Jack Dowdeswell
1917 - 2011
Born on May 27, 1917, Jack Dowdeswell won the National Hunt jockeys' championship in 1946-47 shortly after returning from service with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy.
Born on May 27, 1917, Jack Dowdeswell won the National Hunt jockeys' championship in 1946-47 shortly after returning from service with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy.
Aged 14, Jack - one of six children - arrived at Upper Lambourn in 1931 to become shockingly exploited by trainer Ted Gwilt at Saxon House.
Aged 14, Jack - one of six children - arrived at Upper Lambourn in 1931 to become shockingly exploited by trainer Ted Gwilt at Saxon House.
'It was slave labour,' he recalled later. 'I worked 14 hours a day and was never taught a thing. All for two shillings a week. I could not have gone to a worse stable. He never gave apprentices a chance. He never 'made' a jockey.'
'It was slave labour,' he recalled later. 'I worked 14 hours a day and was never taught a thing. All for two shillings a week. I could not have gone to a worse stable. He never gave apprentices a chance. He never 'made' a jockey.'
Jack's day began at 5.30 a.m. He'd go round with the head lad helping out with the feed and mucking out until lunchtime. Eighty years later, he could still remember his list of jobs in order...Hay, oats, carrots, wood, chaft, copper, mash. In his spare time, such as it was, he was expected to do the weeding before walking down to Lambourn to fetch Gwilt's evening paper.
Jack's day began at 5.30 a.m. He'd go round with the head lad helping out with the feed and mucking out until lunchtime. Eighty years later, he could still remember his list of jobs in order...Hay, oats, carrots, wood, chaft, copper, mash. In his spare time, such as it was, he was expected to do the weeding before walking down to Lambourn to fetch Gwilt's evening paper.
When Jack's father wrote to Gwilt asking if Jack's indentures could be transferred to Walter Nightingall (a family friend), Gwilt failed to respond, so young Jack tackled him personally.
When Jack's father wrote to Gwilt asking if Jack's indentures could be transferred to Walter Nightingall (a family friend), Gwilt failed to respond, so young Jack tackled him personally.
He received two words in reply - 'Definitely not.'
He received two words in reply - 'Definitely not.'
Jack got his own back to some degree when his five-year apprentice came to an end. Gwilt said to him 'I suppose you'll be staying on now that you're getting £2. 25 per week?'
Jack got his own back to some degree when his five-year apprentice came to an end. Gwilt said to him 'I suppose you'll be staying on now that you're getting £2. 25 per week?'
'Definitely not!' replied Jack, and left immediately.
'Definitely not!' replied Jack, and left immediately.
He then was taken on by Captain Bay Powell at Albourne and found himself schooling the very next day.
He then was taken on by Captain Bay Powell at Albourne and found himself schooling the very next day.
Jack spent six years during the war with the Royal Horse Artillery and won on his first ride back at Wye for Captain Powell. The next year he was champion.
Jack spent six years during the war with the Royal Horse Artillery and won on his first ride back at Wye for Captain Powell. The next year he was champion.
Jack never refused a ride: consequently he found himself on some dodgy jumpers and is believed to have broken more than 50 bones during a career that featured victories in the Grand Sefton Chase, Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase, Imperial Cup and Queen Elizabeth Chase.
Jack never refused a ride: consequently he found himself on some dodgy jumpers and is believed to have broken more than 50 bones during a career that featured victories in the Grand Sefton Chase, Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase, Imperial Cup and Queen Elizabeth Chase.
He was forced to retire after injuring his spine in a fall at Buckfastleigh in 1956.
He was forced to retire after injuring his spine in a fall at Buckfastleigh in 1956.
Jack suffered an appalling injury at Taunton when a following horse virtually ripped his left arm from its socket.
Jack suffered an appalling injury at Taunton when a following horse virtually ripped his left arm from its socket.
Jack was given morphine and supposedly out cold when the course doctor said to his wife (who had dashed down from the stands) 'I'm afraid he'll never ride again.'
Jack was given morphine and supposedly out cold when the course doctor said to his wife (who had dashed down from the stands) 'I'm afraid he'll never ride again.'
Jack sat bolt upright and said 'Oh yes I bloody will!'
Jack sat bolt upright and said 'Oh yes I bloody will!'
And he did, but it took another 11 months to prove it.
And he did, but it took another 11 months to prove it.
Although the war had robbed him of his best years as a jockey, he still went on to ride 359 winners.
Although the war had robbed him of his best years as a jockey, he still went on to ride 359 winners.
On Whit Saturday, 1956, he took a bad fall from Le Captain at Buckfastleigh and damaged his spine.
On Whit Saturday, 1956, he took a bad fall from Le Captain at Buckfastleigh and damaged his spine.
He was not seen in the saddle again.
He was not seen in the saddle again.
Jack tried his hand at training, assisting J. Bisgood with the jumpers in his stable. Then he branched out on his own but found it an uphill struggle. Having spent all his savings, he retired in 1970.
Jack tried his hand at training, assisting J. Bisgood with the jumpers in his stable. Then he branched out on his own but found it an uphill struggle. Having spent all his savings, he retired in 1970.
He started a steam-cleaning business for stables; he also rode out for permit holder David Nugent before previous injuries finally took their toll. Though he could no longer ride, he found work with trainers Barry Hills, John Hill and John Akehurst in Lambourn where he lived.
He started a steam-cleaning business for stables; he also rode out for permit holder David Nugent before previous injuries finally took their toll. Though he could no longer ride, he found work with trainers Barry Hills, John Hill and John Akehurst in Lambourn where he lived.
Jack died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of July 16, 2011, at Newbury Hospital. He was 94.
Jack died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of July 16, 2011, at Newbury Hospital. He was 94.
His funeral was at Lambourn Church on July 28 2011.
His funeral was at Lambourn Church on July 28 2011.
Jack left a wife, Betty, to whom he was married for more than 70 years. He also left his son, Michael, his daughter Liz and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jack left a wife, Betty, to whom he was married for more than 70 years. He also left his son, Michael, his daughter Liz and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His first Flat winner was Bob at Newbury on June 9, 1932.
His first Flat winner was Bob at Newbury on June 9, 1932.
His first winner over the sticks was Lady Rowley at Wolverhampton in 1936.
His first winner over the sticks was Lady Rowley at Wolverhampton in 1936.
Biggest wins:
Biggest wins:
1947: Grand Sefton - Good Date
1947: Grand Sefton - Good Date
1954: Imperial Cup - The Pills
1954: Imperial Cup - The Pills
1954: Grand Annual Chase - Hipparchus
1954: Grand Annual Chase - Hipparchus
1955: Queen Elizabeth Chase - Limb of the Law
1955: Queen Elizabeth Chase - Limb of the Law
