Harry Chapman was born at Hampton Court, Middlesex, on July 26, 1880, the son of an ostler. He was apprenticed to William Nightingall at Epsom.

He had his first mounts in 1895 and rode his first winner on Star of Peace at Sandown Park on September 4, 1897.

Two months later he gained his biggest success when winning the Manchester November Handicap on Asterie.

His career as a jockey in Britain was relatively brief, his last season being in 1900.

He then became a tipster.

Presumably that was not a successful venture, for he subsequently left for Belgium where he resumed his riding career.

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