Clarence Isgate

Clarence Isgate

Article by Alan Trout

Clarence Isgate rode for two seasons during the First World War without making much of an impact. He was initially apprenticed to Reg Day (1883-1972) who, from his stables at Terrace House, Newmarket, sent out hundreds of winners including those of three Classics.

Clarence’s first ride was at Newmarket on April 11, 1916 when the five-year-old Vino Veritas finished sixth of 15 runners in the Apprentices Handicap won by Cecil Palmer on the 7-2 favourite Elevator.

On July 19, again at Newmarket, Clarence made his final appearance of the season – and his last for nearly two years – when finishing unplaced in a two-year-old selling plate on an unnamed filly of Reg Day’s by Ulpian out of Bim, having effectively lost all chance when one of four that was slowly away.

When Clarence did return in 1918 it was for a new stable, that of Sir Hugo Fitzherbert, but the outcomes were the same. He began by finishing unplaced on Jonah in division two of the Visitors’ Apprentice Handicap, a race won by John Doolan on the Atty Persse-trained Cocksure.

His final ride was back at that course on September 10, when he rode another of Sir Hugo’s horses, Mountain Laddie, who finished sixth of 13 in the Middle-Miles Handicap.

Clarence did not ride on the Flat again, and his cause was probably not helped by Sir Hugo having no winners whatsoever that year.

He was granted a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1928/29 season but had very few mounts and did not manage to ride a winner.