Herbert Walter Doherty served a seven-year apprenticeship with Herbert Smyth at Epsom from 1945 to 1952. He rode six winners on the Flat, five as an apprentice and one – Mulgrave at Leicester on June 1, 1953 – as a professional jockey.
He took out a jump jockey’s licence at the start of the 1956/57 season and rode for Blewbury trainer Michael Pope, who was to provide him with all of his winners under National Hunt rules. His first was on a grey hurdler named Pronto at Stratford on November 3, 1956. He won on him twice more over the same course and distance later that season.
The following season, Pronto not only provided Herbert with the first leg of a double when winning at Huntingdon on October 26, 1957, but was also his tenth winner in all, hence his claim had been cut to 5lb when completing the second leg of his double on Sir John IV, his first win over fences. His two other wins that season were both gained on juvenile hurdler Chez Peter, at Plumpton in November and Wincanton on Boxing Day.
Chez Peter was to prove the mainstay of Herbert’s career for the next four seasons, during which he won five more times on him, mostly in selling hurdles. Indeed, Chez Peter was pretty much the only horse he rode towards the end; his main role was working in Michael Pope’s yard and he only averaged just over a dozen rides a season.
He rode his last winner on Shatter at Wincanton on September 26, 1963, and relinquished his licence at the end of that season, having ridden a total of 20 winners, six on the Flat and 14 over jumps. He continued to ride a few of Michael Pope’s horses on the Flat until 1964, mainly those who required educational runs by way of learning their craft.
Herbert Doherty’s 14 National Hunt winners were, in chronological order:
Pronto, Stratford-on-Avon, November 3, 1956
Pronto, Stratford-on-Avon, March 28, 1957
Pronto, Stratford-on-Avon, May 9, 1957
Pronto, Huntingdon, October 26, 1957
Sir John IV, Huntingdon, October 26, 1957
Chez Peter, Plumpton, November 18, 1957
Chez Peter, Wincanton, December 26, 1957
Pledgdon Lass, Kempton Park, February 20, 1959
Chez Peter, Chepstow, March 31, 1959
Chez Peter, Kempton Park, February 26, 1960
Chez Peter, above, Kempton Park, January 27, 1961
Chez Peter, Worcester, March 13, 1961
Chez Peter, Stratford-on-Avon, April 29, 1961
Shatter, Wincanton, September 26, 1963