Joseph Cain
Article by Alan Trout
Joseph Cain’s origins are somewhat obscure. He appears to have started his career elsewhere, for he did not claim an apprentice allowance when riding in England for the first time, and his initial mount was on the Lord Howard de Walden’s useful colt St Maclou in the Doncaster Cup on September 11, 1903, not normally a race in which to utilise an inexperienced jockey.
They finished unplaced that day, the race being won by Wavelet’s Pride, the mount of Danny Maher, but St Maclou, trained by Major Charlie Beatty, soon made amends when giving Joseph his first British success in the October Plate at Kempton Park, then following up in the Select Stakes at Newmarket five days later.
A disappointing effort when finishing last of three when sent off 6-4 favourite for Newmarket’s Jockey Club Cup on October 29, ended the season for St Maclou and for Joseph Cain, who, although he held a Flat jockey’s licence for 1904, turned his attentions to riding under National Hunt rules.
His sole success in 1904 came when riding Lord Howard de Walden’s Centre Board, also trained by Major Beatty, to victory in the Ludlow Hurdle on April 21, beating the vastly more experienced Ernie Driscoll on Uncle Jack, who was conceding 22lb to the winner. Centre Board was also responsible for both of Joseph’s wins in 1905, taking the Arderne Chase at Tarporley Hunt on April 12, and the valuable Great Shropshire Chase at Ludlow 16 days later.
On March 31, 1906, Joseph had his first try over the formidable Liverpool fences in the Champion Chase, completing the course on six-year-old Centre Board, albeit last of those to finish. In December, Centre Board gave Joseph a belated first win of the year when taking the Cranborne Handicap Chase at Newbury.
The combination began 1907 with victory in the Great Warwickshire Handicap Chase at Birmingham on February 19, beating Eremon, ridden by Alf Newey, by six lengths. An even easier success followed at Leicester on March 6, landing the Thurmaston Handicap Chase by 12 lengths. Interestingly, the form book records him as claiming an allowance on both of those wins, which casts considerable doubt on his origins and any prior success.
Then it was back to Aintree for an attempt at the Grand National itself, for which Centre Board started a 20-1 chance. Sadly, he refused, victory going to his Birmingham victims Eremon and Alf Newey.
Centre Board ran four more times thereafter, ridden by either Harry Aylin or Frank Morgan, without showing much form. Joseph did not renew his licence for the 1908 season.
Joseph Cain’s British wins were, in chronological order:
1. St Maclou, Kempton Park, October 9, 1903
2. St Maclou, Newmarket October 14, 1903
3. Centre Board, Ludlow, April 21, 1904
4. Centre Board, Tarporley Hunt, April 12, 1905
5. Centre Board, Ludlow, April 28, 1905
6. Centre Board, Newbury, December 18, 1906
7. Centre Board, Birmingham, February 19, 1907
8. Centre Board, Leicester, March 6, 1907
