Harold Jepson

Harold Jepson

Article by Alan Trout

Although Harold Jepson rode on the Flat in both 1917 and 1918, his only three wins were gained under National Hunt rules in the 1920s, all of them trained by George De Winton, with whom Harold was then based. 

Apprenticed to Sam H. Darling (1881-1967) at Newmarket, he had his first ride on Tregarron in the Apprentices’ Handicap at Newmarket on April 17, 1917. Carrying 4lb overweight at 6 stone, Tregarron finished unplaced, having been among three runners slowly away. 

Harold had his first ride over jumps at Haydock Park on January 7, 1922, when Treasure Note was down the field in the Station Selling Handicap Hurdle, a race won by Eric Foster on Southern Lass. 

Even before riding his first winner, Harold was entrusted with rides in two of the season’s most important hurdle races, but they were not happy occasions. He rode Lady Sleipner in the 1923 Imperial Cup at Sandown but fell. Seven days later he was reunited with Lady Sleipner in the Liverpool Hurdle but was unplaced. 

His long-awaited first win finally came at Windsor on February 18, 1926, when Apple Pie won the Belmead Handicap Chase. The seven-year-old beat Lone Hand, the mount of Tom Morgan, by three lengths, although the task was made easier by the fall of the favourite Fair View. 

Following two placed efforts, Apple Pie scored again at Torquay on Easter Monday, April 5, landing the West of England Handicap Chase by three lengths. Two more placed efforts and a fall provided a disappointing end to the season.

Harold had to wait three years for his final victory. It came at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 1, 1929, when Sound Asleep beat five rivals to take the Penselwood Handicap Hurdle by two lengths from Paleftoi, ridden by James Millar. He did not ride Sound Asleep again, nor did he manage another winner.