Harry Hunt

Harry Hunt

Article by Alan Trout

Harry Hunt had eight winners over jumps in the 1920s, starting with a victory over two of the leading jockeys of the inter-war period. At Lingfield on May 1, 1922, he rode Winmarleigh to win the May Blossom Open Handicap Hurdle, beating Polytart, ridden by George Duller, by two lengths, with White Ronald, the mount of Fred ‘Dick’ Rees, four lengths further away in third place. 

Harry added two more wins before the end of the year but had to wait nearly two years for further success. He then rode a double at Wye on selling hurdler Damar and novice chaser Wee Laddie, ending 1924 with four wins to his name. However, he was only able to add one more, when Damar landed the Farnham Selling Hurdle at Aldershot on April 28, 1925, scoring by a short head from Southport, ridden by Walter Gill. The eight-year-old changed stables at the post-race auction, so Harry had no further chances to ride him. 

Sometimes shown in the form book results as ‘H. Hunt Jun.’, Harry had his final ride on Altholhampton, a faller in the St Piers Selling Handicap Chase at Lingfield Park on December 19, 1925. Whether that fall directly led to his retirement from the saddle is not known. 

Harry Hunt’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Winmarleigh, Lingfield Park, May 1, 1922

2. Fortune, Nottingham, October 23, 1922

3. Ullswater, Nottingham, December 11, 1922

4. Damar, Wye, November 5, 1924

5. Wee Laddie, Wye, November 5, 1924

6. Wee Laddie, Hawthorn Hill, November 20, 1924

7. Fitzpicton, Leicester, December 1, 1924

8. Damar, Aldershot, April 28, 1925