James Hunter
James Hunter
James Hunter
(1846-1933)
(1846-1933)
James Hunter was born in Hartlepool in 1846, the son of a shoemaker. He was apprenticed to Tom Jennings at Newmarket and rode 21 winners in 1862. He achieved his biggest success in the 1864 Lincolnshire Handicap on Benjamin.
James Hunter was born in Hartlepool in 1846, the son of a shoemaker. He was apprenticed to Tom Jennings at Newmarket and rode 21 winners in 1862. He achieved his biggest success in the 1864 Lincolnshire Handicap on Benjamin.
Carrying a featherweight of 6st 13lb, the five-year-old Benjamin won by an easy five lengths from Partisan, with Anglo-Saxon a similar distance away in third. From a total of 16 rides that season, James scored just one more victory. He only rode one winner in 1865.
Carrying a featherweight of 6st 13lb, the five-year-old Benjamin won by an easy five lengths from Partisan, with Anglo-Saxon a similar distance away in third. From a total of 16 rides that season, James scored just one more victory. He only rode one winner in 1865.
He went to ride in France in 1870, becoming stable jockey to Thomas Carter, and enjoyed a successful decade there, winning the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in 1874 on Saltarelle and the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) in 1876 on Moivan. He was crowned French champion jockey in both 1877 and 1878.
He went to ride in France in 1870, becoming stable jockey to Thomas Carter, and enjoyed a successful decade there, winning the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in 1874 on Saltarelle and the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) in 1876 on Moivan. He was crowned French champion jockey in both 1877 and 1878.
A leg injury subsequently curtailed his career and he endured further misfortune with the death of his wife Elizabeth, aged only 29. They had three children.
A leg injury subsequently curtailed his career and he endured further misfortune with the death of his wife Elizabeth, aged only 29. They had three children.
He eventually returned to Britain and in 1930 he settled in Cheam, Surrey, where he died in 1933, aged 87.
He eventually returned to Britain and in 1930 he settled in Cheam, Surrey, where he died in 1933, aged 87.
