Elmer James

c1878 -1959

Article by Alan Trout

Details of Elmer James’s life are a little sketchy. Born in America around 1878, he came to England in 1901 to ride mainly for owner George Edwardes, the famous theatre manager and impresario who ruled the theatrical empire for three decades.

Elmer’s first ride was at Liverpool on March 28, 1901 when he finished third in the Thursby Plate on Mr Edwardes’s Salvador. His first win soon followed, aboard Fairy Field who won the Cheveley Park Plate at Birmingham by three lengths on April 9. Altogether, Elmer won 12 races that year, with doubles at Bath and Hamilton Park.

The next year was less successful with just three wins, after which Elmer was not seen in England again until 1905 when he had the misfortune of being ‘jocked off’ after riding a winner. This came on June 30 at Birmingham when Elmer rode an unnamed gelding by Father Confessor out of Her Grace for Mr G. W. Smith, who had retained his services for the year. Elmer’s mount dead-heated with Tickets, ridden by Charles Russell in the one-mile Trial Selling Plate. However, for the deciding run-off, Elmer was replaced by Elijah Wheatley who was on his way to being crowned that year’s champion jockey. Mr Smith’s horse duly won by three lengths.

Elmer’s only full win that year came at Newcastle on October 25 when Old Times won the Scurry Welter Selling Handicap by half a length. His last ride in England came two days later at Thirsk when another of Mr Smith’s unnamed horses, a two-year-old filly by Passe Par Tout out of Sara Cara, finished unplaced in the Sessay Selling Nursery Handicap.

Elmer James returned to America, eventually settling in Ontario, Canada, where he died on April 22, 1959

Elmer James’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Fairy Field, Birmingham, April 9, 1901

2. Fairy Field, Derby, April 20, 1901

3. Little Nora, Bath, May 22, 1901

4. Kingston II, Bath, May 22, 1901

5. Thursday, Hamilton Park, July 13, 1901

6. The Lady’s Realm, Hamilton Park, July 13, 1901

7. Korosko, Worcester, July 27, 1901

8. Odoratus, Paisley, August 9, 1901

9. King Of The Plains, Lewes, September 27, 1901

10. Peace And Plenty, Haydock Park, October 11, 1901

11. Amphlett, Gatwick, October 22, 1901

12. Morningdew, Folkestone, November 20, 1901

13. Crown Equerry, Haydock Park, August 8, 1902

14. Cerillo, York, August 26, 1902

15. Red Comyn, Derby, September 4, 1902

16. Old Times, Newcastle, October 25, 1905