John Benoni Jones
John Benoni Jones
John Benoni Jones
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
After winning two races on the Flat in 1914, John Benoni Jones rode for more than a decade over jumps and had 17 victories.
After winning two races on the Flat in 1914, John Benoni Jones rode for more than a decade over jumps and had 17 victories.
Born in 1894, he was apprenticed to trainer Frank Barling and had his first success when the four-year-old Grey Fly beat four rivals in taking the Greswolde Apprentice Plate at Worcester on July 2, 1914. He followed that with victory on Yoringal, trained by Barling, in the Sandling Selling Plate at Folkestone on September 5, beating Razel, ridden by future top hurdles jockey George Duller, by two lengths.
Born in 1894, he was apprenticed to trainer Frank Barling and had his first success when the four-year-old Grey Fly beat four rivals in taking the Greswolde Apprentice Plate at Worcester on July 2, 1914. He followed that with victory on Yoringal, trained by Barling, in the Sandling Selling Plate at Folkestone on September 5, beating Razel, ridden by future top hurdles jockey George Duller, by two lengths.
He may have ridden abroad for a few years as he did not hold a British jockey’s licence for the next decade, but then had his first winner under National Hunt rules when Monsieur Bacon landed the Boveney Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Windsor on December 10, 1925.
He may have ridden abroad for a few years as he did not hold a British jockey’s licence for the next decade, but then had his first winner under National Hunt rules when Monsieur Bacon landed the Boveney Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Windsor on December 10, 1925.
After that there was rarely more than one winner a season, except for 1932/33 when he rode seven. He struck up a particularly good partnership with the hurdler Priddy Hill, owned and trained by George Todd, winning three races including the Rendlesham Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.
After that there was rarely more than one winner a season, except for 1932/33 when he rode seven. He struck up a particularly good partnership with the hurdler Priddy Hill, owned and trained by George Todd, winning three races including the Rendlesham Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.
John’s last win was on White Blaze in the Windlesham Selling Hurdle at Hurst Park on March 6, 1937, when he beat Gantry, ridden by Evan Williams – destined just thirteen days later to win the Grand National on Royal Mail – by three-quarters of a length.
John’s last win was on White Blaze in the Windlesham Selling Hurdle at Hurst Park on March 6, 1937, when he beat Gantry, ridden by Evan Williams – destined just thirteen days later to win the Grand National on Royal Mail – by three-quarters of a length.
He kept his licence until the 1939/40 season but rode no more winners.
He kept his licence until the 1939/40 season but rode no more winners.
His wins were, in chronological order:
His wins were, in chronological order:
1. Grey Fly, Worcester, July 2, 1914
1. Grey Fly, Worcester, July 2, 1914
2. Yoringal, Folkestone, September 5, 1914
2. Yoringal, Folkestone, September 5, 1914
3. Monsieur Bacon, Windsor, December 10, 1925
3. Monsieur Bacon, Windsor, December 10, 1925
4. Lady Capulet, Hawthorn Hill, March 1, 1926
4. Lady Capulet, Hawthorn Hill, March 1, 1926
5. Lady Capulet, Huntingdon, April 18, 1927
5. Lady Capulet, Huntingdon, April 18, 1927
6. Lady Capulet, Fontwell Park, October 6, 1927
6. Lady Capulet, Fontwell Park, October 6, 1927
7. Hyde Park, Newbury, November 27, 1929
7. Hyde Park, Newbury, November 27, 1929
8. Royal, Towcester, October 13, 1932
8. Royal, Towcester, October 13, 1932
9. Priddy Hill, Nottingham, October 25, 1932
9. Priddy Hill, Nottingham, October 25, 1932
10. Moorland, Birmingham, November 29, 1932
10. Moorland, Birmingham, November 29, 1932
11. Royal, Cheltenham, December 28, 1932
11. Royal, Cheltenham, December 28, 1932
12. Priddy Hill, Newbury, December 30, 1932
12. Priddy Hill, Newbury, December 30, 1932
13. James Grieve, Windsor, February 16, 1933
13. James Grieve, Windsor, February 16, 1933
14. Priddy Hill, Kempton Park, March 2, 1933
14. Priddy Hill, Kempton Park, March 2, 1933
15. Strathspey, Ludlow, September 27, 1934
15. Strathspey, Ludlow, September 27, 1934
16. Dawn Patrol, Newbury, November 28, 1934
16. Dawn Patrol, Newbury, November 28, 1934
17. Norwood Hill, Gatwick, February 6, 1936
17. Norwood Hill, Gatwick, February 6, 1936
18. Hot Water, Gatwick, February 28, 1936
18. Hot Water, Gatwick, February 28, 1936
19. White Blaze, Hurst Park, March 6, 1937
19. White Blaze, Hurst Park, March 6, 1937
John Benoni Jones' final winner: White Blaze, Hurst Park, March 6, 1937