Leonard Gaden
1896 - 1931
1896 - 1931
Jockey Leonard Thomas Gaden was riding Nincompoop in the last race of the day at Manchester on Tuesday 7 April, 1931, when his mount fell at the first obstacle.
Jockey Leonard Thomas Gaden was riding Nincompoop in the last race of the day at Manchester on Tuesday 7 April, 1931, when his mount fell at the first obstacle.
He received severe spinal injuries and a fractured skull.
He received severe spinal injuries and a fractured skull.
It could not be seen whether the horse had rolled on him or whether any of the other horses had kicked him.
It could not be seen whether the horse had rolled on him or whether any of the other horses had kicked him.
He was taken to the casualty station on the course, where he died the next morning without regaining consciousness.
He was taken to the casualty station on the course, where he died the next morning without regaining consciousness.
Leonard's last win had come on Wretham at Cheltenham on Tuesday December 30, 1930.
Leonard's last win had come on Wretham at Cheltenham on Tuesday December 30, 1930.
Like many of his generation, Leonard Gaden’s intended career as a jockey was put on hold by the First World War. He served with the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (known more famously as the Sherwood Foresters) and must have thought himself fortunate to survive the conflict as he was badly gassed in the trenches. Sadly Leonard’s life was still prematurely ended by a fall at Manchester racecourse in 1931.
Like many of his generation, Leonard Gaden’s intended career as a jockey was put on hold by the First World War. He served with the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (known more famously as the Sherwood Foresters) and must have thought himself fortunate to survive the conflict as he was badly gassed in the trenches. Sadly Leonard’s life was still prematurely ended by a fall at Manchester racecourse in 1931.
Leonard was born on 9th June 1896 at Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire, in the heart of National Hunt country. At the age of 14 he started as an apprentice at the nearby yard of dual-purpose trainer Sir Charles Nugent. But he failed to make his mark there before the War and immediately after it ended he resumed his career in racing at the jumping yard of Frank (F. A.) Brown, also at Bourton.
Leonard was born on 9th June 1896 at Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire, in the heart of National Hunt country. At the age of 14 he started as an apprentice at the nearby yard of dual-purpose trainer Sir Charles Nugent. But he failed to make his mark there before the War and immediately after it ended he resumed his career in racing at the jumping yard of Frank (F. A.) Brown, also at Bourton.
He was never really a full time jockey for Brown and for at least some of his time was the head lad there. Leonard’s first winner for Brown came on 13th April 1925 at the Hereford Easter Monday meeting on a horse called Coxhill. The generous trainer gave him a watch to commemorate the occasion.
He was never really a full time jockey for Brown and for at least some of his time was the head lad there. Leonard’s first winner for Brown came on 13th April 1925 at the Hereford Easter Monday meeting on a horse called Coxhill. The generous trainer gave him a watch to commemorate the occasion.
Little success came Leonard’s way until he struck up a great partnership with the hurdler Wretham. They won 5 races between them in the 1930/31 season.
Little success came Leonard’s way until he struck up a great partnership with the hurdler Wretham. They won 5 races between them in the 1930/31 season.
Leonard Gaden was aged 34 when he died and is buried at Blockley cemetery, near Bourton.
Leonard Gaden was aged 34 when he died and is buried at Blockley cemetery, near Bourton.
(Note: Newspaper articles in the immediate aftermath of Leonard Gaden’s death refer to him as Lewis Gaden. But at the inquest and in other sources, such as Ancestry and his War records, he is referred to by his actual name Leonard Thomas Gaden. Perhaps Lewis was his nickname within the racing community but there is no proof of this.)
(Note: Newspaper articles in the immediate aftermath of Leonard Gaden’s death refer to him as Lewis Gaden. But at the inquest and in other sources, such as Ancestry and his War records, he is referred to by his actual name Leonard Thomas Gaden. Perhaps Lewis was his nickname within the racing community but there is no proof of this.)
With thanks to John Turley who supplied much of the above information
With thanks to John Turley who supplied much of the above information