Herbert Holmes
1911 - 1962
1911 - 1962
A decent Irish-based Flat race jockey, Herbert Holmes died on Thursday November 16, 1962, at his home near Dublin. He was 51.
A decent Irish-based Flat race jockey, Herbert Holmes died on Thursday November 16, 1962, at his home near Dublin. He was 51.
Born on April 25, 1911, and an Englishman, he served his apprenticeship from 1926-30 with Fred Darling at Beckhampton and rode his first winner in 1928. He tried his luck in East Africa before going to Ireland to ride for Darby Rogers’ stable in the early 1940s. He later moved across the Curragh to ride the lightweights for Bob Fetherstonhaugh, becoming stable jockey on Jack Moylan’s retirement. He continued as first jockey when ‘Brud’ Fetherstonhaugh took charge on the death of his father.
Born on April 25, 1911, and an Englishman, he served his apprenticeship from 1926-30 with Fred Darling at Beckhampton and rode his first winner in 1928. He tried his luck in East Africa before going to Ireland to ride for Darby Rogers’ stable in the early 1940s. He later moved across the Curragh to ride the lightweights for Bob Fetherstonhaugh, becoming stable jockey on Jack Moylan’s retirement. He continued as first jockey when ‘Brud’ Fetherstonhaugh took charge on the death of his father.
Herbert was the unfortunate jockey on board Vincent O’Brien’s Knock Hard when a massive gamble went astray in the 1950 Irish Cesarewitch.
Herbert was the unfortunate jockey on board Vincent O’Brien’s Knock Hard when a massive gamble went astray in the 1950 Irish Cesarewitch.
Enormous bets were placed on Knock Hard by its connections, including O’Brien, but only after its stable companion, Hatton’s Grace, had been backed first, sending Knock Hard’s price out to 10/1. The weight of stable money saw that price contract sharply, and Knock Hard eventually went off at 6/4 favourite.
Enormous bets were placed on Knock Hard by its connections, including O’Brien, but only after its stable companion, Hatton’s Grace, had been backed first, sending Knock Hard’s price out to 10/1. The weight of stable money saw that price contract sharply, and Knock Hard eventually went off at 6/4 favourite.
Herbert was instructed not to hit the front until the furlong marker, but so well was the horse travelling that he disregarded his riding orders and led turning into the straight. It was a fatal misjudgement. Martin Molony, riding Hatton’s Grace, got up on the line to floor the gamble, leaving connections aghast.
Herbert was instructed not to hit the front until the furlong marker, but so well was the horse travelling that he disregarded his riding orders and led turning into the straight. It was a fatal misjudgement. Martin Molony, riding Hatton’s Grace, got up on the line to floor the gamble, leaving connections aghast.
Having broken a leg in five places in a fall in 1959, he fought his way back to ride the winner of the 1961 Irish Derby – the last one before it became the richly-endowed Irish Sweeps Derby in 1962 – on the English raider Your Highness, owned by Mrs Stanhope Joel and trained by Humphrey Cottrill at Newmarket.
Having broken a leg in five places in a fall in 1959, he fought his way back to ride the winner of the 1961 Irish Derby – the last one before it became the richly-endowed Irish Sweeps Derby in 1962 – on the English raider Your Highness, owned by Mrs Stanhope Joel and trained by Humphrey Cottrill at Newmarket.
However, the best horse he rode was probably Circus Lady, who beat Marcel Boussac’s odds-on filly Coronation V by four lengths in 1949 Irish Oaks. His other Irish Classic winners were Sunlit Ride (1949 One Thousand Guineas), Queen of Sheba (1951 One Thousand Guineas) and Agars Plough (1955 Irish Oaks).
However, the best horse he rode was probably Circus Lady, who beat Marcel Boussac’s odds-on filly Coronation V by four lengths in 1949 Irish Oaks. His other Irish Classic winners were Sunlit Ride (1949 One Thousand Guineas), Queen of Sheba (1951 One Thousand Guineas) and Agars Plough (1955 Irish Oaks).
On April 8, 1960, he made a rare appearance on a British racecourse, winning a two-mile handicap at Newbury on Grecian Granite, owned by ‘Crazy Gang’ comedian Chesney Allen and trained by Bill Marshall.
On April 8, 1960, he made a rare appearance on a British racecourse, winning a two-mile handicap at Newbury on Grecian Granite, owned by ‘Crazy Gang’ comedian Chesney Allen and trained by Bill Marshall.
He gave up riding at the end of 1961 because of heart trouble. He had intended to start training in 1963.
He gave up riding at the end of 1961 because of heart trouble. He had intended to start training in 1963.