Tuppy on Burglar, winner of the
1921 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham
Captain 'Tuppy' Bennet's first ride was on Simon the Cellarer, which finished second in the Yatesbury Selling Hurdle at Newbury on 27th November 1919. His first win was on Kosbie in the Ilsley Selling Hurdle at the same course on November 21st January 1920. That season, he rode 20 winners.
He had been born at East Barton, Bury St Edmunds on December 8, 1894, and, practising at Newmarket, was a a veterinary surgeon by profession. He served throughout the war, both in France and in Egypt.
In July, 1923, he married Miss Cicely Clayton Swan, daughter of Colonel and Mrs R. Clayton.
The 1923 Grand National was both his greatest achievement and his swansong.
Riding the 13-year-old Sergeant Murphy, the second-oldest ever winner of the National,
Captain Bennet took up the running after jumping Becher's for the second time. The old horse strode out magnificently to win at odds of 100/6.
He rode Turkey Buzzard in the 1921 National: the horse fell three times - Tuppy Bennet remounted on each occasion to finish a respectable, though distant, fourth (and last).
This did not satisfy his owner, a furious Mrs. Hannah Hollins who, on his return to the unsaddling enclosure, proceeded to chase him around the paddock wielding an umbrella, cursing profusely as she did so.
On 27 December 1923, he took the mount on Ardeen in the Oteley Handicap Chase at Wolverhampton. The horse came down at a simple fence.
Captain Bennet received a kick in the head as he lay on the ground. He never regained consciousness, dying 17 days later.
The only good that came from this tragedy was that the use of crash helmets was afterwards made compulsory.
Aged 29, 'Tuppy' Bennet died on Sunday morning, January 13, 1924.
Captain Geoffrey Harbord Bennet was buried at 2.30 at Newmarket on Wednesday afternoon, January 16, 1924. Mourners included his mother and father, his brother and sister and many racing personalities.
More than a hundred wreaths were laid on his grave. No funeral at Newmarket since that of Fred Archer had been so well attended.
He left £1,100. He had a posthumous daughter.
Connections continued to race Sergeant Murphy. Aged almost 17, the tired old horse miscalculated a jump at Bogside. He broke a leg and was immediately destroyed.
Tuppy's biggest wins include:
1921: Lancashire Chase - Black Lamb
1921: National Hunt Chase - Burglar
1922: Scottish Grand National - Sergeant Murphy
1923: Grand National - Sergeant Murphy
1923: Liverpool Foxhunters - Gracious Gift
