John Hamilton
John Hamilton was a Scottish-based National Hunt jockey who rode for 17 winners in the decade leading up to the First World War. He opened his account at Hamilton Park on November 19, 1904, when the seven-year-old Veiled Queen, owned by former amateur rider Duncan Gibb, won the Arran Selling Handicap Hurdle by three lengths, beating 12 rivals.
John Hamilton was a Scottish-based National Hunt jockey who rode for 17 winners in the decade leading up to the First World War. He opened his account at Hamilton Park on November 19, 1904, when the seven-year-old Veiled Queen, owned by former amateur rider Duncan Gibb, won the Arran Selling Handicap Hurdle by three lengths, beating 12 rivals.
This was not the present Hamilton course, which staged its first meeting in 1926, but an earlier one, which had opened in 1888. That course was discontinued in 1907 when the Duchess of Hamilton, who owned the land on which it was situated, decided that gambling was bad for the lower orders. She eventually changed her mind but it was too late because Hamilton’s fixtures had already been reallocated to the new course at Ayr, and it would be 19 years before horseracing took place at Hamilton again – and then only on the Flat.
This was not the present Hamilton course, which staged its first meeting in 1926, but an earlier one, which had opened in 1888. That course was discontinued in 1907 when the Duchess of Hamilton, who owned the land on which it was situated, decided that gambling was bad for the lower orders. She eventually changed her mind but it was too late because Hamilton’s fixtures had already been reallocated to the new course at Ayr, and it would be 19 years before horseracing took place at Hamilton again – and then only on the Flat.
John steadily rode winners over the next decade without ever achieving more than four in a calendar year. His wins were mainly on Scottish courses, and he had two rides in the Scottish Grand National, finishing fifth on Dandy Boy in 1907 and sixth on Sans Peur in 1910.
John steadily rode winners over the next decade without ever achieving more than four in a calendar year. His wins were mainly on Scottish courses, and he had two rides in the Scottish Grand National, finishing fifth on Dandy Boy in 1907 and sixth on Sans Peur in 1910.
At Perth on September 24, 1909 he recorded the tenth win of his career – all bar two of them in Scotland – when Biscay Bay won the Stewards’ Selling Handicap Chase. This meant he could no longer claim an allowance, but it made no difference as he went straight out and added the following race on Sans Peur, a comfortable seven-length winner of the Perthshire Handicap Chase.
At Perth on September 24, 1909 he recorded the tenth win of his career – all bar two of them in Scotland – when Biscay Bay won the Stewards’ Selling Handicap Chase. This meant he could no longer claim an allowance, but it made no difference as he went straight out and added the following race on Sans Peur, a comfortable seven-length winner of the Perthshire Handicap Chase.
His only other double was achieved at Haydock Park on February 11, 1911, winning the Railway Selling Handicap Chase on Templebrien and the Saturday Selling Handicap Hurdle on Esmond.
His only other double was achieved at Haydock Park on February 11, 1911, winning the Railway Selling Handicap Chase on Templebrien and the Saturday Selling Handicap Hurdle on Esmond.
John’s last victory before war intervened was on Sans Peur in the Mount Oswald Hunters’ Handicap Chase at Shincliffe on May 7, 1913, scoring by ten lengths. He rode the horse again in the same race the following year but they were unplaced.
John’s last victory before war intervened was on Sans Peur in the Mount Oswald Hunters’ Handicap Chase at Shincliffe on May 7, 1913, scoring by ten lengths. He rode the horse again in the same race the following year but they were unplaced.
John Hamilton’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Hamilton’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Veiled Queen, Hamilton Park, January 19, 1904
1. Veiled Queen, Hamilton Park, January 19, 1904
2. Glenarm II, Hamilton Park, January 3, 1905
2. Glenarm II, Hamilton Park, January 3, 1905
3. Dandy Boy, Haydock Park, January 10, 1907
3. Dandy Boy, Haydock Park, January 10, 1907
4. Wandering Monkey, Shincliffe, March 19, 1908
4. Wandering Monkey, Shincliffe, March 19, 1908
5. General Moon, Bogside, April 1, 1908
5. General Moon, Bogside, April 1, 1908
6. Biscay Bay, Perth, September 24, 1908
6. Biscay Bay, Perth, September 24, 1908
7. General Moon, Bogside, October 29, 1908
7. General Moon, Bogside, October 29, 1908
8. Biscay Bay, Bogside, April 1, 1909
8. Biscay Bay, Bogside, April 1, 1909
9. Templebrien, Perth, September 23, 1909
9. Templebrien, Perth, September 23, 1909
10. Biscay Bay, Perth, September 24, 1909
10. Biscay Bay, Perth, September 24, 1909
11. Sand Peur, Perth, September 24, 1909
11. Sand Peur, Perth, September 24, 1909
12. Templebrien, Picton, April 2, 1910
12. Templebrien, Picton, April 2, 1910
13. Lady Moon, Perth, September 22, 1910
13. Lady Moon, Perth, September 22, 1910
14. Templebrien, Haydock Park, February 11, 1911
14. Templebrien, Haydock Park, February 11, 1911
15. Esmond, Haydock Park, February 11, 1911
15. Esmond, Haydock Park, February 11, 1911
16. Irish Jig, Picton, May 6, 1911
16. Irish Jig, Picton, May 6, 1911
17. Sans Peur, Shincliffe, May 7, 1913
17. Sans Peur, Shincliffe, May 7, 1913
John rode a double at Haydock on February 11 1911, Templebrien & Esmond
John rode a double at Haydock on February 11 1911, Templebrien & Esmond