Vernon Casebourne 

Vernon Casebourne

1885-1932

The inaugural meeting at Picton racecourse, in Yorkshire, took place in 1909 on land farmed by Mr G. E. Casebourne. His two sons, Oswald (known as Ossie) and Vernon, both enjoyed plenty of success there during the course’s brief, six-year existence. Ossie was both a trainer and amateur rider before belatedly turning professional, while Vernon rode professionally, amassing a total of 28 winners. 

Vernon Andrew Casebourne was born in 1885. He rode his first winner at Picton aboard Ivy Queen on March 22, 1911, finishing alone in a two-runner selling hurdle after their sole rival had fallen. He won on her again at Sedgefield six days later. 

He landed a four-timer at Southwell on December 4, 1911 on hurdlers Rough And Ready and Evasive and chasers Gallerant and Sullen Stream, all four of them trained by Ossie. Their good form continued with a double at Picton’s Boxing Day fixture courtesy of Rough And Ready and Ashford. Vernon ended the year with a career-best score of 11 wins.

In 1912, Vernon won on Rough And Ready at Haydock in February and at Hexham in October, giving him the first leg of a double on the latter occasion. He also won three races on a selling hurdler named Slip-up. 

Rough And Ready proved a grand servant for the Casebournes. Vernon won six hurdle races on him between 1911 and 1913, then Ossie took over and rode him to victory on another seven occasions. Surprisingly, they allowed the horse to be sold for 155 guineas after Ossie had won a selling chase at Birmingham on him in January 1915. He went on to win three more races for his new connections. 

Sadly, Picton did not last long as a racecourse. It held its last meeting on March 13, 1915, at which Ossie Casebourne rode a winner on Hestman. By then, World War One had begun to disrupt horse racing, leading to the loss of many minor courses such as Picton. 

Vernon rode his 28th and last winner when guiding 6-4 favourite Woolcraft to a six-length victory in the Wynyard Chase at Sedgefield on October 13, 1920. He had his final ride the same afternoon when finishing third, one place behind Ossie, on Dorothy Dear in the Windlestone Open Handicap Hurdle. Ossie won the last race on that Sedgefield card to make it a brotherly double. 

Vernon Casebourne died at 41, Hartington Road, Stockton-on Tees on August 6, 1932, aged 47. He left £39 15s 9d. Ossie, had predeceased him three years earlier in 1929.

In December 1913, Vernon Casebourne was warned off because it was alleged he had ridden foully on Mandonius against Ernest Piggott on a horse called Teigue of the Lee. The next day, Mandonius, ridden by a different jockey, gave another wild exhibition of twisting and cunning, indicating that Casebourne may have been done a grave injustice.