Harry Bond

Harry Bond

Article by Alan Trout

Harry Bond rode on the Flat for three seasons during the late 1920s without managing to ride a winner.

He was originally apprenticed to Samuel George Pickering, who trained at Kentford House, Newmarket. When Pickering died in June 1927, Harry’s indentures were transferred to the late trainer’s son Samuel Douglas Pickering who had taken over the licence.

Harry had his first ride on April 28, 1927 at Newmarket, finishing a respectable third of six on an unnamed two-year-old colt by Glanmerin out of Loumay in the Ely Plate, won by Joe Marshall on evens favourite Tu Quoque from Dick Perryman on 7-2 second favourite Aylsham.  

Unusually for that time of the season, the Ely Plate was a contest for two- and three-year-olds. The three three-year-olds were required to carry 8st 7lb, while the three juveniles received a considerable weight-for-age concession. Harry’s mount carried just 6st 3lb. 

Charlie Smirke and Harry Wragg were among the other jockeys who rode the Loumay colt during the year, but neither was able to win on him. He did finish first past the post at Newmarket at the end of September, when ridden by Bobby Jones, but was disqualified for causing interference with the second and third. 

Following his father’s death, Samuel Douglas Pickering trained 23 winners between 1927 and 1929, but Harry was not aboard any of them. His final ride came at Newmarket on July 2, 1929, when Lord Dewar’s four-year-old filly Vindication finished fourth of nine runners in the Apprentice Plate, a race in which Thomas Clay enjoyed his first ever win on Sunnier. 

Vindication had one more run in England before being sent to race in France, while Harry Bond did not ride in public again.