Edward Dodson
Edward Dodson
Edward Dodson
Born in 1880, Edward Dodson rode six winners over jumps between 1906 and 1908, starting with victory by a length on 10-1 chance Hillsborough in the Wye Chase at ‘Herefordshire Hunt’ – as Hereford was then officially known – on Easter Monday, April 16. He had ridden the gelding on all four of his previous outings that year, and now he beat the evens favourite Madron, partnered by leading amateur Jack Rogers, by a length.
Born in 1880, Edward Dodson rode six winners over jumps between 1906 and 1908, starting with victory by a length on 10-1 chance Hillsborough in the Wye Chase at ‘Herefordshire Hunt’ – as Hereford was then officially known – on Easter Monday, April 16. He had ridden the gelding on all four of his previous outings that year, and now he beat the evens favourite Madron, partnered by leading amateur Jack Rogers, by a length.
Interestingly, Hereford was one of three Easter Monday fixtures which staged racing under a different name at that time, the others being Towcester, previously known as Grafton Hunt and going left-handed rather than right-handed, and Fakenham, which was called West Norfolk Hunt until 1964.
Interestingly, Hereford was one of three Easter Monday fixtures which staged racing under a different name at that time, the others being Towcester, previously known as Grafton Hunt and going left-handed rather than right-handed, and Fakenham, which was called West Norfolk Hunt until 1964.
It was not until the meeting at Portsmouth Park on November 23 that Edward doubled his score for the year, when Healthy Boy was a comfortable winner of the Hillsea Chase by 15 lengths, just four days after finishing unplaced in a hurdle race at Warwick. Later that year, Healthy Boy and Edward finished third at Gatwick on December 3, then came good again with a four-length victory in the Novices’ Chase at Folkestone seven days later.
It was not until the meeting at Portsmouth Park on November 23 that Edward doubled his score for the year, when Healthy Boy was a comfortable winner of the Hillsea Chase by 15 lengths, just four days after finishing unplaced in a hurdle race at Warwick. Later that year, Healthy Boy and Edward finished third at Gatwick on December 3, then came good again with a four-length victory in the Novices’ Chase at Folkestone seven days later.
Edward made a promising start to 1907 when Healthy Boy notched a third success in the Paddock Chase at Windsor in January. The gelding then ran six times, finishing second on four occasions when partnered by Edward, before the combination struck again in the Plymouth Chase at that course in September. Ivor Anthony, rider of the runner-up Gipsy’s Warning, who was receiving 30lb from the winner, objected on grounds of ‘boring’ but this was overruled.
Edward made a promising start to 1907 when Healthy Boy notched a third success in the Paddock Chase at Windsor in January. The gelding then ran six times, finishing second on four occasions when partnered by Edward, before the combination struck again in the Plymouth Chase at that course in September. Ivor Anthony, rider of the runner-up Gipsy’s Warning, who was receiving 30lb from the winner, objected on grounds of ‘boring’ but this was overruled.
Edward had one ride in a big race when booked for Glen Mazarin in the 1907 Imperial Cup at Sandown Park in March. He had finished second twice on the four-year-old earlier in the year, but on this occasion they finished unplaced and Edward did not ride the horse again.
Edward had one ride in a big race when booked for Glen Mazarin in the 1907 Imperial Cup at Sandown Park in March. He had finished second twice on the four-year-old earlier in the year, but on this occasion they finished unplaced and Edward did not ride the horse again.
His sixth and final victory was at Wye on March 12, 1908, when seven-year-old Vril won the Maiden Hurdle by half a length from Miss Manifold, ridden by Paddy Cowley, who was on his way to becoming champion jockey for the only time.
His sixth and final victory was at Wye on March 12, 1908, when seven-year-old Vril won the Maiden Hurdle by half a length from Miss Manifold, ridden by Paddy Cowley, who was on his way to becoming champion jockey for the only time.
Stalwart Healthy Boy, meanwhile, had changed stables and completed a four-timer in the space of nine days, ridden throughout by William Rollason. Edward did not take out a licence for 1909.
Stalwart Healthy Boy, meanwhile, had changed stables and completed a four-timer in the space of nine days, ridden throughout by William Rollason. Edward did not take out a licence for 1909.
Edward Dodson’s winners were, in chronological order:
Edward Dodson’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Hillsborough, Hereford, April 16, 1906.
1. Hillsborough, Hereford, April 16, 1906.
2. Healthy Boy, Portsmouth Park, November 23, 1906
2. Healthy Boy, Portsmouth Park, November 23, 1906
3. Healthy Boy, Folkestone, December 10, 1906
3. Healthy Boy, Folkestone, December 10, 1906
4. Healthy Boy, Windsor, January 21, 1907
4. Healthy Boy, Windsor, January 21, 1907
5. Healthy Boy, Plymouth, September 4, 1907
5. Healthy Boy, Plymouth, September 4, 1907
6. Vril, Wye, March 12, 1908
6. Vril, Wye, March 12, 1908
Edward Dodson's first win: Hillsborough, Hereford, April 16, 1906.
Edward Dodson's first win: Hillsborough, Hereford, April 16, 1906.