8, 1925; and, lastly, on Suffolk Dumpling in the Greenmeadow Selling Handicap Hurdle at Cardiff on October 25, 1928.
There is, however, some doubt concerning the end of his career. A jockey listed as ‘D. Davies’ is listed as riding winners at Uttoxeter on May 20, 1924; at Wenlock on May 8, 1925; and, lastly, on Suffolk Dumpling in the Greenmeadow Selling Handicap Hurdle at Cardiff on October 25, 1928.
Could that have been the same D. Davies who won the Welsh Grand National? If so, it would mean he had returned to taking part in races 16 years after his supposed last ride. By that time, he would have been in his last fifties, fast approaching sixty. It seems unlikely but certainly not impossible, particularly as the form book does not show the later D. Davies as claiming an allowance. If they were one and the same person, then the jockey had his final ride on a 13-year-old veteran named Friar Dennis, who fell in the Croome Selling Handicap Hurdle at Colwall Park on April 22, 1929.
Could that have been the same D. Davies who won the Welsh Grand National? If so, it would mean he had returned to taking part in races 16 years after his supposed last ride. By that time, he would have been in his last fifties, fast approaching sixty. It seems unlikely but certainly not impossible, particularly as the form book does not show the later D. Davies as claiming an allowance. If they were one and the same person, then the jockey had his final ride on a 13-year-old veteran named Friar Dennis, who fell in the Croome Selling Handicap Hurdle at Colwall Park on April 22, 1929.
