Harry Graves
(1899 -1980)
(1899 -1980)
Henry Valentine Graves, always known as Harry, was born on March 12, 1899. A comparatively late starter, he did not ride his first winner until he was 26, when Lacock won the Moderate Mile Plate at Bath on July 15, 1925. He also rode Lacock to win next time out, at Windsor in September.
Henry Valentine Graves, always known as Harry, was born on March 12, 1899. A comparatively late starter, he did not ride his first winner until he was 26, when Lacock won the Moderate Mile Plate at Bath on July 15, 1925. He also rode Lacock to win next time out, at Windsor in September.
He was leading jockey in 1927 – for half an hour at least – when winning the opening race of the Flat season at Lincoln on Barkham Square.
He was leading jockey in 1927 – for half an hour at least – when winning the opening race of the Flat season at Lincoln on Barkham Square.
The following year he achieved a pair of big race victories when winning the 1928 Chester Vase on Hectare by way of a three-way finish in which the distances were a neck and a short-head, while at Royal Ascot he won the Rous Memorial Stakes on 7/4 favourite Delius.
The following year he achieved a pair of big race victories when winning the 1928 Chester Vase on Hectare by way of a three-way finish in which the distances were a neck and a short-head, while at Royal Ascot he won the Rous Memorial Stakes on 7/4 favourite Delius.
In between Chester and Royal Ascot, he rode 200-1 outsider Grange View in that year’s Derby. A maiden, Grange View had little realistic chance and finished fifteenth of the nineteen runners, well behind Harry Wragg on Felstead. He did, though, manage to win a minor race at Birmingham in August, again ridden by Henry Graves.
In between Chester and Royal Ascot, he rode 200-1 outsider Grange View in that year’s Derby. A maiden, Grange View had little realistic chance and finished fifteenth of the nineteen runners, well behind Harry Wragg on Felstead. He did, though, manage to win a minor race at Birmingham in August, again ridden by Henry Graves.
In 1932, Harry won five races on a progressive three-year-old named China King, including the Great Southern Handicap at Sandown, Kempton’s Duke of York Handicap and culminating in a dead-heat with Billy Nevett’s mount Denbigh in the Liverpool Autumn Cup.
In 1932, Harry won five races on a progressive three-year-old named China King, including the Great Southern Handicap at Sandown, Kempton’s Duke of York Handicap and culminating in a dead-heat with Billy Nevett’s mount Denbigh in the Liverpool Autumn Cup.
Harry was no lightweight but was able to supplement his flat winners with a good deal of success over hurdles. His first winner under NH Rules was actually just before his first Flat winner, at Newbury on 17th January 1925 on board Ock. In all Harry rode over 50 winners over hurdles between 1925 and 1933.
Harry was no lightweight but was able to supplement his flat winners with a good deal of success over hurdles. His first winner under NH Rules was actually just before his first Flat winner, at Newbury on 17th January 1925 on board Ock. In all Harry rode over 50 winners over hurdles between 1925 and 1933.
Harry Graves died in 1980.
Harry Graves died in 1980.