John Hayes

Article by Alan Trout

John Arthur Hayes had one success over jumps, when 6-1 chance Port Charlotte was a clear winner of the Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow on April 11, 1950, beating Purse Strings, the mount of Jack Dowdeswell, by six lengths. Forty-five minutes later on that same Chepstow card, Gallery, ridden by Alf Mullins, scored a five-length victory over Land Fort in the Welsh Grand National.

Owned and trained by future dual Derby-winning breeder/owner/trainer Arthur Budgett, the five-year-old Port Charlotte was winning her first race at the seventh attempt, John having partnered her in all the previous six. On the last three occasions she had finished second at Worcester, third at Stratford and third again at Southwell, so was certainly not winning out of turn.

Port Charlotte did not race again following her victory. Retired to stud, her best offspring was True Gritz, winner of the 1971 Midsummer Classic at Santa Rosa Park, in Trinidad.

Although John Hayes continued for one more season, he did not add to his total.