Charles Hook
1914 - 1958
1914 - 1958
National Hunt jockey and trainer Charles Hook twice defied doctors’ warning that another fall would kill him. A fall at Cheltenham in 1946 resulted in him breaking a bone in his neck and displacing another. He was advised to give up but he rode again, and a year later had another fall and found in hospital that the displaced bone had gone back. Two years afterwards he was once more advised to retire after taking a fall, but he again defied the specialist’s warning.
National Hunt jockey and trainer Charles Hook twice defied doctors’ warning that another fall would kill him. A fall at Cheltenham in 1946 resulted in him breaking a bone in his neck and displacing another. He was advised to give up but he rode again, and a year later had another fall and found in hospital that the displaced bone had gone back. Two years afterwards he was once more advised to retire after taking a fall, but he again defied the specialist’s warning.
Born in Greenwich in 1914, Charles George Hook was apprenticed to
Born in Greenwich in 1914, Charles George Hook was apprenticed to
American-born Morgan de Witt Blair, who trained at Ewhurst, Surrey. Charles rode his first winner for Blair on Lynton in the three-mile Cranborne Handicap Chase at Newbury on November 28, 1935. The following month, he rode Victor Norman to win two decent handicap hurdles at Sandown and Hurst Park, carrying 12st 5lb on the second occasion, and that with Charles claiming an allowance. He then rode Victor Norman in Newbury’s Greenham Handicap Hurdle, finishing second, giving almost two stone to the winner. But sadly for Charles, Frenchie Nicholson took over for the horse’s next start, which was when winning the 1936 Champion Hurdle by three lengths. Although he came along early in his career, Charles always reckoned that Victor Norman was the best he rode over hurdles.
American-born Morgan de Witt Blair, who trained at Ewhurst, Surrey. Charles rode his first winner for Blair on Lynton in the three-mile Cranborne Handicap Chase at Newbury on November 28, 1935. The following month, he rode Victor Norman to win two decent handicap hurdles at Sandown and Hurst Park, carrying 12st 5lb on the second occasion, and that with Charles claiming an allowance. He then rode Victor Norman in Newbury’s Greenham Handicap Hurdle, finishing second, giving almost two stone to the winner. But sadly for Charles, Frenchie Nicholson took over for the horse’s next start, which was when winning the 1936 Champion Hurdle by three lengths. Although he came along early in his career, Charles always reckoned that Victor Norman was the best he rode over hurdles.
Lynton, who had been his first winner, was also his first Grand National ride, in 1936. The 100/1 outsider was lying in midfield jumping the water but was baulked and refused early on the second circuit. Charles rode out his claim when winning on Papageno for Peter Thrale at Folkestone on September 1, 1936, then doubled up by winning the last race of the day aboard Speed On.
Lynton, who had been his first winner, was also his first Grand National ride, in 1936. The 100/1 outsider was lying in midfield jumping the water but was baulked and refused early on the second circuit. Charles rode out his claim when winning on Papageno for Peter Thrale at Folkestone on September 1, 1936, then doubled up by winning the last race of the day aboard Speed On.
In May 1937 he won two hurdle races within five days on Maple Tree at the long forgotten venues of Bungay and Bridgnorth. Maple Tree also got Charles off to a good start for the 1938/39 season, winning at Buckfastleigh and Devon & Exeter in August 1938. Later that season, Charles won a race at the 1939 Cheltenham National Hunt meeting, albeit a selling hurdle on Woodside Terrace.
In May 1937 he won two hurdle races within five days on Maple Tree at the long forgotten venues of Bungay and Bridgnorth. Maple Tree also got Charles off to a good start for the 1938/39 season, winning at Buckfastleigh and Devon & Exeter in August 1938. Later that season, Charles won a race at the 1939 Cheltenham National Hunt meeting, albeit a selling hurdle on Woodside Terrace.
He was in sparkling form during the 1940 Easter weekend, riding five winners over the two racing days. He kicked off with a treble at Quorn on the Saturday, winning the Loughborough Open Handicap Chase on Le Titien III, the novices’ chase on Grosvenor Bridge and the maiden hurdle on Hunton. He then notched a double at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, landing the selling hurdle on Rossitor and the Fitzwilliam Cup Chase on Le Titien III. He came close to landing a Huntingdon four-timer, being beaten a length in the first race and a head in the last.
He was in sparkling form during the 1940 Easter weekend, riding five winners over the two racing days. He kicked off with a treble at Quorn on the Saturday, winning the Loughborough Open Handicap Chase on Le Titien III, the novices’ chase on Grosvenor Bridge and the maiden hurdle on Hunton. He then notched a double at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, landing the selling hurdle on Rossitor and the Fitzwilliam Cup Chase on Le Titien III. He came close to landing a Huntingdon four-timer, being beaten a length in the first race and a head in the last.
During six years’ service in the war he served with the Rifle Brigade in the desert in 1942. He was captured and spent three years as a prisoner of war.
During six years’ service in the war he served with the Rifle Brigade in the desert in 1942. He was captured and spent three years as a prisoner of war.
With hostilities over, he returned to racing and rode his first winner back on Boccaccio at
With hostilities over, he returned to racing and rode his first winner back on Boccaccio at
Wincanton on October 27, 1945. He rode winners on both days of Cheltenham’s 1946 February meeting, landing the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle on Tripolite and the Whaddon Novices’ Chase on Clarendon.
Wincanton on October 27, 1945. He rode winners on both days of Cheltenham’s 1946 February meeting, landing the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle on Tripolite and the Whaddon Novices’ Chase on Clarendon.
But Cheltenham was to prove his downfall the following year when a crashing first fence tumble from Golden Knight on October 18, 1946 left him with the aforementioned broken bone in his neck. He returned to action just in time for the 1947 National Hunt meeting.
But Cheltenham was to prove his downfall the following year when a crashing first fence tumble from Golden Knight on October 18, 1946 left him with the aforementioned broken bone in his neck. He returned to action just in time for the 1947 National Hunt meeting.
Charles enjoyed a high level of success in the 1947/48 season, riding winners all over the
Charles enjoyed a high level of success in the 1947/48 season, riding winners all over the
country, from Catterick to Newton Abbot. The highlight was winning the Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase on Walter Nightingall’s Clare Man at the 1948 National Hunt meeting. He partnered Lovely Cottage – who he rated the best chaser he rode – in that year’s Grand National, remounting to complete the course last of the 14 finishers after falling. (Lovely Cottage had won the Grand National two years earlier when ridden by Captain Bobby Petre.) Charles then enjoyed another productive Easter period, winning on Well Fire at Newton Abbot on the Saturday and Monaveen – the horse destined to become the property of HM the Queen and the Princess Elizabeth – at Huntingdon on Easter Monday.
country, from Catterick to Newton Abbot. The highlight was winning the Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase on Walter Nightingall’s Clare Man at the 1948 National Hunt meeting. He partnered Lovely Cottage – who he rated the best chaser he rode – in that year’s Grand National, remounting to complete the course last of the 14 finishers after falling. (Lovely Cottage had won the Grand National two years earlier when ridden by Captain Bobby Petre.) Charles then enjoyed another productive Easter period, winning on Well Fire at Newton Abbot on the Saturday and Monaveen – the horse destined to become the property of HM the Queen and the Princess Elizabeth – at Huntingdon on Easter Monday.
An injury-plagued 1948/49 season yielded only five winners, but it was business as usual the following term with his tally rising to 15, including three in the spring of 1950 on a handicap chaser named Husky and two on the Ryan Price-trained Tasman. He rode Cottage Welcome in that year’s Grand National but didn’t get beyond the first fence. He won another race on Tasman at Windsor on February 28, 1951 and the following month rode him in the Grand National. He survived the first fence carnage which saw one-third of the 36 runners crash out at the first fence but eventually refused at the seventh.
An injury-plagued 1948/49 season yielded only five winners, but it was business as usual the following term with his tally rising to 15, including three in the spring of 1950 on a handicap chaser named Husky and two on the Ryan Price-trained Tasman. He rode Cottage Welcome in that year’s Grand National but didn’t get beyond the first fence. He won another race on Tasman at Windsor on February 28, 1951 and the following month rode him in the Grand National. He survived the first fence carnage which saw one-third of the 36 runners crash out at the first fence but eventually refused at the seventh.
His three winners for the 1951/52 campaign included Willie Stephenson’s seven-year-old Kelek, who humped 12st to victory in the Christmas Handicap chase at Market Rasen on December 27. Kelek was also his mount in the 1952 Grand National but he refused at the seventh, the very same fence where Tasman had registered a veto the year before.
His three winners for the 1951/52 campaign included Willie Stephenson’s seven-year-old Kelek, who humped 12st to victory in the Christmas Handicap chase at Market Rasen on December 27. Kelek was also his mount in the 1952 Grand National but he refused at the seventh, the very same fence where Tasman had registered a veto the year before.
He registered only three successes in the 1952/53 campaign but increased his tally to eight for 53/54, thanks largely to Knowle trainer Sid Mercer, who provided six of them, including three-time winning hurdler Bonnie Royal. Another winner came courtesy of Oxfordshire trainer Felix Leech, for whom Charles won the Wimbledon Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on the useful Belsay Castle.
He registered only three successes in the 1952/53 campaign but increased his tally to eight for 53/54, thanks largely to Knowle trainer Sid Mercer, who provided six of them, including three-time winning hurdler Bonnie Royal. Another winner came courtesy of Oxfordshire trainer Felix Leech, for whom Charles won the Wimbledon Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on the useful Belsay Castle.
Charles won twice more on Belsay Castle the following season, at Hurst Park on March 12 and at Towcester on Whit Monday, May 30, 1955. That was to be his final winner as a jockey. He’d already set up as a trainer by then, based at Barrett’s Farm, Eastbury, near Lambourn. He’d trained his first winner on the Flat, Emporium, in a two-year-old seller at Wolverhampton on September 13, 1954.
Charles won twice more on Belsay Castle the following season, at Hurst Park on March 12 and at Towcester on Whit Monday, May 30, 1955. That was to be his final winner as a jockey. He’d already set up as a trainer by then, based at Barrett’s Farm, Eastbury, near Lambourn. He’d trained his first winner on the Flat, Emporium, in a two-year-old seller at Wolverhampton on September 13, 1954.
It will never be known whether Charles Hook would have made a success of the training game, for he died on January 12, 1958 at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, aged 43, following a long illness believed to have originated during his years as a prisoner of war.
It will never be known whether Charles Hook would have made a success of the training game, for he died on January 12, 1958 at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, aged 43, following a long illness believed to have originated during his years as a prisoner of war.