Leslie Hewitt
1879 - 1952
1879 - 1952
Leslie Herbert William Hewitt was born in Melbourne on February 4, 1879, and spent the early part of his life living there.
Leslie Herbert William Hewitt was born in Melbourne on February 4, 1879, and spent the early part of his life living there.
When his father George, a dairyman in South Melbourne, met with an accident, young Leslie was forced to sell papers on the streets to help out with the family finances. He also worked in a local dairy, milking cows and delivering milk. In his spare time, such as it was, he looked after a flock of geese.
When his father George, a dairyman in South Melbourne, met with an accident, young Leslie was forced to sell papers on the streets to help out with the family finances. He also worked in a local dairy, milking cows and delivering milk. In his spare time, such as it was, he looked after a flock of geese.
A local wire-walker called Blondin was on the lookout for a youngster brave enough to be carried on his back across the River Yarra. Promised two shillings for his trouble, Leslie, then thirteen, volunteered his services. Blondin accomplished the task of crossing the river all right, but couldn't get up the muddy bank. Leslie was lowered down a pole into a boat and taken ashore. He didn't get his two shillings, but he did get a hammering off his father for his 'foolhardiness'.
A local wire-walker called Blondin was on the lookout for a youngster brave enough to be carried on his back across the River Yarra. Promised two shillings for his trouble, Leslie, then thirteen, volunteered his services. Blondin accomplished the task of crossing the river all right, but couldn't get up the muddy bank. Leslie was lowered down a pole into a boat and taken ashore. He didn't get his two shillings, but he did get a hammering off his father for his 'foolhardiness'.
Shortly after, Leslie went to New Zealand with his parents. He went potato digging and rabbiting with his father: he also began shepherding for a Mr Tennant who, for a treat, took him one day to Winton races.
Shortly after, Leslie went to New Zealand with his parents. He went potato digging and rabbiting with his father: he also began shepherding for a Mr Tennant who, for a treat, took him one day to Winton races.
Leslie was hooked, and implored Mr Tennant to teach him to ride.
Leslie was hooked, and implored Mr Tennant to teach him to ride.
So apt a pupil did Leslie prove that he was given the ride on Mr Tennant's Sparrow in the Wintop Guineas at Invercargill (New Zealand). So little did he weigh that chains and stones were put in a sack in order to achieve the allotted weight.
So apt a pupil did Leslie prove that he was given the ride on Mr Tennant's Sparrow in the Wintop Guineas at Invercargill (New Zealand). So little did he weigh that chains and stones were put in a sack in order to achieve the allotted weight.
Sparrow carried Leslie to an easy victory, and Leslie's career as a jockey was on the road.
Sparrow carried Leslie to an easy victory, and Leslie's career as a jockey was on the road.
His riding at Invercargill had not gone unnoticed: it had caught the attention of Tom Goodman, son of Harry Goodman, the well-known Dunedin trainer.
His riding at Invercargill had not gone unnoticed: it had caught the attention of Tom Goodman, son of Harry Goodman, the well-known Dunedin trainer.
Tom was an excellent mentor: he would place Leslie astride a bag of chaff and make him change hands with the whip, beating the bag as if it were an imaginary steed. Tod Sloan was in fashion at this time and Leslie was the first to adopt the crouch.
Tom was an excellent mentor: he would place Leslie astride a bag of chaff and make him change hands with the whip, beating the bag as if it were an imaginary steed. Tod Sloan was in fashion at this time and Leslie was the first to adopt the crouch.
Leslie's first big victory came in the Jockey Club Handicap at Canterbury when Black And Red, carrying 6st. 12lbs., stormed to victory.
Leslie's first big victory came in the Jockey Club Handicap at Canterbury when Black And Red, carrying 6st. 12lbs., stormed to victory.
George McLean was the next to notice Leslie's talent and supplied him with many rides.
George McLean was the next to notice Leslie's talent and supplied him with many rides.
Then, a setback.
Then, a setback.
Riding again at Invercargill on April 19, 1899, Leslie got into a slogging match. During a hard battle in a race, the boy on the horse alongside him started to belt Leslie's horse, Gleneig, on the head. Leslie immediately retaliated, striking the boy across the back. Leslie got six months, the other boy three.
Riding again at Invercargill on April 19, 1899, Leslie got into a slogging match. During a hard battle in a race, the boy on the horse alongside him started to belt Leslie's horse, Gleneig, on the head. Leslie immediately retaliated, striking the boy across the back. Leslie got six months, the other boy three.
At that time, one of the trainers he worked for was in the habit of taking half of Leslie's earnings from him: the young jockey was not happy with this arrangement and, on one occasion, having had a profitable afternoon, decided to keep the lot for himself. The trainer was furious and demanded his half. Leslie said he had lost it all. (He had, in fact, hidden it on one side of a dunghill, and was shocked one morning to find a Chinaman filling his cart there. Luckily, he was working from the opposite side to where the money was planted.)
At that time, one of the trainers he worked for was in the habit of taking half of Leslie's earnings from him: the young jockey was not happy with this arrangement and, on one occasion, having had a profitable afternoon, decided to keep the lot for himself. The trainer was furious and demanded his half. Leslie said he had lost it all. (He had, in fact, hidden it on one side of a dunghill, and was shocked one morning to find a Chinaman filling his cart there. Luckily, he was working from the opposite side to where the money was planted.)
Leslie determined to get away, and, putting his enforced holiday to good use, caught the boat to Melbourne. There the naive young man got involved in a three-card session with a stranger on a street corner. Incredibly, within minutes, he lost the lot.
Leslie determined to get away, and, putting his enforced holiday to good use, caught the boat to Melbourne. There the naive young man got involved in a three-card session with a stranger on a street corner. Incredibly, within minutes, he lost the lot.
To survive, he went back to rabbiting before finding work looking after carriage horses for a solicitor, Mr Schuter, who kept a jumper. Leslie began riding work for him: he also rode out with the hounds occasionally. There he met a Mr MacArthur who, impressed, with his riding, asked Leslie if he'd like to become a jockey.
To survive, he went back to rabbiting before finding work looking after carriage horses for a solicitor, Mr Schuter, who kept a jumper. Leslie began riding work for him: he also rode out with the hounds occasionally. There he met a Mr MacArthur who, impressed, with his riding, asked Leslie if he'd like to become a jockey.
Foolishly keeping his disqualification to himself, Leslie agreed to apply for a licence and, on his fourth ride, won the Toorak Handicap on Alva.
Foolishly keeping his disqualification to himself, Leslie agreed to apply for a licence and, on his fourth ride, won the Toorak Handicap on Alva.
He was sensible enough to realize that he'd made a grave error and, in a bid to save his career, took the only practical course open to him.
He was sensible enough to realize that he'd made a grave error and, in a bid to save his career, took the only practical course open to him.
He decided to face the music and caught the first available boat to New Zealand. Back in Dunedin he arranged a meeting with the Hon. G McLean, the president of the Club.
He decided to face the music and caught the first available boat to New Zealand. Back in Dunedin he arranged a meeting with the Hon. G McLean, the president of the Club.
Leslie explained how he had lost all his money and had to do something for a living. For his total honesty he was forgiven.
Leslie explained how he had lost all his money and had to do something for a living. For his total honesty he was forgiven.
Gradually he worked his way back onto the circuit, riding for trainers Dan O'Brien (of Carbine fame) and the Hon George McDean. Then his luck really turned as he became associated with Mr G. G. Stead, for whom he won many top races.
Gradually he worked his way back onto the circuit, riding for trainers Dan O'Brien (of Carbine fame) and the Hon George McDean. Then his luck really turned as he became associated with Mr G. G. Stead, for whom he won many top races.
He arrived in England in February, 1907, and, because the American invasion (of jockeys) was at its highest point, initially found it difficult to obtain rides. Furthermore, when he did start winning races, his riding was constantly picked on by the racing scribes. His first winner came on Rarer Sort at Liverpool on March 23, 1907. He rode in England for eight seasons.
He arrived in England in February, 1907, and, because the American invasion (of jockeys) was at its highest point, initially found it difficult to obtain rides. Furthermore, when he did start winning races, his riding was constantly picked on by the racing scribes. His first winner came on Rarer Sort at Liverpool on March 23, 1907. He rode in England for eight seasons.
In 1912 Walter Raphael owned a grey filly, Tagalie, of which he thought a lot. At two she'd finished third in the Cheveley Park Stakes. Leslie was booked to ride her in the 1915 One Thousand Guineas. She surprised everyone bar Raphael when making all the running home at 20-1.
In 1912 Walter Raphael owned a grey filly, Tagalie, of which he thought a lot. At two she'd finished third in the Cheveley Park Stakes. Leslie was booked to ride her in the 1915 One Thousand Guineas. She surprised everyone bar Raphael when making all the running home at 20-1.
Owners can be fickle, and when in her warm-up race for the Derby she was unable to handle the colts at Newmarket, Leslie was not only blamed but was also taken off her for the Epsom Classic, Johnny Reiff taking the saddle.
Owners can be fickle, and when in her warm-up race for the Derby she was unable to handle the colts at Newmarket, Leslie was not only blamed but was also taken off her for the Epsom Classic, Johnny Reiff taking the saddle.
Reiff rode a sublime race from the front to win by four lengths at 100-8.
Reiff rode a sublime race from the front to win by four lengths at 100-8.
On April 13, 1913, Leslie rode Guiscard in the Maiden 2-y-o Plate at Newmarket. Years later he said: 'I'll never forget the race. I was riding a youngster for Sir A. Bailey which was supposed to be unbeatable. Before going out, Steve Donoghue had told me that the horse he was riding, The Tetrarch, was equal to a three-year-old in its trial gallop. I was out in front about a furlong from home when all of a sudden Steve sang out 'Look out, Les - I'm coming.' The next thing I knew he'd gone. I never knew a horse to go by so quickly. It was like a flash. The people I rode for were dissatisfied with my riding and reckoned I had gone to sleep.'
On April 13, 1913, Leslie rode Guiscard in the Maiden 2-y-o Plate at Newmarket. Years later he said: 'I'll never forget the race. I was riding a youngster for Sir A. Bailey which was supposed to be unbeatable. Before going out, Steve Donoghue had told me that the horse he was riding, The Tetrarch, was equal to a three-year-old in its trial gallop. I was out in front about a furlong from home when all of a sudden Steve sang out 'Look out, Les - I'm coming.' The next thing I knew he'd gone. I never knew a horse to go by so quickly. It was like a flash. The people I rode for were dissatisfied with my riding and reckoned I had gone to sleep.'
Leslie was now earning some £3,500 collectively per year from three or four owners, plus £6 per day expenses when riding. In addition, he was getting £2 every trial gallop, some £30 - £40 per week.
Leslie was now earning some £3,500 collectively per year from three or four owners, plus £6 per day expenses when riding. In addition, he was getting £2 every trial gallop, some £30 - £40 per week.
And he was still winning good races, including the 1908 Cambridgeshire on Marcovil and the 1908 Portland on The Welkin.
And he was still winning good races, including the 1908 Cambridgeshire on Marcovil and the 1908 Portland on The Welkin.
He also won the 1907 Royal Hunt Cup on Lally.
He also won the 1907 Royal Hunt Cup on Lally.
In 1915, Leslie returned home to New Zealand where he continued to ride until his retirement.
In 1915, Leslie returned home to New Zealand where he continued to ride until his retirement.
In 1945 he became a master at a school for young Indian riders at the Royal Western Turf Club in Bombay.
In 1945 he became a master at a school for young Indian riders at the Royal Western Turf Club in Bombay.
Leslie Hewitt, who fluently spoke five languages, died in Auckland, New Zealand in 1952 aged 73.
Leslie Hewitt, who fluently spoke five languages, died in Auckland, New Zealand in 1952 aged 73.
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