Ralph Hirons
There’s an old horseracing adage about backing the outsider in a three-runner race. However, statistics show that it’s a flawed system and that if you followed blindly, you’d soon end up in the poorhouse.
There’s an old horseracing adage about backing the outsider in a three-runner race. However, statistics show that it’s a flawed system and that if you followed blindly, you’d soon end up in the poorhouse.
Even the staunchest advocates of that policy would have been tearing up their tickets when the three runners entered the straight in the Coventry Handicap Chase at Kempton Park on Saturday, February 21, 1959.
Even the staunchest advocates of that policy would have been tearing up their tickets when the three runners entered the straight in the Coventry Handicap Chase at Kempton Park on Saturday, February 21, 1959.
There were only two fences in the Kempton straight in those days (now there are three) and the race looked between the 9-2 on favourite Done Up, ridden by reigning champion jockey Fred Winter, and Peter Of Crosswell, the mount of Bert Morrow, best remembered for his 16-win association with the tearaway chaser Galloway Braes.
There were only two fences in the Kempton straight in those days (now there are three) and the race looked between the 9-2 on favourite Done Up, ridden by reigning champion jockey Fred Winter, and Peter Of Crosswell, the mount of Bert Morrow, best remembered for his 16-win association with the tearaway chaser Galloway Braes.
The third runner, 20-1 outsider Stanton Johnie, was ridden by a 7lb-claimer named Ralph Hirons, who had yet to ride a winner and was putting up 5lb overweight. They were well in arrears turning for home.
The third runner, 20-1 outsider Stanton Johnie, was ridden by a 7lb-claimer named Ralph Hirons, who had yet to ride a winner and was putting up 5lb overweight. They were well in arrears turning for home.
But what followed would have been a likely candidate for ‘what happened next’ had the BBC’s ‘Question of Sport’ been around then.
But what followed would have been a likely candidate for ‘what happened next’ had the BBC’s ‘Question of Sport’ been around then.
Done Up held a slight lead at the last fence, only to fall and bring down Peter Of Crosswell, leaving the Derek Ancil-trained Stanton Johnie to jump the fence cleanly and come home at his leisure. Done Up and Peter Of Crosswell were both remounted to claim second and third prizes.
Done Up held a slight lead at the last fence, only to fall and bring down Peter Of Crosswell, leaving the Derek Ancil-trained Stanton Johnie to jump the fence cleanly and come home at his leisure. Done Up and Peter Of Crosswell were both remounted to claim second and third prizes.
Ralph Hirons, known as Ted, was born on February 19, 1936. He served a three-year apprenticeship with Classic-winning trainer Geoffrey Brooke at Newmarket from 1951 to 1954, before rising weight dictated that his future lay over jumps.
Ralph Hirons, known as Ted, was born on February 19, 1936. He served a three-year apprenticeship with Classic-winning trainer Geoffrey Brooke at Newmarket from 1951 to 1954, before rising weight dictated that his future lay over jumps.
That extremely fortunate winner was his sole success from just nine rides that season. An indication of how fortuitous it was can be gauged by his response to ‘best horse ridden’ in the 1961 edition of ‘Directory of the Turf’. Instead of Stanton Johnie, Ralph nominated one named Fleet Air Arm. He only rode that horse once in a race, at Towcester on Easter Monday 1959, when he had run out. Presumably, he was going well at the time.
That extremely fortunate winner was his sole success from just nine rides that season. An indication of how fortuitous it was can be gauged by his response to ‘best horse ridden’ in the 1961 edition of ‘Directory of the Turf’. Instead of Stanton Johnie, Ralph nominated one named Fleet Air Arm. He only rode that horse once in a race, at Towcester on Easter Monday 1959, when he had run out. Presumably, he was going well at the time.
Stanton Johnie turned out to be the only winner Ralph ever rode. At least it was in a high-profile race, because the Coventry Handicap Chase was a decent one, later developing into the Racing Post Chase, to be followed by other sponsors’ titles (currently the Coral Trophy) and forming part of Kempton’s late February fixture, along with the Grade 2 Adonis and Dovecote novice hurdles.
Stanton Johnie turned out to be the only winner Ralph ever rode. At least it was in a high-profile race, because the Coventry Handicap Chase was a decent one, later developing into the Racing Post Chase, to be followed by other sponsors’ titles (currently the Coral Trophy) and forming part of Kempton’s late February fixture, along with the Grade 2 Adonis and Dovecote novice hurdles.
He held a licence for three seasons from 1958/59 to 1960/61 but had few opportunities. During his final season he rode for permit holder Tom Phipps, who trained at Farndish Farm, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
He held a licence for three seasons from 1958/59 to 1960/61 but had few opportunities. During his final season he rode for permit holder Tom Phipps, who trained at Farndish Farm, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
Ralph had his last ride on one of Phipps’s horses, French Champagne, who finished unplaced in division one of the Oadby Hurdle at Leicester on November 29, 1960.
Ralph had his last ride on one of Phipps’s horses, French Champagne, who finished unplaced in division one of the Oadby Hurdle at Leicester on November 29, 1960.
He remerged as a trainer during the 1990s, though on a very small scale, based at Knutsford, Cheshire. He held a licence at various times between 1991 and 1998, his runners achieving three third-place finishes. He renewed his licence in 2001 and trained until 2005, then had one more short-lived spell in 2011/2012.
He remerged as a trainer during the 1990s, though on a very small scale, based at Knutsford, Cheshire. He held a licence at various times between 1991 and 1998, his runners achieving three third-place finishes. He renewed his licence in 2001 and trained until 2005, then had one more short-lived spell in 2011/2012.
Ralph ‘Ted’ Hirons died on March 8, 2023, aged 87.
Ralph ‘Ted’ Hirons died on March 8, 2023, aged 87.