Henry Hopkins
Henry Hopkins
Henry Hopkins
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Despite losing his first victory in the stewards’ room, Henry Arthur Hopkins went on to ride 16 winners over jumps between 1894 and 1901.
Despite losing his first victory in the stewards’ room, Henry Arthur Hopkins went on to ride 16 winners over jumps between 1894 and 1901.
Born in 1874, it was at Stratford on April 20, 1893, that he had his initial, brief, success. He passed the post first on Silent in the Selling Chase, beating Baroness by eight lengths. However, Silent was disqualified for going the wrong side of a post.
Born in 1874, it was at Stratford on April 20, 1893, that he had his initial, brief, success. He passed the post first on Silent in the Selling Chase, beating Baroness by eight lengths. However, Silent was disqualified for going the wrong side of a post.
Although Robert Mitchell was on board when Silent next ran, and won, at Loughborough four days later, Henry was still used by Mr McGregor, Silent’s owner, and it was on one of his other horses that Henry had his first confirmed winner, at Wolverhampton on February 27, 1894, when Medley won the Park Handicap Chase by one and a half lengths, having finished unplaced on his previous three starts, all with his owner in the saddle.
Although Robert Mitchell was on board when Silent next ran, and won, at Loughborough four days later, Henry was still used by Mr McGregor, Silent’s owner, and it was on one of his other horses that Henry had his first confirmed winner, at Wolverhampton on February 27, 1894, when Medley won the Park Handicap Chase by one and a half lengths, having finished unplaced on his previous three starts, all with his owner in the saddle.
Over the next few years, Henry rode the occasional winner and even had a few unsuccessful rides on the Flat. He won twice on North Star in May 1899, including the Solihull Selling Chase at the first meeting held at Shirley Park.
Over the next few years, Henry rode the occasional winner and even had a few unsuccessful rides on the Flat. He won twice on North Star in May 1899, including the Solihull Selling Chase at the first meeting held at Shirley Park.
He began 1901 particularly well with four wins in a nine-day period, although one was a walkover. However, they proved to be his final victories, the last coming at Worcester on April 17, when Coral Sea followed up a success at Quorn Hunt’s meeting at Loughborough two days earlier by taking the Hallow Hurdle by a length and a half.
He began 1901 particularly well with four wins in a nine-day period, although one was a walkover. However, they proved to be his final victories, the last coming at Worcester on April 17, when Coral Sea followed up a success at Quorn Hunt’s meeting at Loughborough two days earlier by taking the Hallow Hurdle by a length and a half.
None of his subsequent rides were placed, his last mount being Stolen Bride, who finished sixth in the Mapperley Handicap Chase at Nottingham on December 17, 1904.
None of his subsequent rides were placed, his last mount being Stolen Bride, who finished sixth in the Mapperley Handicap Chase at Nottingham on December 17, 1904.
Henry Hopkins died in 1941. His winners were, in chronological order:
Henry Hopkins died in 1941. His winners were, in chronological order:
1. Medley, Wolverhampton, February 27, 1894
1. Medley, Wolverhampton, February 27, 1894
2. Lord Lytton, Abergavenny, April 19, 1894
2. Lord Lytton, Abergavenny, April 19, 1894
3. Kippur, Wolverhampton, December 16, 1896
3. Kippur, Wolverhampton, December 16, 1896
4. Kippur, Wolverhampton, February 7, 1897
4. Kippur, Wolverhampton, February 7, 1897
5. Seaweed, Abergavenny, April 14, 1898
5. Seaweed, Abergavenny, April 14, 1898
6. Baby’s Gift, Anglesey Hunt, November 9, 1898
6. Baby’s Gift, Anglesey Hunt, November 9, 1898
7. The Earl, Chelmsford, March 23, 1899
7. The Earl, Chelmsford, March 23, 1899
8. North Star, Shirley Park, May 1, 1899
8. North Star, Shirley Park, May 1, 1899
9. North Star, Southwell, May 9, 1899
9. North Star, Southwell, May 9, 1899
10. Ladysmith, Anglesey Hunt, November 8, 1899
10. Ladysmith, Anglesey Hunt, November 8, 1899
11. Opossom, Southwell, March 6, 1900
11. Opossom, Southwell, March 6, 1900
12. Madreperia, Cardiff, November 6, 1900
12. Madreperia, Cardiff, November 6, 1900
13. Erbin, Hereford, April 8, 1901
13. Erbin, Hereford, April 8, 1901
14. Erbin, Cardiff, April 9, 1901 (walkover)
14. Erbin, Cardiff, April 9, 1901 (walkover)
15. Coral Sea, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 15, 1901
15. Coral Sea, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 15, 1901
16. Coral Sea, Worcester, April 17, 1901
16. Coral Sea, Worcester, April 17, 1901
Henry Hopkins scores on Coral Sea, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 15, 1901
Henry Hopkins scores on Coral Sea, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 15, 1901
His final winner: Coral Sea, Worcester, April 17, 1901
His final winner: Coral Sea, Worcester, April 17, 1901