Earl Jones
1917 - 2003
1917 - 2003
Born in Cork on August 25, 1917, Earl Jones, better known as a trainer than jockey, rode his first winner, Queen of the Dandies, on 7 April (Easter Monday) 1947, at Wincanton.
Born in Cork on August 25, 1917, Earl Jones, better known as a trainer than jockey, rode his first winner, Queen of the Dandies, on 7 April (Easter Monday) 1947, at Wincanton.
Earl served his apprenticeship in Ireland with trainer Jack Ruttle before coming over to England in 1939.
Earl served his apprenticeship in Ireland with trainer Jack Ruttle before coming over to England in 1939.
As with everyone, the war interrupted his career and he spent time with the Royal Ordnance Corps.
As with everyone, the war interrupted his career and he spent time with the Royal Ordnance Corps.
Opening a yard at Guiting Power - a village near Cheltenham where jockey Sam Twiston-Davies bought property - Earl sent out runners which he both trained and rode.
Opening a yard at Guiting Power - a village near Cheltenham where jockey Sam Twiston-Davies bought property - Earl sent out runners which he both trained and rode.
Good horses passed through his hands: Forty Secrets, winner of the 1962 Welsh Grand National under Josh Gifford; Jolly Signal, who landed a massive gamble in Cheltenham's County Hurdle; The Hustler, who won the Cotswold Chase (later renamed the Arkle) and Pattered, who, under Ken White, won a second Welsh Grand National for the stable.
Good horses passed through his hands: Forty Secrets, winner of the 1962 Welsh Grand National under Josh Gifford; Jolly Signal, who landed a massive gamble in Cheltenham's County Hurdle; The Hustler, who won the Cotswold Chase (later renamed the Arkle) and Pattered, who, under Ken White, won a second Welsh Grand National for the stable.
Earl was once involved in a bizarre shooting incident.
Earl was once involved in a bizarre shooting incident.
Returning from a horse sale at Ascot on Tuesday, 4 July 1978, to his stables at Hazel Slade, Hednesford, he was attacked at 11.30 at night, his assailant shooting him in the left knee.
Returning from a horse sale at Ascot on Tuesday, 4 July 1978, to his stables at Hazel Slade, Hednesford, he was attacked at 11.30 at night, his assailant shooting him in the left knee.
He was rushed to Staffordshire General Infirmary where he underwent an operation.
He was rushed to Staffordshire General Infirmary where he underwent an operation.
Later that year, Earl suffered a stroke. It was the beginning of the end: the unfortunate trainer endured a long and painful recovery before briefly resuming his career.
Later that year, Earl suffered a stroke. It was the beginning of the end: the unfortunate trainer endured a long and painful recovery before briefly resuming his career.
Earl sent out his last winner - Roy's House - at Wolverhampton in November, 1986.
Earl sent out his last winner - Roy's House - at Wolverhampton in November, 1986.
He had trained some 500 winners in a forty-year career.
He had trained some 500 winners in a forty-year career.
He lost his wife, Bridie, in 1988 and, having handed in his licence and with nothing to keep him any longer in England, he returned to Ireland and lived in Waterford.
He lost his wife, Bridie, in 1988 and, having handed in his licence and with nothing to keep him any longer in England, he returned to Ireland and lived in Waterford.
It was here that Earl Jones died in June 2003, aged 83.
It was here that Earl Jones died in June 2003, aged 83.