Clyde Aylin

Clyde Aylin

1887-1922

Clyde Aylin was a successful rider under both codes and was at his peak in 1922, heading the Irish jockeys’ table that year with 70 wins.

However, he was badly injured when his mount, Parkstown, fell at the second last in the Bray Handicap Steeplechase at Leopardstown on Wednesday, December 27, 1922. He was taken to a nursing home in Dublin where an operation was performed, but his injuries were of such a serious nature that little hope was entertained for his recovery. He died the next morning.

Though born in Bromley, England, Clyde Aylin, had ridden in Ireland since 1904. Prior to that, he had served his apprenticeship with former top English Flat jockey W.T. (Bill) Robinson, who trained at Foxhill and would go on to become champion trainer in 1905. 

Clyde had his first win as a jockey when Golden Bay won the Apprentices Handicap at Goodwood on August 2, 1901. Finishing second that day, beaten three lengths, was Sorciere, ridden by another future top jockey, Bernard Dillon.

Although there were no more winners that year, he managed two in both 1902 and 1903 before leaving for Ireland. His last British win was aboard Lady Lightfoot in the Apprentices Plate at Epsom on April 22, 1903. His occasional returns to ride on the Flat in England ended when Octocide finished third in the Delamere Handicap at Manchester on November 26, 1909.  

He has moved to Ireland to ride for trainer S. C. Jeffreys and later married a sister of Jeffrey’s wife. He rode subsequently for Michael Dawson’s stable at Rathbride Manor, Curragh. He finished second to John Thompson in the jockeys’ table in 1906 and won that year’s Irish Derby on 100-7 chance Killeagh, who was trained by Dawson. 

In the following year’s Irish Derby Clyde was lucky to escape serious injury when riding the evens favourite, the one-eyed Twenty-Third, who suffered a fatal fall when galloping into a concrete post approaching the straight. 

Over jumps, he rode a famous big race treble at Baldoyle on St Patrick’s Day 1921, winning the Directors’ Handicap Hurdle on Irish Life, the St Patrick’s Day Chase on En Avant, and the Foxhall Handicap Chase on Fly Rose. Fly Rose started the warm 7-4 favourite for that year’s Irish Grand National but was already beaten when falling at the fourth last fence.

Clyde had two wins over jumps in England in 1921. At Haydock Park on January 8, he steered the seven-year-old Tullygorey to a three-length triumph in the January Handicap Chase, beating three rivals. Back at Haydock on December 10, he enjoyed an equally comfortable victory on another Itish raider, Ballynagarde, when winning the St Helens Handicap Chase by four lengths. 

He produced one of his most brilliant finishes in the 1922 Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh when, riding 20-1 outsider Flower Vale, he beat the joint-favourite, Valiant, ridden by Tommy Burns, by a short head. He was champion jockey for the first and only time that year but it proved to be a posthumous award. His tragic and untimely death when riding over fences at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting deprived Ireland of an honest and competent rider.

Clyde Aylin was buried in the Rock of Dunamase Cemetery on Saturday, December 30, 1922. Married in 1911, he left a widow and six young children. 

A fund was opened for his family. A racing correspondent wrote: “the fund will be a bumper success, for Clyde Aylin knew everyone and everyone knew Clyde. He won for himself a unique place in the hearts of Irishmen because he was straight.”

It was a fine epitaph.

Clyde Aylin’s British Flat winners were, in chronological order:

1. Golden Bay, Goodwood, August 2, 1901

2. ch. f. by Avington out of Breach, Wolverhampton, May 19, 1902

3. Polestar, Ripon, August 3, 1902

4. Acrostic, Warwick, April 1, 1903

5. Lady Lightfoot, Epsom, April 22, 1903