Charles Booker
1893-1984
Article by Alan Trout
Born in 1893, Charles Richard Booker had three wins over jumps in the early 1920s, the first of them at Hambledon Hunt on April 30, 1920, when his mount Marius won the Hampshire Handicap Hurdle by 30 lengths from Whizz Bang, partnered by Grand National-winning jockey Bryan Bletsoe.
Just five days later Charles doubled his score when Watergate scored by two lengths in the Sandown Handicap Hurdle at the Isle of Wight meeting. Again, Bryan Bletsoe finished second, this time on Curraghgour.
After that promising start, Charles had to wait nearly three years for his third, and final, success. Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting on March 16, 1923 saw him win the Sandown Handicap Hurdle aboard Hong Kong. The winning margin was six lengths.
The next time Hong Kong won, George Duller was in the saddle. Although Charles Booker held a licence until the 1927/28 season he had no more success. He died in 1984.
Charles Booker's first win: Marius at Hambledon Hunt, April 30, 1920
