Noel Blackwell

Article by Alan Trout

Noel George Blackwell rode one winner during a brief campaign in the Flat in 1913. 

He was apprenticed to his father, George Blackwell (1861-1942), who trained at Lagrange, Newmarket and won every Classic except the Oaks.

Noel had his first ride in public at Newmarket on July 16, 1913 when he finished third on Queen Of The Grove, owned and trained by his father, in the Maiden (Apprentice) Three-Year-Old Plate won by Harry Chaloner on Miss Sainfoin. 

The same horse provided Noel with his only win when landing the Rufford Abbey Maiden Plate at Nottingham on October 6. Queen Of The Grove had run twice between her two outings for Noel, but neither ‘Skeets’ Martin or Danny Maher, two of the greatest jockeys of the pre-war period, were able to finish in the first three on her. 

It was another leading owner-trainer, Robert Sherwood, who provided Noel with his final ride, that being on Simon Mac who finished eighth of the nine runners in the Westmoreland Apprentice Plate at Liverpool on November 7, 1913.

In 1920 George Blackwell sold Lagrange to Lord Glanely and moved to Beverley House, also in Newmarket, where he trained the 1923 Grand National winner Sergeant Murphy. He retired in 1929, bringing to a close a career that last for almost 40 years.  

Noel’s sister married the successful jockey Henri Jelliss, who commenced training at Beverley House in  1937, the property still being owned by his father-in-law George Blackwell.