Arthur Cooke

Arthur Cooke

Article by Alan Trout

Arthur Cooke did have some rides on the Flat but all his eight wins were gained over jumps. 

Although granted a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1904, he did not ride a winner until landing a double at Doncaster on February 6, 1905. In both races he came late on the scene, first to win the Doncaster Handicap Chase on Simonhatch, and then to take the Stapleton Park Chase on Fairy Scene. Both horses were trained by former leading amateur rider George Menzies, and they went on to win more races that year, usually ridden by the trainer’s brother Syd.

Arthur made it three wins in three days when Fiorino took the Mapperley Handicap Chase at Leicester. His only other winner that year was Mona King, a three-length winner of the Sands Selling Handicap Chase at Sedgefield in April.

It was very much a case of déjà vu at the start of 1906, with Arthur landing the same Stapleton Park Chase he had won 12 months earlier, this time on Marjoram, again trained by George Menzies, coming home alone after their three rivals had fallen. The four-year-old then showed his versatility by winning the Raincliffe Hurdle at Scarborough two months later to give Arthur his second, and last, win of the year.   

George Menzies continued to assist Arthur, and it was on one of his horses, Weather Eye, that he gained his sole success of 1907 when winning the Newton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park by 10 lengths in December. It was the four-year-old’s sixth win of the year and a belated first one for his rider. 

Arthur’s final victory was at Hexham on October 7, 1908, when Norton took the Dotland Handicap Chase. He did not take out a licence for 1909. Although he was no doubt grateful for George Menzies’ support, his tally of wins would probably have been much higher had he been able to ride more of them.    

Arthur Cooke’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Simonhatch, Doncaster, February 6, 1905

2. Fairy Scene, Doncaster, February 6, 1905

3. Fiorino, Leicester, February 8, 1905

4. Mona King, Sedgefield, April 5, 1905

5. Marjoram, Doncaster, February 5, 1906

6. Marjoram, Scarborough, April 18, 1906

7. Weather Eye, Haydock Park, December 7, 1907

8. Norton, Hexham, October 7, 1908