Harry Blackshaw

Harry Fawcus Blackshaw was born September 4, 1919 in County Durham. He served his apprenticeship with Dawson Waugh and rode his first winner when aged 16, on Waltrudis, in a one-mile selling handicap at Sandown Park on June 27, 1936. 

He became a successful apprentice, riding a double at Goodwood on July 29, 1937, on Marcus Superbus in the Craven Handicap for Captain Tommy Hogg and Carnival Boy for Felix Leach in the Singleton Handicap.  However, he always maintained that the highlight of his jockey years was when he beat Gordon Richards by a short head twice in the same afternoon.  

Harry rode 63 winners on the Flat between 1936 and 1939, achieving a best score of 38 in 1937, before joining the Army in September 1939 and serving six years during the war with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

He had a first winner over jumps at Wetherby on December 27, 1941, when on Christmas leave from the Army. In a field of 29 for the Bilton Maiden Hurdle, Harry steered Marcellina, trained by Sam Armstrong, to a two-length victory. 

After the war he rode under both codes, registering another 43 winners on the Flat between 1946 and 1949. He rode for many northern trainers, most notably Percy Vasey. The best horses he rode then included Trimbush, No Orchids and Pappatea. His biggest wins included the Ascot Stakes, Northumberland Plate, Yorkshire Cup and Great St Wilfrid Handicap. 

He was also aboard Lundtofte when that horse won the Derby in both Denmark and Sweden within the space of a fortnight.

A combination of war service and success on the Flat had prevented Harry from adding to his single success over jumps until winning Kelso’s Caverton Handicap Hurdle aboard Salmon Port on October 22, 1948. Salmon Port only had a head to spare over Peridor, ridden by Matt Hogan. 

A double at Market Rasen was perhaps the highlight of the 1949/50 season, during which he achieved a best score of seven wins. 

It was, however, as a trainer for Harry is best remembered. He took out a trainer's licence in 1951 and sent out horses from Warwick Lodge stables in Middleham, Yorkshire. He was both jockey and trainer when Contraband won the Fiveways Selling Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on October 15, 1952, that being the last of 13 winners he rode over jumps

Harry Blackshaw’s National Hunt winners were, in chronological order:

1. Marcellina, Wetherby, December 27, 1941

2. Salmon Park, Kelso, October 22, 1948

3. Valignus, Market Rasen, March 12, 1949

4. Turnpike II, Carlisle, October 17, 1949

5. Bright Paul, Kelso, October 21, 1949

6. Hindu Kush, Kelso, October 22, 1949

7. Astara, Wetherby, January 21, 1950

8. Casseola, Market Rasen, March 11, 1950

9. Rowney Romance, Market Rasen, March 11, 1950

10. Creek Prince, Market Rasen, April 10, 1950

11. April Lover, Hexham, October 30, 1950

12. Quilt, Catterick Bridge, February 29, 1952

13. Contraband, Ayr, October 25, 1952

He continued to train successfully for more than  25 years, sending out his last runner in 1978.

Harry Blackshaw, then of Middleham, North Yorkshire, died in France of cancer on June 8, 1986, leaving estate valued at £1,111.32 net.

Biggest wins:

1946: Great St Wilfrid Handicap - Trimbush

1947: Yorkshire Cup - No Orchids

1948: Ascot Stakes - No Orchids

1948: Northumberland Plate - Pappatea

1948: Winston Churchill Stakes - No Orchids

Information on Harry Blackshaw’s National Hunt career provided by Alan Trout.