Monty Aylin

Monty Aylin

1886-1955

Article by Alan Trout

Montague Victor Aylin was born in 1886 and was one of four jockey brothers. He was apprenticed to George Blackwell, a trainer who won every Classic except the Oaks and also saddled Sergeant Murphy to win the 1923 Grand National.

Monty made the perfect start to his racing career, winning on his first ride when Isthmus won the Apprentices’ Handicap at Newmarket on April 16, 1901.

Despite that promising beginning, it would be almost five months before Monty entered the winner’s enclosure again. At Doncaster on September 13, St Quintin won the Prince of Wales Nursery Handicap by a short-head. Then at Nottingham on October 8, Painte, owned by former top amateur rider Charles Newton, won the Welbeck Handicap by three lengths. 

It was Monty’s next winner, however, that made the breakthrough. At Newmarket on October 16, Balsarroch, carrying 6st 5lb, including 10lb extra, won the Cesarewitch by half a length, holding off the late challenge of Black Sand, ridden by Santiago Gomez. Balsarroch led from some way out and the Sporting Life reported that “little Aylin” deserved a word of praise for nursing a tired horse home. Balsarroch had run twice at Doncaster’s September meeting, winning the Great Yorkshire Handicap, ridden by Joe Childs, but then finishing last of four, with Morny Cannon up, in the Doncaster Stakes three days later.  

Monty finished his first season of race-riding with eight winners. The following year, 1902, went even better with 18 victories. These included a double at Pontefract on April 24 when the three-year-old Tom Tucker won both the Pontefract Spring Handicap and, two races later, the Castle Plate. 

His biggest success, however, came on May 7 when riding the four-year-old Carabine to win the 1902 Chester Cup by a length. Carabine had won five races the previous season, including the Manchester November Handicap.

Monty’s final wins in Britain came at Haydock Park’s two-day meeting in October 1902. On Friday 10th he won the Newton Nursery Handicap on Club Ball, and on Saturday 11th, in the first race of the afternoon, he landed the Flixton Welter Handicap on Hydraulic, and then in the following race he steered the 5-1 on favourite Warm Baths to a three-length victory against his sole opponent Tucka Tucka in a match for the Saturday Selling Handicap. 

Soon afterwards, Monty left England for France to ride in Chantilly. He returned briefly in 1903 but met with no success. Unlike other members of his family, he did not ride in England again. 

Monty Aylin died in 1955.

Monty Aylin’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Isthmus, Newmarket, April 16, 1901

2. St Quintin, Doncaster, September 13, 1901

3. Painte, Nottingham, October 8, 1901

4. Balsarroch, Newmarket, October 16, 1901

5. Servitor, Nottingham, October 18, 1901

6. Colonel Wozak, Nottingham, October 22, 1901

7. Servitor, Warwick, November 19, 1901

8. Fitz-Valentine, Folkestone, November 21, 1901

9. Veneer, Nottingham, March 25, 1902

10. Vasto, Hurst Park, April 4, 1902

11. Much Too Early, Leicester, April 11, 1902

12. Spatchcock: Leicester, April 12, 1902

13. Tom Tucker, Pontefract, April 24, 1902

14. Tom Tucker, Pontefract, April 24, 1902

15. Carabine, Chester, May 7, 1902

16. Queen Theo, Haydock Park, May 17, 1902

17. b. f. by Mocanna out of Fair Profit, Wolverhampton, May 19, 1902

18. Affluent, Wolverhampton, May 20, 1902

19. Cottontail, Windsor, June 21, 1902

20. Servitor, Newmarket, July 1, 1902

21. St Quintin, Newmarket, July 4, 1902

22. Angelito, Newmarket, July 16, 1902

23. Monitress, Derby, September 3, 1902

24. Club Ball, Haydock Park, October 10, 1902

25. Hydraulic, Haydock Park, October 11, 1902

26. Warm Baths, Haydock Park, October 11, 1902