Harry Atherton Brown, born at Atherstone on July 18, 1888 - two years before his jockey-brother Frank - was an outstanding rider in the 1920s and the leading amateur four times in the years immediately after the First World War. He rode his first winner in 1907 and, in 1919, became champion jockey with 48 wins, the last amateur to do so.
Standing five feet seven inches, Harry had broad shoulders and narrow hips.
Brigadier Roscoe, speaking of the brothers, said: 'Harry and Frank were both fun-loving men, but perhaps Harry had the more mischievous twinkle in his eye. He was outstanding at everything he did, tremendous company and a great man for the girls, who adored him.'
Harry was certainly all of that - a leading jockey who went on to become trainer, he was also one of the finest shots in the country, a first-class fisherman, raconteur and wit.
He trained that good horse Dudley for Lord Londesborough, winning 14 consecutive races on him. These included the 1924 and 1925 Cheltenham Grand Annual and the Victory Chase at Manchester.
Other great wins included the 1923 National Hunt Chase on Templescoby and the 1926 Cheltenham Foxhunters on his own Far Flight.
He also came second in the very first Cheltenham Gold Cup, (Weds, March 12, 1924) being beaten a head on Conjuror ll.
In 1930, Harry concentrated solely on training, sending out Mr Rank to win the 1939 Scottish Grand National and, in the same year, Timber Wolf to win the Lancashire Chase.
One of racing's great characters, he was forced to quit the saddle after 22 years after sustaining a badly broken wrist.
He died on May 18, 1961 aged 72.
Despite his success elsewhere, Harry was undoubtedly one of the unluckiest jockeys to contest the National.
He tried four times to win the great chase.
In the 1920 race, riding his own nine-year-old bay gelding, The Bore, he came third behind eventual winner Troytown.
Then, once again riding The Bore the following year, he was upsides the eventual winner, Shaun Spadah, when coming down at the second last. Despite sustaining a broken collarbone, he remounted to finish second, thus landing a tremendous gamble.
In 1922, Harry rode the favourite, Southampton, for Lord Woolvington. Southampton came to Aintree on the back of six successive wins, yet crashed out at the very first fence.
His last attempt came in 1924 when once again he rode the favourite, the twelve-year-old Conjuror ll. He was knocked over at Becher's Brook.
Harry married Miss Ida Harbord on Saturday 9 October 1909. There were no bridesmaids or pages in attendance, nor was there a formal reception after the ceremony. Instead, the couple left that afternoon for Paris.
Best wins:
1922: Victory Chase - Sherwood Forester
1922: Becher Chase - The Bore
1923: National Hunt Chase - Templescoby
1924: Cheltenham Grand Annual - Dudley
1925: Victory Chase - Dudley
1925: Cheltenham Grand Annual - Dudley
