John Hay Brown
1909-1986
National Hunt jockey John Hay Brown was born on December 9, 1909 and rode a total of 29 winners over jumps during the 1930s.
He made his debut when finishing unplaced on Sir Caradoc in the Woore Chase at that Shropshire course on May 17, 1928.
Two years elapsed before he rode his first winner, that coming on a 5-1 chance named Jack Whitehouse in the Powick Selling Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on May 15, 1930.
He rode five winners in the 1931/32 season including the only double of his career, aboard 7-2 chance Martian in the Buckden Selling Handicap Chase and 6-1 shot March Brown II in the Waterloo Selling Handicap Chase at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, March 28, 1932.
John twice rode in the Welsh Grand National, finishing unplaced on Duke of Florence in 1931 and falling on Prince Madoc in 1934.
He equalled his best score of five wins in 1938/39, the last of those coming on 2-1 favourite Lecco, trained by Charlie Piggott, in the Newent Handicap Hurdle at Colwall Park on April 24, 1939. That would prove to be the last of his career.
World War Two curtailed John’s riding opportunities. He returned to action for a short time after the war but failed to ride another winner. His final mount, Principor, finished last of ten runners in division one of the South Downs Hurdle at Plumpton on September 29, 1947.
John Hay Brown died on February 15, 1986, aged 76.
