John Ainsworth
Article by Alan Trout
Initially granted a jockey’s licence for the 1931/32 National Hunt season, John Ainsworth rode his first winner on November 17, 1932, when Sweet Japan, trained by John Cooke, won the Ellerton Novices’ Hurdle at Catterick Bridge. The four-year-old had been placed twice earlier in the season, both times with John on board, so they were not winning out of turn.
John’s second victory came on April 29, 1933, when Revesby won the Brocklesby Handicap Chase at the annual Brocklesby Hunt fixture. The seven-year-old was having his twelfth run of the season and won by 15 lengths.
Later that year Revesby provided John with one of the highlights of his career when finishing fourth over the Grand National fences in Liverpool’s Molyneux Chase in November. Admittedly, Revesby was well beaten but he did complete the course, which is more than half of his 14 rivals managed.
Although John Ainsworth held a licence until the 1936/37 season he did not ride another winner.
Sweet Japan, John Ainsworth's first winner
Revesby, John's second & final winner
