Charles Childs was born in France in 1885 to John Childs, and became one of five jockey brothers. Along with his brother Joe, Charlie was apprenticed to Tom Jennings Jr. at Newmarket. 

His major racing success was winning the 1916 St Leger on 11/10 favourite Hurry On, considered by trainer Fred Darling to be the best he ever trained. Charlie won by three lengths from Clarissimus, ridden by Frank Bullock, with his brother Joe a further five lengths back in third on Atheling. 

On Sunday 26 July 1910, in the muddiest going on record, Charlie, riding Nuage, won the Paris Grand Prix from Reinhart. Nuage was owned by Mme. Cheremeteff: it was the frst time that a woman had won the race. Nuage's Grand Prix win was made the occasion of great rejoicing at Chantilly, and E. Cunnington, its trainer, roasted a whole ox at the big open air dinner he gave to the people of the town.  

In 1916, the British government introduced conscription (compulsory military service) through the Military Service Acts. Because this was a massive shift in civil liberty, the government established a system of Military Service Tribunals where men could appeal their call-up papers. 

A temporary extension (or temporary exemption) was essentially a "stay of execution." It didn't mean the jockeys wouldn't go to war; it meant the Army agreed to wait a few months before taking them. Often, people applied for these to "put their affairs in order"—finishing a harvest, closing a business, or, in Charlie Childs' case, completing a racing season. 

On Friday June 9 1916, at a meeting of the Newmarket Urban Tribunal, Charlie Childs and his elder brother Joe, were claimed for by solicitor Mr Russell on the grounds that Joseph was 8st 2lbs and Charlie 8st 3lbs, and that if they were taken to the Army, they would put on weight and not be able to ride on the flat again. Joe was a widower with an eight year old child; Charlie was marrried with three children. Also, both jockeys largely supported their widowed sister, who lived at Cambridge with five children. The extentions were granted.

Despite the initial extensions, both brothers did eventually serve, but they managed to keep their careers intact through some very "creative" military arrangements. 

Joe joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) but was notoriously "petulant" regarding discipline. He later transferred to the 4th Hussars. 

In 1916, Charles joined the Colours, and was quatered at Crystal Palace. He survived the war and returned to a successful career, proving that (at least in his case) the solicitor's fears of permanent weight gain were managed, likely because he was able to maintain some level of riding activity during the war years. 

Charlie suffered significant loss when, on Tuesday Septeber 27 1921, buglars raided his villa in Chantilly. A silver-gilt tea service and a huge silver cup given in souvenir of his victory in the Grand Prix de Paris in 1910 on Nuage, were stolen. A number of presents given to Charlie by various owners were also taken.

Aged 72, Charlie died on Friday October 4 1957 at Glanely Rest, Exning, Newmarket, where he had been a private patient for many years. 

His father John, who died on May 9, 1923 - aged 78 - is, like Charlie, buried at Newmarket.