Matt Hopper
Matt Hopper Jnr was born in 1889, the son of a former jockey also named Matt (1864-1927) and nephew of the trainer Jim Hopper, who had under his care Knight of Burghley and other good horses for Lord Stamford in the 1870s and 1880s.
Matt Hopper Jnr was born in 1889, the son of a former jockey also named Matt (1864-1927) and nephew of the trainer Jim Hopper, who had under his care Knight of Burghley and other good horses for Lord Stamford in the 1870s and 1880s.
Along with his two brothers, James and Fred, Matt Jnr was among the best-known jockeys in Belgium. Matt Jnr also rode in England for the stables of Reg Day, Tom Waugh & Felix Leach, Jnr on the Flat. In addition, he accumulated 27 winners over jumps in Britain.
Along with his two brothers, James and Fred, Matt Jnr was among the best-known jockeys in Belgium. Matt Jnr also rode in England for the stables of Reg Day, Tom Waugh & Felix Leach, Jnr on the Flat. In addition, he accumulated 27 winners over jumps in Britain.
Matt had his first ride under British National Hunt rules on Tokay on November 11, 1911, in the Valentine Chase over Liverpool’s Grand National fences, finishing a respectable third. Tokay also provided him with his first winner under NH rules the following month when landing the Lambourn Handicap Chase at Newbury on December 21, 1911. He rode Tokay in the 1913 Grand National but was among the fallers.
Matt had his first ride under British National Hunt rules on Tokay on November 11, 1911, in the Valentine Chase over Liverpool’s Grand National fences, finishing a respectable third. Tokay also provided him with his first winner under NH rules the following month when landing the Lambourn Handicap Chase at Newbury on December 21, 1911. He rode Tokay in the 1913 Grand National but was among the fallers.
Matt rode eight winners during the curtailed 1917 season, putting him in fourth place in that year’s National Hunt jockeys’ table.
Matt rode eight winners during the curtailed 1917 season, putting him in fourth place in that year’s National Hunt jockeys’ table.
He achieved his last British jumps success on Aynsley in the Brocas Hurdle, the second race on a foggy afternoon at Windsor on January 30, 1918. The remainder of the card was then abandoned as the fog worsened.
He achieved his last British jumps success on Aynsley in the Brocas Hurdle, the second race on a foggy afternoon at Windsor on January 30, 1918. The remainder of the card was then abandoned as the fog worsened.
Matt’s final ride in Britain was on Radiant River, who finished fifth in the Oadby Hurdle at Leicester on April 12, 1923.
Matt’s final ride in Britain was on Radiant River, who finished fifth in the Oadby Hurdle at Leicester on April 12, 1923.
His father, Matt Hopper Snr, died on the morning of Wednesday, December 28, 1927, aged 64.
His father, Matt Hopper Snr, died on the morning of Wednesday, December 28, 1927, aged 64.