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Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
This is the story of the ‘other’ Bobby Elliott. Not the ‘R P Elliott’ who was twice champion apprentice and won a host of big handicaps including the Portland, Wokingham, Royal Hunt Cup and Vaux Gold Tankard, rode winners all over the globe, partnered Brigadier Gerard in most of his work and has his own page on Jockeypedia. No, this is ‘R S Elliott’; the one nobody remembers.
This is the story of the ‘other’ Bobby Elliott. Not the ‘R P Elliott’ who was twice champion apprentice and won a host of big handicaps including the Portland, Wokingham, Royal Hunt Cup and Vaux Gold Tankard, rode winners all over the globe, partnered Brigadier Gerard in most of his work and has his own page on Jockeypedia. No, this is ‘R S Elliott’; the one nobody remembers.
Robert Sidney Elliot was apprenticed to Sir Gordon Richards and made a dream start to his career by winning on his very first ride in public, aboard Dorothy Paget’s Straight Bid in a Warwick apprentices’ race on October 15, 1956. However, that was the only winner he rode as an apprentice.
Robert Sidney Elliot was apprenticed to Sir Gordon Richards and made a dream start to his career by winning on his very first ride in public, aboard Dorothy Paget’s Straight Bid in a Warwick apprentices’ race on October 15, 1956. However, that was the only winner he rode as an apprentice.
His name did not appear in the newspapers again for over a decade – and then it was over jumps with a 7lb claim. Having joined neighbouring trainer Bob Turnell in 1964 when his indentures expired, Bobby took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1967 and rode his first winner in that sphere on Turnell’s Master Blandish in the Mathern Stayers’ Handicap
His name did not appear in the newspapers again for over a decade – and then it was over jumps with a 7lb claim. Having joined neighbouring trainer Bob Turnell in 1964 when his indentures expired, Bobby took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1967 and rode his first winner in that sphere on Turnell’s Master Blandish in the Mathern Stayers’ Handicap
Hurdle on the Tuesday of Chepstow’s Easter meeting, March 28, 1967. He rode two more winners the following season and, in 1969, also rode a winner on the Flat.
Hurdle on the Tuesday of Chepstow’s Easter meeting, March 28, 1967. He rode two more winners the following season and, in 1969, also rode a winner on the Flat.
His career as a jumps jockey was a brief one, his final season being in 1969/70, during which he rode two winners, both for Stockbridge trainer Vernon Cross. The first of these was a selling hurdler named Winger at Fontwell on September 17, 1969, the second being Camisado at Wincanton on December 11.
His career as a jumps jockey was a brief one, his final season being in 1969/70, during which he rode two winners, both for Stockbridge trainer Vernon Cross. The first of these was a selling hurdler named Winger at Fontwell on September 17, 1969, the second being Camisado at Wincanton on December 11.
Bobby and Camisado were arguably unlucky not to win again next time out over course and distance on Boxing Day, for they were first past the post beating Sherston a head, but were disqualified for bumping and boring the runner-up.
Bobby and Camisado were arguably unlucky not to win again next time out over course and distance on Boxing Day, for they were first past the post beating Sherston a head, but were disqualified for bumping and boring the runner-up.
From thereon, Bobby restricted his riding to the Flat, despite not being able to claim an allowance as he was no longer an apprentice. He rode two winners in 1972, for Doncaster-based trainers Bob Ward and Vic Mitchell, before joining
From thereon, Bobby restricted his riding to the Flat, despite not being able to claim an allowance as he was no longer an apprentice. He rode two winners in 1972, for Doncaster-based trainers Bob Ward and Vic Mitchell, before joining
Jeremy Tree’s operation at historic Beckhampton. Appropriately, the first race he won for Tree was the Beckhampton Maiden Stakes on Vice Squad at Salisbury on July 13, 1974.
Jeremy Tree’s operation at historic Beckhampton. Appropriately, the first race he won for Tree was the Beckhampton Maiden Stakes on Vice Squad at Salisbury on July 13, 1974.
Later that season he won Salisbury’s H.S. Lester Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap on Klemperer, plus a Haydock maiden on Lacewing.
Later that season he won Salisbury’s H.S. Lester Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap on Klemperer, plus a Haydock maiden on Lacewing.
He became a Beckhampton work rider and also managed to ride one winner apiece in each of the next four Flat racing years, all of them for Jeremy Tree, all of them on maiden two- or three-year-olds, the last being Jock Whitney’s juvenile colt Martial Arts at Newbury on Thursday, October 26, 1978.
He became a Beckhampton work rider and also managed to ride one winner apiece in each of the next four Flat racing years, all of them for Jeremy Tree, all of them on maiden two- or three-year-olds, the last being Jock Whitney’s juvenile colt Martial Arts at Newbury on Thursday, October 26, 1978.
He did not ride in public after 1981 but remained a highly-valued member of the Beckhampton team. And while he may not have enjoyed the success of Robert Peter Elliott with over 1,000 winners worldwide, Robert Sidney Elliott nonetheless played his part in racing’s rich tapestry.
He did not ride in public after 1981 but remained a highly-valued member of the Beckhampton team. And while he may not have enjoyed the success of Robert Peter Elliott with over 1,000 winners worldwide, Robert Sidney Elliott nonetheless played his part in racing’s rich tapestry.
His last nine winners on the Flat were as follows:
His last nine winners on the Flat were as follows:
Rue, Thirsk, April 13, 1973
Rue, Thirsk, April 13, 1973
Day Two, Leicester, May 11, 1973
Day Two, Leicester, May 11, 1973
Vice Squad, Salisbury, July 13, 1974
Vice Squad, Salisbury, July 13, 1974
Klemperer, Salisbury, September 11, 1974
Klemperer, Salisbury, September 11, 1974
Lacewing, Haydock Park, October 5, 1974
Lacewing, Haydock Park, October 5, 1974
Rampion, Salisbury, September 11, 1975
Rampion, Salisbury, September 11, 1975
Ground Cover, Windsor, May 10, 1976
Ground Cover, Windsor, May 10, 1976
Prince Gabriel, Newbury, July 15, 1977
Prince Gabriel, Newbury, July 15, 1977
Martial Arts, Newbury, October 26, 1978
Martial Arts, Newbury, October 26, 1978
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