Henry Caley

Henry Caley

Article by Alan Trout

Born on October 2, 1877, Henry Caley was a northern Flat jockey who enjoyed some success at the turn of the 20th century. He rode 53 winners altogether, with a best score of 14 in 1906. He also notched a further 14 wins over jumps.

Henry served his apprenticeship with Thomas Connor, who trained at Middleham in Yorkshire. His first ride appears to have been on Etton, who finished unplaced in the strangely-named Consolation Scramble at York on August 30, 1894.

It was not until June 5, 1895 at Manchester that Henry had his first success when Steeple Bob won the Two-Year-Old Selling Plate. It was his only victory that year. He continued to ride the occasional winner for the next three years.

Having completed his apprenticeship, Henry held a professional jockey’s licence from 1898. In 1899 he registered 12 wins, thus achieving a double-figure score for the first time.

Although much better known as a Flat jockey, Henry did have some success over jumps between 1899 and 1903, plus a ride in the Grand National. It was at the start of the 1899 campaign that he had his first victory in that sphere when Miss Morrison won the Selling Steeplechase at Manchester on January 3, beating Prattle, the mount of top amateur Jock Fergusson. They followed up over the same course and distance a fortnight later. Henry rode six winners over jumps that year, in addition to his dozen Flat victories. Thereafter, he rode the occasional winner over jumps while continuing to do well on the Flat. 

He won three races in 36 days on the six-year-old Helium but also lost a race at Doncaster in February 1901 as he went the wrong side of a flag. Although he rode no winners in 1902, he did get to ride Helium in that year’s Grand National, but the gelding refused. 

Henry’s last winner over jumps was Veridian in the Bedale Hurdle at Catterick Bridge on April 16, 1903, when he beat Cornice, ridden by another mainly Flat jockey, George Sanderson, by six lengths.  

In 1904 he had no winners at all, and 1905 was little better with just one, but he followed that with a career best score of 14 wins in 1906. Perhaps that might have been his breakthrough year, but by 1907 he was back down to one winner, and that turned out to be the last of his career when, on Easter Monday, April 1, Lady Forfar, trained by William I’Anson, won the Bentinck Stakes at Newcastle.

Henry had over 40 mounts that year so he was clearly well regarded, but back at Newcastle and again on Easter Monday, April 20, 1908, he had his final ride when Saucy Jack finished down the field in the Jesmond Welter Handicap. The race was won by Glengonna, ridden by William Griggs and owned by former successful National Hunt amateur rider George Menzies.

Henry Caley’s National Hunt winners were, in chronological order:

1. Miss Morrison, Manchester, January 3, 1899

2. Miss Morrison, Manchester, January 17, 1899

3. Syrian Bread, Manchester, February 14, 1899

4. Sirene, Malton, February 17, 1899

5. Crathie, Catterick Bridge, April 6, 1899

6. Bright Colours, Haydock Park, April 10, 1899

7. Peopleton, Carlisle, May 2, 1900

8. Lady Lundy, Haydock Park, December 18, 1900

9. Coralline, Ripon, December 27, 1900

10. Helium, Nottingham, October 21, 1901

11. Helium, Wolverhampton, October 29, 1901

12. Helium, Nottingham, November 26, 1901

13. Peridane, Haydock Park, December 18, 1901

14. Veridian, Catterick Bridge, April 16, 1903