Robert I'Anson
(1850-1917)
(1850-1917)
Robert Thomas I’Anson was born in Co. Waterford, Ireland on June 14, 1850, the son of Robert I’Anson (1818-1881) who had been born in Middleham, Yorkshire.
Robert Thomas I’Anson was born in Co. Waterford, Ireland on June 14, 1850, the son of Robert I’Anson (1818-1881) who had been born in Middleham, Yorkshire.
He came to Britain to be apprenticed to his uncle William I’Anson and had his first ride on Derby day 1861, aged around 11. He rode his first winner on the Flat on Telscombe at Harrow on February 3, 1864, aged 13, won on his first ride over hurdles aged 14 and won on his first ride over fences on Pakrita at Margate in 1868.
He came to Britain to be apprenticed to his uncle William I’Anson and had his first ride on Derby day 1861, aged around 11. He rode his first winner on the Flat on Telscombe at Harrow on February 3, 1864, aged 13, won on his first ride over hurdles aged 14 and won on his first ride over fences on Pakrita at Margate in 1868.
Despite being over 6ft tall he was neat and stylish, and very popular with both the public and his fellow jockeys. He achieved his first major victory on Scipio in the 1869 Leamington Grand Annual Steeplechase. He was champion National Hunt jockey four times.
Despite being over 6ft tall he was neat and stylish, and very popular with both the public and his fellow jockeys. He achieved his first major victory on Scipio in the 1869 Leamington Grand Annual Steeplechase. He was champion National Hunt jockey four times.
He won the Grand Steeplechase de Paris in 1879 on Wild Monarch, while in England his many big race victories included the Great Metropolitan Steeplechase three times, two of those being on Bacchus whom he rated the best chaser he rode. He also rode Bacchus to successive victories in the Prince of Wales Chase and won back-to-back renewals of the Bristol Royal Chase on Palm. He rated Broadside as the best he rode over hurdles.
He won the Grand Steeplechase de Paris in 1879 on Wild Monarch, while in England his many big race victories included the Great Metropolitan Steeplechase three times, two of those being on Bacchus whom he rated the best chaser he rode. He also rode Bacchus to successive victories in the Prince of Wales Chase and won back-to-back renewals of the Bristol Royal Chase on Palm. He rated Broadside as the best he rode over hurdles.
He rode in ten Grand Nationals but the closest he came to winning was when finishing second on Scarrington in 1872. He won the Grand Sandown Chase and the Surrey Grand Open Chase on Shifnal and finished third on him in the 1876 Grand National but he missed riding Shifnal when he won it in 1878, having chosen instead to ride the favourite, His Lordship, who was knocked over in running.
He rode in ten Grand Nationals but the closest he came to winning was when finishing second on Scarrington in 1872. He won the Grand Sandown Chase and the Surrey Grand Open Chase on Shifnal and finished third on him in the 1876 Grand National but he missed riding Shifnal when he won it in 1878, having chosen instead to ride the favourite, His Lordship, who was knocked over in running.
In the latter part of his career he combined riding with training and achieved his biggest training success with Austerlitz in the 1877 Grand National, in which Robert himself finished sixth on Shifnal. At one time he also started races whilst holding a jockey’s licence. He went on to become a leading trainer. In 1910 he lost the sight in his left eye in an accident when schooling a two-year-old.
In the latter part of his career he combined riding with training and achieved his biggest training success with Austerlitz in the 1877 Grand National, in which Robert himself finished sixth on Shifnal. At one time he also started races whilst holding a jockey’s licence. He went on to become a leading trainer. In 1910 he lost the sight in his left eye in an accident when schooling a two-year-old.
Robert I’Anson died at Epsom on February 4, 1917, aged 66.
Robert I’Anson died at Epsom on February 4, 1917, aged 66.
His biggest wins were:
His biggest wins were:
Grand Steeplechase de Paris: Wild Monarch (1879)
Grand Steeplechase de Paris: Wild Monarch (1879)
Great Metropolitan Steeplechase: Citizen (1878), Bacchus (1879, 1880)
Great Metropolitan Steeplechase: Citizen (1878), Bacchus (1879, 1880)
Prince of Wales Chase: Bacchus (1880, 1881)
Prince of Wales Chase: Bacchus (1880, 1881)
Champion Chase: Bacchus (1881, walked over)
Champion Chase: Bacchus (1881, walked over)
Bristol Royal Chase: Palm (1877, 1878)
Bristol Royal Chase: Palm (1877, 1878)
Leamington Grand Annual Steeplechase: Scipio (1869)
Leamington Grand Annual Steeplechase: Scipio (1869)
Liverpool Hurdle: Stradbroke (1871)
Liverpool Hurdle: Stradbroke (1871)
Cheltenham Grand Annual: Saucebox (1872)
Cheltenham Grand Annual: Saucebox (1872)
Grand Sandown Chase: Palm (1876)
Grand Sandown Chase: Palm (1876)
Surrey Grand Open Chase: Shifnal (1876)
Surrey Grand Open Chase: Shifnal (1876)
Sandown Grand International Chase: Shifnal (1878)
Sandown Grand International Chase: Shifnal (1878)
United Kingdom Grand handicap Chase: Marin (1871)
United Kingdom Grand handicap Chase: Marin (1871)
Grand National Hurdle: Magdala (1870), Charles I (1880)
Grand National Hurdle: Magdala (1870), Charles I (1880)