Before coming to ride in England in the Spring of 1933, Cyril William Buckham had worked as a riding master at the South African Jockey Academy in Shongweni. One of its successes was John Gorton, who did so well during his time in England.
Before the Academy was founded, apprentice jockeys were often very young – at the turn of the century, George Badger (who weighed just 43 lbs. in his vest) was acknowledged as the best-known jockey in Natal. He was eight! Before coming to England, Cyril had been South Africa’s Champion Jockey for the previous two years.
In England, Cyril rode for the Upavon, Wiltshire, stable of A. Douglas-Pennant and rode his first winner on Ann on April 24th at Alexandra Park. He was then asked to ride Colorado Kid in Kempton’s Jubilee Handicap (then a big race). Gilpin, the colt’s trainer, wanted Gordon Richards to ride, but Richards was unavailable. Colorado Kid won easily and the floodgates opened for Cyril. He scored a second win on Colorado Kid in the Royal Hunt Cup before winning the Ascot Stakes on Rois de Paris. He completed an Ascot treble with a win on Rock Star in the Bessborough Stakes.
Then he went on to Liverpool and won the Atlantic Cup on Foxbridge.
The next day, Saturday, July 22, 1933, he rode Stenographer at Hurst Park. That night, returning home by car with his great friend Alfred Jones, the vehicle was in collision with a coach in Camberley.
Mr Frederick Bates, of King's Avenue, Falmouth, said that Buckham's car passed him on his motor-cycle just before the accident. He estimated the speed of the car at about 60 miles an hour.
A police officer said that he found a skid mark 34 ft. long behind Buckham's car.
Cyril and Alfred both died instantly.
They were buried side by side in Upavon Cemetery. On Cyril’s coffin were laid his racing colours and his whip. Wreaths were sent by the South African Jockey Club (Natal) and by all the leading English jockeys, few of whom could attend the funeral due to riding engagements.
Cyril's death was all the more tragic as his wife had only arrived in England a few weeks before from South Africa.
Cyril Buckham had been compared to Gordon Richards as a jockey with the power set a horse alight – his tragic, premature death was a great loss to the sport.
On the day Cyril won the Ascot Stakes on Rois de Paris, trainer F Leader won the Gold Vase with Gainslaw. When returning to Newmarket a few hours later, Leader and his wife were also killed in a motor accident.
In South Africa, Cyril Buckham held the record for the greatest number of winning rides in one season.
Cyril left estate of the gross value of £2,234 - net £1,698.
