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1929 - 2014
1929 - 2014
Born in Bishop's Cleeve, near Cheltenham, on June 30, 1929, Rex was the son of Grand National-winning jockey Tim Hamey who, in 1932, won on the unconsidered 50/1 shot Forbra.
Born in Bishop's Cleeve, near Cheltenham, on June 30, 1929, Rex was the son of Grand National-winning jockey Tim Hamey who, in 1932, won on the unconsidered 50/1 shot Forbra.
It was his father, then training at Moat Farm on the Prestbury Park estate, who provided Rex with his first winner, Sahara, who obliged twice over the Easter holidays of 1950.
It was his father, then training at Moat Farm on the Prestbury Park estate, who provided Rex with his first winner, Sahara, who obliged twice over the Easter holidays of 1950.
Probably the best horse Rex rode was Clearing, on which he contested the 1955 Grand National.
Probably the best horse Rex rode was Clearing, on which he contested the 1955 Grand National.
Because of a rail strike, no newspapers were published that day: it was for the same reason that the Trooping the Colour ceremony was later cancelled for the only time in its history.
Because of a rail strike, no newspapers were published that day: it was for the same reason that the Trooping the Colour ceremony was later cancelled for the only time in its history.
Despite the lack of newspapers and torrential rain which had started the previous evening and carried on throughout the next day, an astonishing good-sized crowd turned up to witness Quare Times (pronounced Quar-ray Tee-muss) become the third successive winner of the race for Irish trainer V. O'Brien.
Despite the lack of newspapers and torrential rain which had started the previous evening and carried on throughout the next day, an astonishing good-sized crowd turned up to witness Quare Times (pronounced Quar-ray Tee-muss) become the third successive winner of the race for Irish trainer V. O'Brien.
The race very nearly didn't happen.
The race very nearly didn't happen.
All through the morning, rumours - fanned by the steady downpour - swept around the vicinity that the day would be abandoned.
All through the morning, rumours - fanned by the steady downpour - swept around the vicinity that the day would be abandoned.
Rex recalled it as being 'a horrible day with everything being muddy and wet'.
Rex recalled it as being 'a horrible day with everything being muddy and wet'.
Willie Stephenson, trainer of Clearing, wouldn't let Rex canter the horse that morning, so bad were conditions. In the race itself, Rex found himself 20 lengths shy as the leaders jumped the Canal Turn for the second time. Clearing was not a fast horse and did well to finish seventh.
Willie Stephenson, trainer of Clearing, wouldn't let Rex canter the horse that morning, so bad were conditions. In the race itself, Rex found himself 20 lengths shy as the leaders jumped the Canal Turn for the second time. Clearing was not a fast horse and did well to finish seventh.
With barely time to catch his breath, Clearing ran in the Welsh Grand National just a fortnight later. Rex guided him into third spot.
With barely time to catch his breath, Clearing ran in the Welsh Grand National just a fortnight later. Rex guided him into third spot.
The following year, 1956, Rex married and became stable jockey to his bride's father, trainer Jack Yeomans, whose stables stood at Upton-Upon-Severn.
The following year, 1956, Rex married and became stable jockey to his bride's father, trainer Jack Yeomans, whose stables stood at Upton-Upon-Severn.
One of Yeomans better horses was the gelding Branca Doria which, on November 3, 1960, Rex kicked home in the Handicap Hurdle (at 11/2) at Liverpool.
One of Yeomans better horses was the gelding Branca Doria which, on November 3, 1960, Rex kicked home in the Handicap Hurdle (at 11/2) at Liverpool.
Injuries hastened his retirement, as it does with so many of his profession. Falls at Nottingham & Towcester, resulting in crushed vertebrae, pointed towards the exit door and, on 14 December, 1963, at Southwell, Rex climbed aboard his last winner, Pappa Three Ways, trained by Willie Stephenson.
Injuries hastened his retirement, as it does with so many of his profession. Falls at Nottingham & Towcester, resulting in crushed vertebrae, pointed towards the exit door and, on 14 December, 1963, at Southwell, Rex climbed aboard his last winner, Pappa Three Ways, trained by Willie Stephenson.
Rex had no intention of walking away from the sport.
Rex had no intention of walking away from the sport.
Asked to take over the running of Willie Stephenson's Tudor Stud, he stayed there for the next sixteen years. He then returned to the Cotswolds and became a staff member at Witney College, where he gave lectures on racing.
Asked to take over the running of Willie Stephenson's Tudor Stud, he stayed there for the next sixteen years. He then returned to the Cotswolds and became a staff member at Witney College, where he gave lectures on racing.
He retired at 65 in 1994, but was not yet done with racing, and spent the next five years in Dubai, mainly rearing foals.
He retired at 65 in 1994, but was not yet done with racing, and spent the next five years in Dubai, mainly rearing foals.
He retired for the second time in 2000, aged 72, and returned to Cheltenham to live, happily ever after, just a short trot from the racecourse.
He retired for the second time in 2000, aged 72, and returned to Cheltenham to live, happily ever after, just a short trot from the racecourse.
Rex died in Stroud Hospital on March 17, 2014, aged 84.
Rex died in Stroud Hospital on March 17, 2014, aged 84.
Rex Hamey's Grand National Record
Rex Hamey's Grand National Record
1952: Irish Lizard Fell 1st.
1952: Irish Lizard Fell 1st.
1954: Hierba Baulked at the Chair
1954: Hierba Baulked at the Chair
1955: Clearing Seventh
1955: Clearing Seventh
1956: Athenian Fell 12th
1956: Athenian Fell 12th
1957: Monkey Wrench Pulled Up
1957: Monkey Wrench Pulled Up
1962: Vivant Pulled Up
1962: Vivant Pulled Up
1963: Vivant Brought Down
1963: Vivant Brought Down
Big winners:
Big winners:
1956: Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase – Linwell
1956: Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase – Linwell
1960: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Vivant
1960: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Vivant
1960: November Handicap Hurdle – Branca Doria
1960: November Handicap Hurdle – Branca Doria
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