Edmund Driscoll

Born at Welwyn, Hertford on September 6, 1875, Edmund Driscoll was a well-known National Hunt jockey who had been riding for 24 years when he suffered neuritis of the leg. Taken to Wantage Hospital, he died a week later from septic poisoning on August 4, 1919.

'Ernie' had originally been coached by his father, Irishman Richard, who was a trainer at Royston, and soon became a first-class horseman.

He rode in nine Grand Nationals and won the substituted race at Gatwick in 1917 on Sir George Bullough's Ballymacad. This race had been renamed 'The War National Steeplechase'.

Edmund had also partnered Jerry M to a famous victory in France, winning the Grand Steeplechase de Paris.

Riding Jerry M, he finished second to Jenkinstown in the 1910 Grand National.

His jockey brother, Henry James Driscoll, died in 1945, aged 77.

Biggest wins:

1907:  Becher Chase - Nanoya

1908:  Becher Chase - Jerry M

1908:  Valentine Chase - Cackler

1909:  Valentine Chase - Jerry M

1909:  Grand Sefton - Cackler

1909:  Scottish Grand National - Mount Prospects Fortune

1910:  Grand Sefton - Cackler

1910:  Grand Steeplechase de Paris - Jerry M

1917:  Grand National (Gatwick) Ballymacad