White Bud, the 66/1 winner of the 1923 Lincolnshire Handicap, was ridden by the 14-year-old son of an agricultural labourer from Crick, Northants. His name was John Beasley and it – the name – was chalked up at the bottom of the runners and riders’ board.
As a youngster he’d preferred the stable to the fields and had already shown signs of brilliance in the local pony races. Through these he had met with Edward O’Sullivan, who trained at Malton. O’Sullivan recognised John’s promise and took him on as an apprentice.
He had his first ride at Doncaster on October 20, 1921 when he partnered Picline, who finished unplaced in the Clayton Three-Year-Old Handicap.
He opened his account at Carlisle on June 27, 1922 when Damar, trained by O’Sullivan, won the Lowther Plate by a short-head. John’s second win was at Catterick on September 30 that year, when his mount, Prince Lionel, finished second in the Hornby Castle Selling Handicap but was awarded the race in the stewards’ room after the winner, Winifred Price, the mount of apprentice Gustave Gicquel, was disqualified for ‘bumping’.
Then came the 1923 Lincoln. After romping home for an easy win on White Bud, he returned to the unsaddling enclosure and people remarked how little emotion the boy was showing. He was very cool and collected and seemed unhappy with all the idolatry showered upon him.
Next stop for John was Epsom’s Spring Meeting, where he rode in the Great Metropolitan Handicap. In its early days his mount had been called The Bull, but he had run disappointingly in the extreme. His wealthy owner, James de Rothschild, changed the name to Glass Idol, but if they were hoping for a change of fortune, they should have told the horse. Eventually, he was sold to Mrs P. F. Heybourn. He ran in nine races for her and lost every one. He was also tried over hurdles, with the same result.
Then came Epsom, and up stepped the unique talent that was John Beasley.
There were 18 runners, and the race itself is easily described. The favourite, Sangrill, at 7-2, disputed the lead with Ragout, the pair being well clear of the field. Sweeping around Tattenham Corner, the leaders were both spent and from out of the pack first came Donna Inez, to be joined, a moment later, by Sewing Machine and Tons Of Money. Inside the final furlong, Sewing Machine, travelling at a great pace on the outside, looked sure to win.
Then everything changed. John Beasley, sitting as quiet as a mouse on the grey Glass Idol suddenly appeared from nowhere to join her. Together they raced for the line. Glass Idol stayed on the best and, at the post, was two and a half lengths clear. The young chalk jockey had repeated his Lincoln Handicap trick and won on a rank outsider, this time a 25-1 shot.
Once more John Beasley refused to be idolized. He remained calm and poised as trainers gathered around him, trying to secure his services for the rest of the summer.
He finished that 1923 season with a tally of 25 winners. John Beasley had arrived – or so it seemed.
However, despite the successes of 1923, progress was not maintained, and in 1930 John rode only two winners, the second of those, Wicket in the Wyn Selling Plate at Chester on May 15, proving to be the last of his career. His final ride was on Stiletto in the Monday Selling Plate at Birmingham on August 7, 1933. Although he was granted a licence for 1934, he does not appear to have taken any mounts. He had ridden a total of 61 winners in all.
John Beasley died in October 1981, aged 74.
