Joseph Capper

Joseph Capper

Article by Alan Trout

Joseph Capper rode with some success during the last decade of the 19th century, winning 23 races between 1893 and 1899. He gained his first success when riding Dawn to a 12-length victory in the Maiden Steeplechase at Tanta Side Hunt on April 21, 1893. 

That was Joseph’s sole success of the year, but he fared much better in 1894 with ten wins, his highest score for a calendar year. There were doubles at Bangor-on-Dee, Woore and Tanat Side Hunt. He also finished first past the post at the latter venue but was disqualified after Minstrellan had won the Maiden Hurdle for ‘having gone the wrong side of two flags’. He also tackled the Liverpool fences for the first time that year, finishing a well-beaten fourth in the Valentine Chase on Harpist. 

Thereafter he continued to ride the occasional winner, though never more than four in a single year. He scored just once in 1895 and was unplaced on Stirrup Cup in that year’s Champion Chase at Liverpool. He also lost another race in the stewards’ room when Carrickaneria was disqualified after winning the Ferney Hill Selling Chase at Ludlow on April 30, 1897, because he failed to weigh out or weigh in with the horse’s blinkers. 

Joseph’s four winners in 1898 included a double at Tarporley in April. His final win was at Southwell on October 9, 1899, when Makerfield was a comfortable five-length winner of the Upton Selling Hurdle.

Joseph Capper’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Dawn, Tanat Side Hunt, April 21, 1893 

2. Dawn, Melton Hunt, February 1, 1894

3. Dawn, Wolverhampton, February 16, 1894

4. Stirrup Cup, Woore, April 5, 1894

5. Bagman, Woore, April 5, 1894

6. Minstrellan, Uttoxeter, April 7, 1894

7. Medley, Bangor-on-Dee, April 13, 1894

8. Stirrup Cup, Bangor-on-Dee, April 13, 1894

9. Stirrup Cup, Tanat Side Hunt, April 19, 1894

10. Bagman, Tanat Side Hunt, April 19, 1894

11. Harpist, Wirral Hunt, April 21, 1894

12. Whitegate, Bangor-on-Dee, April 19, 1895

13. Handley, Tarporley, April 8, 1896

14. Handley, Bangor-on-Dee, April 10, 1896

15. Handley, Tarporley, April 21, 1897

16. Fair Play, Tanat Side Hunt, April 24, 1897

17. Handley, Keele Park, December 27, 1897

18. Lady Stronge, Ludlow, March 10, 1898

19. Sis, Woore, March 31, 1898

20. Freeman, Tarporley, April 13, 1898

21. Sis, Tarporley, April 13, 1898

22. Keele Belle, Woore, April 13, 1899

23. Makerfield, Southwell, October 9, 1899