James Adams

James Adams

Article by Alan Trout

When James Adams finished first on the five-year-old Yvette in the Newton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on December 10, 1910, it may have seemed that he a had a bright future. It was his fourth win of the year and his third on Yvette, owned by Mrs Pease. Among his defeated rivals that day were three Grand National-winning jockeys in Ernie Piggott, Alf Newey and Bob Chadwick. Yet within 48 hours his career as a jockey was virtually over, having incurred the wrath of the stewards. 

James Adams started his career as an amateur, winning the Wharfedale Selling Chase at Wetherby on Easter Monday, April 11, 1898 aboard Commoner. He was often shown in the results as ‘Mr J. Adams Jnr’. 

His first win as a professional came at Haydock Park on December 12, 1908, when partnering Bayar to victory by three-quarters of a length in the Juvenile Selling Hurdle. His last win as an amateur had been achieved on the same horse at Wetherby 32 days earlier when the winning margin in the Stockeld Juvenile Hurdle was half a length. 

He had two wins in 1909 and then a double at Haydock Park to start 1910 with Yvette winning the Club Hurdle and Galloper taking the February Handicap Hurdle. He followed up on Yvette with victory at Doncaster ten days later. Back at Haydock later that year, James rode Yvette to land the aforementioned Newton Handicap Hurdle. 

Two days after their Haydock Park success, James and Yvette took part in the Welbeck Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham. The winner was Prince Donzel, ridden by Frank Dainty, beating Amersham, the mount of Alf Newey by a neck, with Yvette, who had made up considerable ground from the last flight, four lengths away in third place. 

The Nottingham stewards called James before them and were “very dissatisfied” with his explanation for his riding. They reported him to the Stewards of the National Hunt Committee who, after interviewing the jockey and Mr Pease, representing the owner, severely cautioned the latter and warned James Adams off. 

It is not known whether he ever rode in public again but he certainly did not have another winner in Britain.