Arthur Braithwaite

Arthur Braithwaite

1885-1957

National Hunt jockey Arthur Braithwaite was born in 1885 and rode a total of 43 winners over jumps during a career that was compromised by World War One.  

Arthur made his debut when finishing seventh of ten runners on Romany Rye in the Town Selling Hurdle at Leicester on December 1, 1910. He found himself in the winner’s enclosure for the first time when riding a horse called Outsider, who, contrary to his name, started the 5-4 on favourite in the Town Hurdle at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, April 17, 1911. 

He rode just one more winner that year, three the next, then one in 1913. He emerged on the other side of the First World War with just those six winners to his name and it was not until 1921 that he resumed winning ways. He rode nine winners that year, equalled it the following year, then won seven races in 1923. 

Arthur enjoyed his most successful year in 1924 with 11 wins – the only time he reached a double-figure score – when riding for Doncaster-based trainer Melton Vasey. They included a treble at Leicester on January 21, winning the Hinckley Selling Handicap Hurdle on 10-1 shot Octabella’s Pride, the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle on 4-1 chance Baalbek, and the Novices’ Chase on 100-8 outsider Pickwell, all of them trained by Melton Vasey. 

He rode what would prove to be his last winner on 5-1 Pelican, also trained by Vasey, in the Selling Handicap Chase at Derby on February 9, 1925. On September 25 that year he suffered a double fracture of his right leg when Magic Flower fell in the Market Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen. 

That serious injury looked to have spelt the end of his career. He was out of action for a considerable time but eventually returned to action, only to find it hard to get rides – and the few he did get were mostly no-hopers. His final mount, Russian Collar in the Welbeck Chase at Retford Hunt on March 28, 1927, ended in a fall. 

Arthur Braithwaite died on November 11, 1957, aged 72.