Robert Gordon
1873 - 1951
1873 - 1951
Robert Gordon, always known as ‘Bert’, was born at Thornhaugh, Northamptonshire, in 1873, the son of amateur jockey Frank Gordon. He started out as an amateur and his first mount under National Hunt rules on Vulture in the Welsh Grand National at Cardiff’s Easter meeting on April 6, 1896. It was not an auspicious start because Vulture refused and then ran out.
Robert Gordon, always known as ‘Bert’, was born at Thornhaugh, Northamptonshire, in 1873, the son of amateur jockey Frank Gordon. He started out as an amateur and his first mount under National Hunt rules on Vulture in the Welsh Grand National at Cardiff’s Easter meeting on April 6, 1896. It was not an auspicious start because Vulture refused and then ran out.
Undaunted, Bert turned professional in December of that year and rode his first winner at the corresponding Cardiff Easter fixture, April 19, 1897, guiding the 6-4 favourite D.D. to a four-length victory in the St Nicholas Maiden Hurdle.
Undaunted, Bert turned professional in December of that year and rode his first winner at the corresponding Cardiff Easter fixture, April 19, 1897, guiding the 6-4 favourite D.D. to a four-length victory in the St Nicholas Maiden Hurdle.
Although his first success was gained in Wales, it was in the south-west corner of England that he would make his name during the early years of the 20th century. There were far more meetings in Devon and Somerset around that time, including such long-gone venues as South Brent, Plymouth, Torquay, Totnes, Crewkerne and Bridgwater. Bert rode a double at the 1899 Bridgwater Hunt meeting on Gwen and Knocklong – Bridgwater Hunt held its final meeting in 1903.
Although his first success was gained in Wales, it was in the south-west corner of England that he would make his name during the early years of the 20th century. There were far more meetings in Devon and Somerset around that time, including such long-gone venues as South Brent, Plymouth, Torquay, Totnes, Crewkerne and Bridgwater. Bert rode a double at the 1899 Bridgwater Hunt meeting on Gwen and Knocklong – Bridgwater Hunt held its final meeting in 1903.
He enjoyed his best year in 1909 with a score of 46 winners, resulting in him being crowned Champion National Hunt Jockey. It was the only occasion in which he headed the table. By so doing, he emulated his elder brother, Arthur, who had been Champion National Hunt Jockey in 1897. It was also in 1909 that Bert recorded his most important victory when winning the Prince of Wales Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in May on 10-1 shot Stonebridge.
He enjoyed his best year in 1909 with a score of 46 winners, resulting in him being crowned Champion National Hunt Jockey. It was the only occasion in which he headed the table. By so doing, he emulated his elder brother, Arthur, who had been Champion National Hunt Jockey in 1897. It was also in 1909 that Bert recorded his most important victory when winning the Prince of Wales Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in May on 10-1 shot Stonebridge.
Bert was particularly effective at the two-day Easter fixture at Torquay, where he rode a total of 52 winners during his career, no mean feat considering that that was Torquay’s only fixture of the season. In fact, he rarely left Torquay without at least three or four winners over the two days. His greatest feat occurred at the fixture on Easter Monday, March 28, 1910, when he rode five winners and a third from six mounts. On the second day, he rode four winners and a second, leaving Torquay having won nine of the 12 races, with a second, a third and a fall in the other three.
Bert was particularly effective at the two-day Easter fixture at Torquay, where he rode a total of 52 winners during his career, no mean feat considering that that was Torquay’s only fixture of the season. In fact, he rarely left Torquay without at least three or four winners over the two days. His greatest feat occurred at the fixture on Easter Monday, March 28, 1910, when he rode five winners and a third from six mounts. On the second day, he rode four winners and a second, leaving Torquay having won nine of the 12 races, with a second, a third and a fall in the other three.
He recorded a treble on the final day’s racing at South Brent, May 25, 1912, winning the Palston Selling Hurdle on Narrateur, the Stewards’ Selling Chase on Baffity, and the concluding Devon Handicap Hurdle on Isatis.
He recorded a treble on the final day’s racing at South Brent, May 25, 1912, winning the Palston Selling Hurdle on Narrateur, the Stewards’ Selling Chase on Baffity, and the concluding Devon Handicap Hurdle on Isatis.
Some steeplechases at Totnes & Bridgetown involved a double crossing of the river Dart. They were eventually reduced to just two such events, one on each day of the annual two-day meeting, owners having become less inclined to risk their horses to the perils of a tidal river. Bert won one of those races in 1912, being left to finish alone on Baffity after their sole opponent, Miss Oxnard, had fallen.
Some steeplechases at Totnes & Bridgetown involved a double crossing of the river Dart. They were eventually reduced to just two such events, one on each day of the annual two-day meeting, owners having become less inclined to risk their horses to the perils of a tidal river. Bert won one of those races in 1912, being left to finish alone on Baffity after their sole opponent, Miss Oxnard, had fallen.
He rode three winners at Cheltenham’s prestigious National Hunt Meeting, landing the Swindon Selling Chase in 1912 on Veglo and again in 1914 on Sentry, and the more valuable National Hunt Juvenile Chase in 1915 on Variety, all three of whom he also trained.
He rode three winners at Cheltenham’s prestigious National Hunt Meeting, landing the Swindon Selling Chase in 1912 on Veglo and again in 1914 on Sentry, and the more valuable National Hunt Juvenile Chase in 1915 on Variety, all three of whom he also trained.
True to form, Bert won five races over the two-days at Torquay’s Easter fixture in 1915, but there was to be no more racing in Devon for the next five years due to the Great War.
True to form, Bert won five races over the two-days at Torquay’s Easter fixture in 1915, but there was to be no more racing in Devon for the next five years due to the Great War.
After Torquay, Bert’s next most successful track was Newton Abbot, where he rode at total of 47 winners during his career. He also did well at Buckfastleigh, winning 34 races there. At Buckfastleigh’s Whit Monday meeting on June 1, 1925, he rode Gay Lochinvar to win two steeplechases on the same afternoon at generous odds of 4-1 and 6-1. Connections visualised further gains by attempting the hat-rick on the second day of the meeting but this time Gay Lochinvar was only able to finish third.
After Torquay, Bert’s next most successful track was Newton Abbot, where he rode at total of 47 winners during his career. He also did well at Buckfastleigh, winning 34 races there. At Buckfastleigh’s Whit Monday meeting on June 1, 1925, he rode Gay Lochinvar to win two steeplechases on the same afternoon at generous odds of 4-1 and 6-1. Connections visualised further gains by attempting the hat-rick on the second day of the meeting but this time Gay Lochinvar was only able to finish third.
Bert rode a total of 492 winners during a career that spanned 34 years, interrupted by World War One. He registered what proved to be his last victory on Harpooner in the Dean Court Moderate Hurdle at Buckfastleigh on June 9, 1930. His final ride, Heartburn in the Oakly Handicap Chase at Ludlow on October 16, 1930, ended in a fall. Whether his retirement was a direct result of that spill is not known but he was very much in the veteran stage by then, being in his late fifties.
Bert rode a total of 492 winners during a career that spanned 34 years, interrupted by World War One. He registered what proved to be his last victory on Harpooner in the Dean Court Moderate Hurdle at Buckfastleigh on June 9, 1930. His final ride, Heartburn in the Oakly Handicap Chase at Ludlow on October 16, 1930, ended in a fall. Whether his retirement was a direct result of that spill is not known but he was very much in the veteran stage by then, being in his late fifties.
Following his retirement from the saddle, he continued to train. Altogether, his training career, which had overlapped for much of his time as a jockey, lasted for more than 30 years.
Following his retirement from the saddle, he continued to train. Altogether, his training career, which had overlapped for much of his time as a jockey, lasted for more than 30 years.
He was known, rather oddly, as ‘the Blue Monkey'’ because of his small, wiry frame, impish face and permanent blue shadow. He rode with a long length of leg and was known for his windmill finishes. It is said that, in his later years, he became somewhat eccentric.
He was known, rather oddly, as ‘the Blue Monkey'’ because of his small, wiry frame, impish face and permanent blue shadow. He rode with a long length of leg and was known for his windmill finishes. It is said that, in his later years, he became somewhat eccentric.
Robert Gordon was found dead in a ditch in the Wiltshire village of Pewsey on January 12, 1951.
Robert Gordon was found dead in a ditch in the Wiltshire village of Pewsey on January 12, 1951.
