National Hunt jockey Harry Clement Iles rode 22 winners in a career that lasted more than a decade at the turn of the 20th century. His first success came at Woore on April 16, 1896, when he won the Maiden Steeplechase on the four-year-old filly Donna Julia, scoring by three lengths.
A walkover on Eastleigh in the Hindlip Steeplechase at Worcester followed 13 days later, and for the next three years Harry enjoyed a degree of success, his best year being 1898 with seven wins, which would have been eight had not School Gal been disqualified after winning at the Banbury Hunt fixture on April 27 for “having gone the wrong side of a flag”. Nine days later, School Gal was one of the contributors to the only double of Harry’s career at Tenbury Hunt.
He had two rides over the Liverpool fences in 1899, completing the course on both occasions. In the Stanley Chase on March 23, he finished fourth and last out of eight starters on the five-year-old Harry, then two days later he was sixth and last to finish on Tarry in the Altcar Four-Year-Old Chase.
After the start of the 20th century, he only managed five more victories. He did not ride at all in 1904 or 1905 but came back to ride a final winner when Armoy landed the Stoneygate Selling Chase at Leicester on March 5, 1907, beating Blue Vinny, ridden by future champion jockey Bill Payne Snr, by eight lengths. Armoy was also Harry’s last ride when finishing fifth in the Banbury Town Handicap Chase at that course on April 19, 1907.
Harry Iles’ wins were, in chronological order:
1. Donna Julia, Woore, April 16, 1896
2. Eastleigh, Worcester, April 29, 1896 (walkover)
3. Endanger, Woore, April 8, 1897
4. Eastleigh, Stratford-on-Avon, April 26, 1897
5. Endanger, Bridgnorth, April 27, 1897
6. Leonie, Llangibby, November 17, 1897
7. Perth Lad, Manchester, January 19, 1898
8. Kippur, Woore, March 31, 1898
9. Kippur, Tanat Side Hunt, April 22, 1898 (dead-heat)
10. Miss Musket, Tenbury Hunt, May 6, 1898
11. School Gal, Tenbury Hunt, May 6, 1898
12. School Gal, Hall Green Hunt, May 16, 1898
13. School Gal, Nottingham, May 23, 1898
14. Harry, Monmouth, March 2, 1899
15. Harry, Abergavenny, April 8, 1899
16. Kippur, Worcester, April 26, 1899
17. Kippur, Shirley Park, May 1, 1899
18. Platelayer, Wolverhampton, October 29, 1901
19. Gannaway, Shirley Park, September 29, 1902
20. Dandolo, Shirley Park, December 1, 1902
21. Charlton, Shirley Park, March 23, 1903
22. Armoy, Leicester, March 5, 1907