Bobby Jones
1904 - 1969
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Bobby Jones and Royal Lancer win the 1922 St Leger
St Leger winners - the precocious apprentice Bobby Jones and Royal Lancer - being led up by owner Lord Lonsdale, who died in 1943. The Earl was a parsimonious man, and Bobby Jones never got his promised present for winning.
Royal Lancer, a bay Irish-bred colt, had only won one race in its first season - likewise, his jockey Bobby Jones, who only won one race in his first season as an apprentice in 1920.
At Doncaster on Wednesday 13 September 1922, they combined to land odds of 33-1 in the 147th running of the St Leger.
Just eight days later, on 21 September 1922, Royal Lancer won the Irish St Leger at the Curragh. He became the first horse to win both the English and Irish St Legers (a feat later achieved by others like Trigo in 1929).
Robert Anjial Jones, always known as ‘Bobby', was born in North Wales on May 14th, 1904.
Robert Anjial Jones, always known as ‘Bobby', was born in North Wales on May 14th, 1904.
Like his brother Peter, he taught himself to ride. He lived in a coal-producing country and there were, in his teenage days, races confined to ponies and galloways in which many lads became so proficient as to be much sought after by ever keen trainers of thoroughbreds. Bobby was no exception and he was taken on by Alfred Sadler at Freemasons Lodge at Newmarket.
Like his brother Peter, he taught himself to ride. He lived in a coal-producing country and there were, in his teenage days, races confined to ponies and galloways in which many lads became so proficient as to be much sought after by ever keen trainers of thoroughbreds. Bobby was no exception and he was taken on by Alfred Sadler at Freemasons Lodge at Newmarket.
On Tuesday October 30 1923, Bobby's older brother, Peter, accepted the ride on Maid of Middleham at Bogside. He was thrown during the race, the Three-Year-Old Handicap, but the serious nature of his injuries was not then apparent. He went on to ride Monk of Blyth to victory in the last race. Shortly afterwards, he needed medical attention, and was rushed to Ayr hospital where, much to his younger brother’s horror, he died later that night. He was buried in Beverley.
On Tuesday October 30 1923, Bobby's older brother, Peter, accepted the ride on Maid of Middleham at Bogside. He was thrown during the race, the Three-Year-Old Handicap, but the serious nature of his injuries was not then apparent. He went on to ride Monk of Blyth to victory in the last race. Shortly afterwards, he needed medical attention, and was rushed to Ayr hospital where, much to his younger brother’s horror, he died later that night. He was buried in Beverley.
Friday June 4, 1926. Short Story and Bobby Jones run out the easy four length winners of the Epsom Oaks
Lord Astor leads in Short Story, his fourth winner of the Oaks
His record marks his progress: in his first season, 1920, he won once in 22 public rides and in 1921 he won 7 times in 74 attempts. In 1922 he won no less than 58 races from a total of 414.
His record marks his progress: in his first season, 1920, he won once in 22 public rides and in 1921 he won 7 times in 74 attempts. In 1922 he won no less than 58 races from a total of 414.
Cross Bow - furthest left, next to the rails - and Bobby, winning the 1926 Royal Hunt Cup. Foaled in 1922, Cross Bow was sired by Gay Crusader (a notable horse who won the English Triple Crown in 1917) out of the dam Popinjay (by St. Frusquin). He later stood as a sire himself, with progeny including Moonlit (a South African racehorse) and others who achieved some success.
Wednesday June 17 1926.
Bobby gets the 33-1 outsider Cross Bow home
4-y-o Dark Warrior leads the parade for the 1928 Lincoln Handicap.
Solly Jol's Dark Warrior still leading at the post, two lengths clear of Solly's brother's runner, Philammon. Bobby's mount won at 28-1
A close-up view of the Lincoln finish
A jubilant Bobby Jones & Orwell (number 10) return to the scales after their 1932 Two Thousand Guineas victory. The race took place on Wednesday, April 27, 1932. Orwell, trained by Joseph Lawson, and owned by American sportsman Washington Singer, delivered impressively. He won by two lengths from the runner-up Dastur, with Hesperus finishing third. The winning time was recorded as 1:42.4.
Orwell was then rated a certainty for the Epsom Derby. Then Joe Lawson made a mistake: a week before the actual Derby, he ran a trial on the gallops in which Orwell was asked to give weight to older horses. He did so, but Bobby, his trial rider that morning, was rightly convinced that he had left the Derby behind on those gallops.
Orwell, a brown colt bred in Ireland and sired by the great Gainsborough, was the top-rated 2-y-o of 1931.
Ascot Gold Cup finish, 1938: Flares, ridden by Bobby Jones, gets home by a neck from Buckleigh, ridden by Michael Beary. Third was Senor, ridden by the ill-fated Jackie Crouch. This was the first time an American horse had won this race since Foxhall's victory in 1882. Flares, trained by Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, was sired by the 1930 American Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox out of Flambino (making him a full brother to the 1935 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Omaha).
Royal Ascot Thursday June 16 1938
Bobby Jones wins on Flares
Newmarket: 1939 One Thousand Guineas.
Galatea ll & Bobby Jones win by an easy three lengths from Aurora (Dick Perryman),
and Olien (white blaze), who was making her racecourse debut.
It was a different story in 1939 Oaks at Epsom where Galatea ll (white blaze) scraped home by a head from the Charlie Elliott-ridden White Fox.
A different view of the Oaks finish. Galatea ll was a French-bred but British-trained filly who had a modest two-year-old season without wins. In 1939, she showed dramatic improvement as a three-year-old, winning her first three starts. A bay filly trained by Joe Lawson, Galatea ll started 10-11 favourite.
Bobby Jones, aged 64, died on Wednesday evening, February 12 1969 at his home in Newmarket.
Bobby Jones, aged 64, died on Wednesday evening, February 12 1969 at his home in Newmarket.
He left £1,010
He left £1,010
His daughter, Silvia, married the jockey Willie Snaith.
His daughter, Silvia, married the jockey Willie Snaith.
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