Leslie Guy

Leslie Guy

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden three winners on the Flat, all in 1933, Leslie Guy then had two victories over jumps, followed by a third nearly 18 years later.

Born in 1912, he was apprenticed to Dobson Peacock, who had trained successfully at Middleham for more than 30 years. Leslie had his first ride at Carlisle on July 1, 1931, when Alchemy finished unplaced in the Lowther Apprentice Plate. 

It was not until July 7, 1933, that he had his first winner when Spode, trained by Dobson Peacock for his son Matthew, won the Lowton Apprentices’ Stakes at Haydock Park, despite Leslie having to put up 3lb overweight at 7st 6lb. His second victory was gained on Interlude, a four-length winner of the Hackfall Apprentice Plate at Ripon in August. A third success followed on Sovran, owned by Sir Edward Hanmer and trained by Dobson Peacock, at York in October. That was the only time Leslie rode Sovran, who was later sold to race in India. He continued to hold a Flat licence until 1938 but there were no more winners. 

However, there was success over jumps. On January 16, 1937, Leslie rode Family Fuss, trained by George Dixon, to win the Halnaby Selling Handicap Chase at Catterick Bridge by three lengths from George Owen’s mount Duneira. More than a year passed before his second win under National Hunt rules, when Dawnen, also trained by Dixon, won the Sands Novices’ Chase at Sedgefield on February 9, 1938. 

Leslie relinquished his licence for more than a decade, taking it out again for the 1949/50 season and renewing his association with George Dixon. It was not until January 2, 1956, that he had his third and final victory over jumps. It happened when Miss Conduct, owned and trained by Dixon and one of just ten rides Leslie had that season, won the Charles Vickery Memorial Cup Chase at Catterick Bridge. The nine-year-old was receiving 22lb from the runner-up, Victory Morn, who she beat by six lengths. 

Leslie had been the mare’s regular jockey since she began her career under National Hunt rules in May 1952, and now she had finally won a race. However, the partnership failed to complete the course in their next two starts and were unplaced in a third. Leslie rode Miss Conduct for the last time when they were second in the George Mulcaster Memorial Cup Chase at Sedgefield on February 2, 1957. He did not renew his licence the following season.   

Leslie Guy’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Spade, Haydock Park, July 7, 1933

2. Interlude, Ripon, August 7, 1933

3. Sovran, York, October 4, 1933

4. Family Fuss, January 16, 1937

5. Dawnen, Sedgefield, February 9, 1938

6. Miss Conduct, Catterick Bridge, January 2, 1956