Archie Brand

Archie Brand

Article by Alan Trout

Archie Brand made a promising start to his career on the Flat with three wins in 1925. However, he did not add to that total and his final two victories were over jumps. 

Apprenticed to former Flat jockey Felix Leach Junior, he won on his first ride in public, aboard the three-year-old Coughdrop in the Birdforth Apprentice Plate at Thirsk on May 1, 1925, despite being slowly away. Just 18 days later, Archie and Coughdrop were back in the winner’s enclosure, this time at York following a two-length success in the Apprentice Plate. Willie Stephenson, later to train a Derby winner and a Grand National winner, finished second on His Excellency.

Archie had his third and final win on the Flat when Royal Falcon took the Feather-weight Two-Year-Old Plate at Alexandra Park by half a length. This was another race for apprentices.

Although he had a few rides on the Flat in 1926, it was not until he turned to the jumps that he enjoyed further success. At Market Rasen on October 17, 1932, he scored a half-length victory on Kentish Mist in the Juvenile Hurdle. 

Archie then disappeared from the scene for a while but returned to have one more win when Royal Pilgrim landed the Stechford Selling Handicap Hurdle at Birmingham on November 30, 1936. Trained by former top amateur rider Harry Atherton Brown, Royal Pilgrim never won another race, and sadly, nor did Archie. He did not renew his licence after the 1938//39 season. 

Archie Brand’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Coughdrop, Thirsk, May 1, 1925

2. Coughdrop, York, May 19, 1925

3. Royal Falcon, Alexandra Park, October 3, 1925

4. Kentish Mist, Market Rasen, October 17, 1932

5. Royal Pilgrim, Birmingham, November 30, 1936

Archie Brand's younger brother Percy, a stable lad in the employ of Mr Felix Leach Jr. at Queensberry Lodge, Newmarket, died from rheumatic fever on March 17, 1926, at Rous Memorial Hospital, aged just 20.