James Graham
James Graham
James Graham
James Cyril Graham was a promising apprentice in the immediate post-war period with six winners in both 1945 and 1946. He later had two wins over hurdles in the early 1950s.
James Cyril Graham was a promising apprentice in the immediate post-war period with six winners in both 1945 and 1946. He later had two wins over hurdles in the early 1950s.
He was apprenticed to Joe Lawson, who sent out winners of every classic from his Manton base in Wiltshire. He rode his first winner on High Stakes, trained by his master, in the Apprentice Plate at Salisbury on June 30, 1945. He had finished second on the three-year-old on his only other appearance that season, at Salisbury in April. There were two more wins on High Stakes in apprentice races at Ascot and Windsor, and he finished the season with a score of six, a total he equalled in 1946.
He was apprenticed to Joe Lawson, who sent out winners of every classic from his Manton base in Wiltshire. He rode his first winner on High Stakes, trained by his master, in the Apprentice Plate at Salisbury on June 30, 1945. He had finished second on the three-year-old on his only other appearance that season, at Salisbury in April. There were two more wins on High Stakes in apprentice races at Ascot and Windsor, and he finished the season with a score of six, a total he equalled in 1946.
However, 1947 produced only one winner, that being Yarn at Birmingham in November, trained by George Todd. James completed his apprenticeship at the start of 1948 and so held a full licence when riding Papist, also trained by Todd, to win the Somersetshire Stakes at Bath in April. That turned out to be his last winner on the Flat, although he continued to hold a licence until 1950.
However, 1947 produced only one winner, that being Yarn at Birmingham in November, trained by George Todd. James completed his apprenticeship at the start of 1948 and so held a full licence when riding Papist, also trained by Todd, to win the Somersetshire Stakes at Bath in April. That turned out to be his last winner on the Flat, although he continued to hold a licence until 1950.
Meanwhile, the superbly consistent chestnut High Stakes, who had provided James with his first three victories, just carried on winning races. Trained initially by Joe Lawson and then by Jack Colling, he became, jointly with the popular sprinter of the 1960s and early ’70s Le Garcon d’Or, Britain’s most prolific winning Flat horse of the 20th century, winning 34 of his 55 races in eight seasons (1944-51), including 12 in succession in 1947-48. He ran mainly in low-grade condition races, although he also possessed the ability to win Chester’s Ormonde Stakes in 1946.
Meanwhile, the superbly consistent chestnut High Stakes, who had provided James with his first three victories, just carried on winning races. Trained initially by Joe Lawson and then by Jack Colling, he became, jointly with the popular sprinter of the 1960s and early ’70s Le Garcon d’Or, Britain’s most prolific winning Flat horse of the 20th century, winning 34 of his 55 races in eight seasons (1944-51), including 12 in succession in 1947-48. He ran mainly in low-grade condition races, although he also possessed the ability to win Chester’s Ormonde Stakes in 1946.
Having turned his attention to the National Hunt scene, James had his first victory on Green’s Island, the three-quarters of a length winner of the Exeter Handicap Hurdle at Taunton on April 26, 1952. Trained by Hugh Jones at Marlborough, the seven-year-old was not winning out of turn, having finished second on his three previous outings, all with James aboard, most recently at Cheltenham nine days earlier. That was James’s 15th winner in all, meaning that he was no longer able to claim an allowance.
Having turned his attention to the National Hunt scene, James had his first victory on Green’s Island, the three-quarters of a length winner of the Exeter Handicap Hurdle at Taunton on April 26, 1952. Trained by Hugh Jones at Marlborough, the seven-year-old was not winning out of turn, having finished second on his three previous outings, all with James aboard, most recently at Cheltenham nine days earlier. That was James’s 15th winner in all, meaning that he was no longer able to claim an allowance.
There were three more placed efforts on Green’s Island before the end of the season, but James had to wait until October 23, 1952 for his final victory when Texas Ranger took the Orchard Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Wincanton, beating Southern Bay, the mount of 1951 Grand National-winning jockey Johnny Bullock, by 15 lengths. Again, James was a regular partner of Texas Ranger, but was unable to add to his score. He relinquished his licence during the following season.
There were three more placed efforts on Green’s Island before the end of the season, but James had to wait until October 23, 1952 for his final victory when Texas Ranger took the Orchard Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Wincanton, beating Southern Bay, the mount of 1951 Grand National-winning jockey Johnny Bullock, by 15 lengths. Again, James was a regular partner of Texas Ranger, but was unable to add to his score. He relinquished his licence during the following season.
James Graham’s wins were, in chronological order:
James Graham’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. High Stakes, Salisbury, June 30, 1945
1. High Stakes, Salisbury, June 30, 1945
2. High Stakes, Ascot, August 4, 1945
2. High Stakes, Ascot, August 4, 1945
3. High Stakes, Windsor, August 17, 1945
3. High Stakes, Windsor, August 17, 1945
4. Dark Duchess, Brighton, August 24, 1945
4. Dark Duchess, Brighton, August 24, 1945
5. Patience, Salisbury, September 8, 1945
5. Patience, Salisbury, September 8, 1945
6. Ti-Chin, Newmarket, October 30, 1945
6. Ti-Chin, Newmarket, October 30, 1945
7. Congold, Nottingham, May 13, 1946
7. Congold, Nottingham, May 13, 1946
8. Skinners, Windsor, June 22, 1946
8. Skinners, Windsor, June 22, 1946
9. Grand Duke, Bath, June 26, 1946
9. Grand Duke, Bath, June 26, 1946
10. Valsand, Newmarket, July 4, 1946
10. Valsand, Newmarket, July 4, 1946
11. Chwarau Teg, Lewes, July 23, 1946
11. Chwarau Teg, Lewes, July 23, 1946
12. Housey-Housey, Lingfield Park, November 16, 1946
12. Housey-Housey, Lingfield Park, November 16, 1946
13. Yarn, Birmingham, November 4, 1947
13. Yarn, Birmingham, November 4, 1947
14. Papist, Bath, April 14, 1948
14. Papist, Bath, April 14, 1948
15. Green’s Island, Taunton, April 26, 1952
15. Green’s Island, Taunton, April 26, 1952
16. Texas Ranger, Wincanton, October 23, 1952
16. Texas Ranger, Wincanton, October 23, 1952