Herbert Jones
1933 - 2016
1933 - 2016
By Chris Pitt
By Chris Pitt
Born in Norton-on Tees, Co Durham on January 31, 1933, Herbert Jones was actually christened Harold, but there was another jockey called Harold (Harry) Jones riding at the time, so the Jockey Club promptly changed his name to Herbert to avoid confusion.
Born in Norton-on Tees, Co Durham on January 31, 1933, Herbert Jones was actually christened Harold, but there was another jockey called Harold (Harry) Jones riding at the time, so the Jockey Club promptly changed his name to Herbert to avoid confusion.
Herbert was apprenticed firstly to Joe Thwaites and then to Jack Pearce at Malton and rode his first winner, Flannery, at Pontefract on May 11, 1949. He gained his first important victory when a 3lb claimer in the 1951 Carlisle Bell on Pearce’s Companion Way, owned by professional punter Alex Bird. He won that historic race again the following year on another Pearce-trained horse, Claverhouse.
Herbert was apprenticed firstly to Joe Thwaites and then to Jack Pearce at Malton and rode his first winner, Flannery, at Pontefract on May 11, 1949. He gained his first important victory when a 3lb claimer in the 1951 Carlisle Bell on Pearce’s Companion Way, owned by professional punter Alex Bird. He won that historic race again the following year on another Pearce-trained horse, Claverhouse.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1952 with 17 winners. They included his two biggest victories, the Ebor Handicap on Signification and the Ayr Gold Cup on Vatellus, both of them owned by Alex Bird and trained by Jack Pearce. It was also a good year in his personal life as he married his wife Anne.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1952 with 17 winners. They included his two biggest victories, the Ebor Handicap on Signification and the Ayr Gold Cup on Vatellus, both of them owned by Alex Bird and trained by Jack Pearce. It was also a good year in his personal life as he married his wife Anne.
The following year he rode a dozen winners, but thereafter the seasonal totals were mostly in single figures as he began to spend more time abroad, riding winners in India, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In 1958 he rode just five winners in Britain but they included Kempton’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Poplin, whom Herbert rated as the best he rode during his career.
The following year he rode a dozen winners, but thereafter the seasonal totals were mostly in single figures as he began to spend more time abroad, riding winners in India, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In 1958 he rode just five winners in Britain but they included Kempton’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Poplin, whom Herbert rated as the best he rode during his career.
Big winners
Big winners
1951: Carlisle Bell – Companion Way
1951: Carlisle Bell – Companion Way
1952: Carlisle Bell – Claverhouse
1952: Carlisle Bell – Claverhouse
1952: Ebor Handicap – Signification
1952: Ebor Handicap – Signification
1952: Ayr Gold Cup – Vatellus
1952: Ayr Gold Cup – Vatellus
1958: Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Kempton) – Poplin
1958: Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Kempton) – Poplin
He rode no winners at all in Britain during 1959 or 1960 and had just one in each of the next three seasons, these being: Rio Tinto II, Lanark, September 30, 1961Clear Reason, Thirsk, May 25, 1962 and Dulcima, Redcar, July 31, 1963
He rode no winners at all in Britain during 1959 or 1960 and had just one in each of the next three seasons, these being: Rio Tinto II, Lanark, September 30, 1961Clear Reason, Thirsk, May 25, 1962 and Dulcima, Redcar, July 31, 1963
He retired at the end of the 1963 season, bringing to an end a career that had realised around 200 winners at home and abroad. In addition to his aforementioned big race triumphs on home soil, in India he won the Mathradas Gold Cup at Bombay. He also rode a winner over hurdles on his first ride in Oslo, standing in for Fred Winter, who had been booked for the ride but was delayed on his journey and failed to make it in time.
He retired at the end of the 1963 season, bringing to an end a career that had realised around 200 winners at home and abroad. In addition to his aforementioned big race triumphs on home soil, in India he won the Mathradas Gold Cup at Bombay. He also rode a winner over hurdles on his first ride in Oslo, standing in for Fred Winter, who had been booked for the ride but was delayed on his journey and failed to make it in time.
Although Herbert had never ridden over hurdles, he won the race and later rode the same horse to finish second in the Scandinavian Champion Hurdle.
Although Herbert had never ridden over hurdles, he won the race and later rode the same horse to finish second in the Scandinavian Champion Hurdle.
Interestingly, although Harry Jones had long since retired and there wasn’t another ‘H Jones’ on the scene, many newspapers continued to list him as ‘Herbert Jones’ or ‘Hbt Jones’, rather than just an initial, for the remainder of his riding career.
Interestingly, although Harry Jones had long since retired and there wasn’t another ‘H Jones’ on the scene, many newspapers continued to list him as ‘Herbert Jones’ or ‘Hbt Jones’, rather than just an initial, for the remainder of his riding career.
In 1964 he took out a trainer’s licence, based initially at Sutton Stables in Norton, near Malton, and then at the historic Blink Bonny Stables in Norton. His best horses were York specialist Coolmack, who seven races on the Knavesmire in the early 1970s, and Jimsun, whose five-race winning streak in the summer of 1972 included the valuable Andy Capp Handicap at Redcar in the hands of veteran jockey Alec Russell. Jimsun went on to become a real favourite with the racing public, winning the 1975 Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket’s
In 1964 he took out a trainer’s licence, based initially at Sutton Stables in Norton, near Malton, and then at the historic Blink Bonny Stables in Norton. His best horses were York specialist Coolmack, who seven races on the Knavesmire in the early 1970s, and Jimsun, whose five-race winning streak in the summer of 1972 included the valuable Andy Capp Handicap at Redcar in the hands of veteran jockey Alec Russell. Jimsun went on to become a real favourite with the racing public, winning the 1975 Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket’s
Craven meeting. Herbert’s wife Anne also won a couple of ladies’ races on him. Jimsun also became the first British horse to win a race in Denmark.
Craven meeting. Herbert’s wife Anne also won a couple of ladies’ races on him. Jimsun also became the first British horse to win a race in Denmark.
Herbert Jones retired from training in 1987.
Herbert Jones retired from training in 1987.
He died on August 23, 2016, aged 83. His funeral took place at 12.20 p.m. on September 5 at York Crematorium.
He died on August 23, 2016, aged 83. His funeral took place at 12.20 p.m. on September 5 at York Crematorium.