Ernest Harper
Ernest Harper
Ernest Harper
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Having ridden one winner on the Flat, Ernest Harper went on to ride three over jumps in the years leading up to World War I.
Having ridden one winner on the Flat, Ernest Harper went on to ride three over jumps in the years leading up to World War I.
Apprenticed to Laurence Rooney, he had his first win on his first ride in public when Jovial Joss got up close home to land the Brompton Apprentice Plate at Catterick Bridge on October 27, 1908. ‘The Sportsman’ newspaper was full of praise for the young jockey for, when his mount began to catch the leader Kniphofia, he “hung a great deal” but Ernest showed “excellent horsemanship” and scored a “sensational victory”.
Apprenticed to Laurence Rooney, he had his first win on his first ride in public when Jovial Joss got up close home to land the Brompton Apprentice Plate at Catterick Bridge on October 27, 1908. ‘The Sportsman’ newspaper was full of praise for the young jockey for, when his mount began to catch the leader Kniphofia, he “hung a great deal” but Ernest showed “excellent horsemanship” and scored a “sensational victory”.
Despite that encouraging start, Ernest never won another race on the Flat and eventually turned to riding over jumps. He made an inauspicious debut when his mount Keen Kino was a faller in the Selling Hurdle at Wolverhampton on January 17, 1911.
Despite that encouraging start, Ernest never won another race on the Flat and eventually turned to riding over jumps. He made an inauspicious debut when his mount Keen Kino was a faller in the Selling Hurdle at Wolverhampton on January 17, 1911.
On October 3 of that year he rode Pinkeen to win the Novices’ Hurdle at Pershore, beating Starshine, ridden by Grand National-winning jockey Alf Newy, by a head. Ernest kept the ride on the six-year-old and was placed three times on their next four starts without winning.
On October 3 of that year he rode Pinkeen to win the Novices’ Hurdle at Pershore, beating Starshine, ridden by Grand National-winning jockey Alf Newy, by a head. Ernest kept the ride on the six-year-old and was placed three times on their next four starts without winning.
At Wolverhampton on April 29, 1912, he had his second jumps victory when Long Day, owned and trained like Pinkeen by Laurence Rooney, won an eventful Thorneycroft Maiden Chase. The two other runners refused, while Long Day both refused and fell, but after a “gallop of his own” as ‘The Sportsman’ reported, was caught, remounted and coaxed over the final obstacle to finish alone.
At Wolverhampton on April 29, 1912, he had his second jumps victory when Long Day, owned and trained like Pinkeen by Laurence Rooney, won an eventful Thorneycroft Maiden Chase. The two other runners refused, while Long Day both refused and fell, but after a “gallop of his own” as ‘The Sportsman’ reported, was caught, remounted and coaxed over the final obstacle to finish alone.
It was on May 4, 1914 that Ernest had his final victory when the seven-year-old French Bonnet won the Pensham Selling Handicap Hurdle at Pershore by 25 lengths.
It was on May 4, 1914 that Ernest had his final victory when the seven-year-old French Bonnet won the Pensham Selling Handicap Hurdle at Pershore by 25 lengths.
He again kept the ride and finished in the first three on their next four starts, but no wins. The last two of those were at the Cardiff meeting on June 1. On the first they finished third in the Penllyn Selling Hurdle, and the following day Ernest had his final ride when French Bonnet was again placed third at the end of the Ely Selling Handicap Hurdle.
He again kept the ride and finished in the first three on their next four starts, but no wins. The last two of those were at the Cardiff meeting on June 1. On the first they finished third in the Penllyn Selling Hurdle, and the following day Ernest had his final ride when French Bonnet was again placed third at the end of the Ely Selling Handicap Hurdle.
Ernest Harper's final winner
Ernest Harper's final winner