John Hands
John Hands
John Hands
Loughborough-born National Hunt jockey John Thomas Hands rode 17 winners over jumps during a 10-year period around the turn of the 20th century but died in 1906 from injuries sustained in a fall at Southwell.
Loughborough-born National Hunt jockey John Thomas Hands rode 17 winners over jumps during a 10-year period around the turn of the 20th century but died in 1906 from injuries sustained in a fall at Southwell.
He started out as an amateur and had his first success when Lady Of The Lake beat 13 rivals to take the Avon Steeplechase at Stratford on April 27, 1896. It was the four-year-old’s first run under rules and also marked the rider’s sole win as an amateur.
He started out as an amateur and had his first success when Lady Of The Lake beat 13 rivals to take the Avon Steeplechase at Stratford on April 27, 1896. It was the four-year-old’s first run under rules and also marked the rider’s sole win as an amateur.
He turned professional soon after and although he never had more than two dozen rides in a season, there were occasional successes. Lady Of The Lake won three more races for him, but that was surpassed by Devilet, who provided him with all seven of his wins between March 1903 and November 1904. Devilet was owned by one of the greatest amateur riders of all time, Mr E. P. (Ted) Wilson.
He turned professional soon after and although he never had more than two dozen rides in a season, there were occasional successes. Lady Of The Lake won three more races for him, but that was surpassed by Devilet, who provided him with all seven of his wins between March 1903 and November 1904. Devilet was owned by one of the greatest amateur riders of all time, Mr E. P. (Ted) Wilson.
John combined life as a jockey with running The Bull’s Head Hotel and had few rides in the latter part of his career. His final victory was on Blue Beard, who won the Colwick Park Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham on April 30, 1906, beating the odds-on favourite Single-Stick by one and a half lengths. This victory made amends for a disqualification at Croxton Park earlier that month, when they had been first past the post in the Waltham Handicap Hurdle but had lost the race in the stewards’ room after Mr Henry Hunt, rider of the runner-up Vagrant II, had objected to the winner on the grounds of ‘bumping and boring’. The objection was sustained and Blue Beard was disqualified.
John combined life as a jockey with running The Bull’s Head Hotel and had few rides in the latter part of his career. His final victory was on Blue Beard, who won the Colwick Park Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham on April 30, 1906, beating the odds-on favourite Single-Stick by one and a half lengths. This victory made amends for a disqualification at Croxton Park earlier that month, when they had been first past the post in the Waltham Handicap Hurdle but had lost the race in the stewards’ room after Mr Henry Hunt, rider of the runner-up Vagrant II, had objected to the winner on the grounds of ‘bumping and boring’. The objection was sustained and Blue Beard was disqualified.
Following their Nottingham victory, John and Blue Beard teamed up on both days of the Keele Park meeting on May 11/12, finishing second on the first day but falling on the next. Emerging unscathed from their tumble, John and Blue Beard then took part in the Westminster Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on Monday, May 14, only to fall at the last hurdle.
Following their Nottingham victory, John and Blue Beard teamed up on both days of the Keele Park meeting on May 11/12, finishing second on the first day but falling on the next. Emerging unscathed from their tumble, John and Blue Beard then took part in the Westminster Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on Monday, May 14, only to fall at the last hurdle.
This time, John suffered a broken jaw, hip injuries and concussion. He was taken to Nottingham General Hospital where he died that night at 10.30 p.m., aged 30. He was buried at Limington with a handsome memorial.
This time, John suffered a broken jaw, hip injuries and concussion. He was taken to Nottingham General Hospital where he died that night at 10.30 p.m., aged 30. He was buried at Limington with a handsome memorial.
Ironically, the winner of that Southwell hurdle race in which John suffered his fatal fall was Vagrant II, ridden by Henry Hunt, the amateur who had lodged a successful objection against Blue Beard at Croxton Park.
Ironically, the winner of that Southwell hurdle race in which John suffered his fatal fall was Vagrant II, ridden by Henry Hunt, the amateur who had lodged a successful objection against Blue Beard at Croxton Park.
John Hands’ wins were, in chronological order:
John Hands’ wins were, in chronological order:
1. Lady Of The Lake, Stratford-on-Avon, April 27, 1896
1. Lady Of The Lake, Stratford-on-Avon, April 27, 1896
2. Lady Of The Lake, Keele Park, February 19, 1898
2. Lady Of The Lake, Keele Park, February 19, 1898
3. Lady Of The Lake, Towcester, April 11, 1898
3. Lady Of The Lake, Towcester, April 11, 1898
4. Lady Of The Lake, Stratford-on-Avon, May 2, 1898
4. Lady Of The Lake, Stratford-on-Avon, May 2, 1898
5. Blunt, Manchester, April 4, 1899 (walkover)
5. Blunt, Manchester, April 4, 1899 (walkover)
6. Tip, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 7, 1899
6. Tip, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 7, 1899
7. Asciano, Worcester, October 27, 1899
7. Asciano, Worcester, October 27, 1899
8. Joy, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 18, 1900
8. Joy, Moreton-in-Marsh Hunt, April 18, 1900
9. Devilet, Leamington Spa, March 25, 1903
9. Devilet, Leamington Spa, March 25, 1903
10. Devilet, Keele Park, April 28, 1903
10. Devilet, Keele Park, April 28, 1903
11. Devilet, Shirley Park, September 28, 1903
11. Devilet, Shirley Park, September 28, 1903
12. Devilet, Shirley Park, September 26, 1904
12. Devilet, Shirley Park, September 26, 1904
13. Devilet, Keele Park, October 27, 1904
13. Devilet, Keele Park, October 27, 1904
14. Devilet, Warwick, November 21, 1904
14. Devilet, Warwick, November 21, 1904
15. Devilet, Aldershot, November 24, 1904
15. Devilet, Aldershot, November 24, 1904
16. Blue Beard, Keele Park, December 28, 1905
16. Blue Beard, Keele Park, December 28, 1905
17. Blue Beard, Nottingham, April 30, 1906
17. Blue Beard, Nottingham, April 30, 1906
(List of winners provided by Alan Trout.)
(List of winners provided by Alan Trout.)
Taken from the Newark Advertiser, Wednesday May 16 1906.
Taken from the Newark Advertiser, Wednesday May 16 1906.
Taken from the Nottingham Daily Express, Thursday May 17 1906.
Taken from the Nottingham Daily Express, Thursday May 17 1906.
John Hands' first winner: Lady Of The Lake, Stratford-on-Avon, April 27, 1896.
John Hands' first winner: Lady Of The Lake, Stratford-on-Avon, April 27, 1896.
John's final winner: Blue Beard, Nottingham, April 30, 1906.
John's final winner: Blue Beard, Nottingham, April 30, 1906.