Charles Hobbs
Charles Hobbs
Charles Hobbs
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Despite his English name, Charles Hobbs was a French jockey who rode all five of his winners in England during the summer of 1914.
Despite his English name, Charles Hobbs was a French jockey who rode all five of his winners in England during the summer of 1914.
He had his first ride in Britain on the opening day of the season, March 23, 1914, when his mount Brotherstone finished unplaced in the Welbeck Three-Year-Old Plate, won by Herbert Robins on Turbulence.
He had his first ride in Britain on the opening day of the season, March 23, 1914, when his mount Brotherstone finished unplaced in the Welbeck Three-Year-Old Plate, won by Herbert Robins on Turbulence.
It was not until the meeting at Redcar on June 1 that Charles opened his account in Britain, when Maytree, trained by Walter Sanderson, won the Eston Maiden Handicap by a neck from Villeroy, the mount of Joe Thwaites. The Sporting Life informed its readers that Charles intended to stay in Britain and “should not want for patronage as there is no doubt he is an accomplished horseman.”
It was not until the meeting at Redcar on June 1 that Charles opened his account in Britain, when Maytree, trained by Walter Sanderson, won the Eston Maiden Handicap by a neck from Villeroy, the mount of Joe Thwaites. The Sporting Life informed its readers that Charles intended to stay in Britain and “should not want for patronage as there is no doubt he is an accomplished horseman.”
This was evident when Charles rode his second winner, First Valentine, in the Godstone Two-Year-Old Selling Plate at Lingfield Park on June 6. On the previous day, First Valentine, ridden on that occasion by William Rollason, had been unruly at the start in the Wray Two-Year-Old Selling Plate and had lost several lengths. Now, with Charles in the saddle, he swerved almost across the course at the start but came through to beat Lucky Paddy, the mount of Fred Rickaby, by a neck.
This was evident when Charles rode his second winner, First Valentine, in the Godstone Two-Year-Old Selling Plate at Lingfield Park on June 6. On the previous day, First Valentine, ridden on that occasion by William Rollason, had been unruly at the start in the Wray Two-Year-Old Selling Plate and had lost several lengths. Now, with Charles in the saddle, he swerved almost across the course at the start but came through to beat Lucky Paddy, the mount of Fred Rickaby, by a neck.
First Valentine was trained by former well-known amateur National Hunt jockey Vic Tabor, and it was he who responsible for Charles’ third winner, Sea Trip in the Tottenham Selling Plate at Alexandra Park on July 4. His next ride was also a winner, when Rossetti scored by four lengths in the Arnold Selling Plate at Nottingham on July 6.
First Valentine was trained by former well-known amateur National Hunt jockey Vic Tabor, and it was he who responsible for Charles’ third winner, Sea Trip in the Tottenham Selling Plate at Alexandra Park on July 4. His next ride was also a winner, when Rossetti scored by four lengths in the Arnold Selling Plate at Nottingham on July 6.
Finally, Troubadour, owned by Sir Ernest Cassel and trained by former leading jockey Billy Halsey, won the Tower Maiden Three-Year-Old Plate on July 20 at Leicester.
Finally, Troubadour, owned by Sir Ernest Cassel and trained by former leading jockey Billy Halsey, won the Tower Maiden Three-Year-Old Plate on July 20 at Leicester.
Charles had made a promising start, but he returned only briefly in 1915, with just one ride, an unplaced effort on Perugino in the Maiden Two-Year-Old Plate at Newmarket on April 15, a race won by Fred Rickaby on Lord Derby’s Canyon.
Charles had made a promising start, but he returned only briefly in 1915, with just one ride, an unplaced effort on Perugino in the Maiden Two-Year-Old Plate at Newmarket on April 15, a race won by Fred Rickaby on Lord Derby’s Canyon.
Charles then moved on, presumably returning to France, a country heavily involved in fighting amid the horrors of World War One.
Charles then moved on, presumably returning to France, a country heavily involved in fighting amid the horrors of World War One.
Charles Hobbs’s British wins were, in chronological order:
Charles Hobbs’s British wins were, in chronological order:
1. Maytree, Redcar, June 1, 1914
1. Maytree, Redcar, June 1, 1914
2. Fort Valentine, Lingfield Park, June 6, 1914
2. Fort Valentine, Lingfield Park, June 6, 1914
3. Sea Trip, Alexandra Park, July 4, 1914
3. Sea Trip, Alexandra Park, July 4, 1914
4. Rossetti, Nottingham, July 6, 1914
4. Rossetti, Nottingham, July 6, 1914
5. Troubadour, Leicester, July 20, 1914
5. Troubadour, Leicester, July 20, 1914