Albert Klimscha
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Hungarian-born and Swedish-naturalised Albert Klimscha Jr could hardly have failed to become a jockey. His father, also named Albert (1914-1981), was one of Europe’s top jockeys and rode eleven European Derby winners in a variety of countries, while his aunt had been a successful rider in Norway.
Hungarian-born and Swedish-naturalised Albert Klimscha Jr could hardly have failed to become a jockey. His father, also named Albert (1914-1981), was one of Europe’s top jockeys and rode eleven European Derby winners in a variety of countries, while his aunt had been a successful rider in Norway.
Born in 1943, young Albert became apprenticed to Sam Armstrong at a time when there was fierce competition for rides among the stable’s apprentices, which included Josh Gifford, Paul Tulk, Kipper Lynch, Michael Hayes, David East and Trevor Rogers.
Born in 1943, young Albert became apprenticed to Sam Armstrong at a time when there was fierce competition for rides among the stable’s apprentices, which included Josh Gifford, Paul Tulk, Kipper Lynch, Michael Hayes, David East and Trevor Rogers.
Albert gained his first success on Armstrong’s filly Sveltana in the Steve Donoghue Apprentices’ Handicap – regarded as the Apprentices’ Derby – at Epsom on August Bank Holiday Monday 1959 (the actual date was August 3, the bank holiday being at the start of August in those days rather than at the end). He rode half a dozen more winners before the end of the season, four of them for Armstrong, plus a couple of ‘outside’ winners for Fiddler Goodwill and Jack Sirett.
Albert gained his first success on Armstrong’s filly Sveltana in the Steve Donoghue Apprentices’ Handicap – regarded as the Apprentices’ Derby – at Epsom on August Bank Holiday Monday 1959 (the actual date was August 3, the bank holiday being at the start of August in those days rather than at the end). He rode half a dozen more winners before the end of the season, four of them for Armstrong, plus a couple of ‘outside’ winners for Fiddler Goodwill and Jack Sirett.
It was a safe prediction that he would increase that total in 1960 and he did so by chalking up another 17 winners. They included the Joe Lee Handicap at Hurst Park on Jack Sirett’s grey gelding Bingo; Alexandra Park’s historic London Cup – a race now held at Newbury following the closure of ‘Ally Pally’ – on Keith Piggott’s Top “C”; the Brighton Sprint Handicap on Sam Armstrong’s Blue Over; and a brace of Newmarket nurseries in October on Harvey Leader’s Roman Knight and John Winter’s Mollyhawk.
It was a safe prediction that he would increase that total in 1960 and he did so by chalking up another 17 winners. They included the Joe Lee Handicap at Hurst Park on Jack Sirett’s grey gelding Bingo; Alexandra Park’s historic London Cup – a race now held at Newbury following the closure of ‘Ally Pally’ – on Keith Piggott’s Top “C”; the Brighton Sprint Handicap on Sam Armstrong’s Blue Over; and a brace of Newmarket nurseries in October on Harvey Leader’s Roman Knight and John Winter’s Mollyhawk.
The 1961 campaign yielded only eight winners, none of them of any great importance, the highlight being a double at Wolverhampton on August Bank Holiday Monday. By 1962 he no longer had the advantage of an apprentice allowance, yet he managed to ride a respectable 15 winners, including Chepstow’s Grand Monmouthshire Handicap on Keith Piggott’s Lyonado, and a Worcester double in September on horses trained by David Hastings and his boss Sam Armstrong.
The 1961 campaign yielded only eight winners, none of them of any great importance, the highlight being a double at Wolverhampton on August Bank Holiday Monday. By 1962 he no longer had the advantage of an apprentice allowance, yet he managed to ride a respectable 15 winners, including Chepstow’s Grand Monmouthshire Handicap on Keith Piggott’s Lyonado, and a Worcester double in September on horses trained by David Hastings and his boss Sam Armstrong.
The last of Albert’s 47 winners in Britain was on Armstrong’s two-year-old filly Maloja in the Bushbury Maiden Plate at Wolverhampton on September 17, 1962. Two days later he was unlucky not to win the Sidney Thompson Memorial Nursery Handicap at Brighton on Rose Silk, leading until collared close home and being beaten a neck and the same by Mandamus (Scobie Breasley) and Zucchini (David Johnstone).
The last of Albert’s 47 winners in Britain was on Armstrong’s two-year-old filly Maloja in the Bushbury Maiden Plate at Wolverhampton on September 17, 1962. Two days later he was unlucky not to win the Sidney Thompson Memorial Nursery Handicap at Brighton on Rose Silk, leading until collared close home and being beaten a neck and the same by Mandamus (Scobie Breasley) and Zucchini (David Johnstone).
The following year saw Albert plying his trade back in his native homeland of Sweden. He was crowned champion jockey there in 1966, his winners that year including the Swedish Derby Trial on Moneyway.
The following year saw Albert plying his trade back in his native homeland of Sweden. He was crowned champion jockey there in 1966, his winners that year including the Swedish Derby Trial on Moneyway.
In 1967 he was called up for the Swedish army, which restricted his riding for nearly a year, but he returned to the saddle in 1968 and won the Goldene Peitsche (now a Group 3 race) at Baden-Baden in Germany on a filly named Rosetta, trained by his father.
In 1967 he was called up for the Swedish army, which restricted his riding for nearly a year, but he returned to the saddle in 1968 and won the Goldene Peitsche (now a Group 3 race) at Baden-Baden in Germany on a filly named Rosetta, trained by his father.
Albert Klimscha Senior had become a successful trainer in France, training for the mercurial Daniel Wildenstein. He was the first trainer of the great Allez France, prior to Wildenstein deciding to replace him with Angel Penna. Wildenstein had initially approached Barry Hills about taking over from Albert Klimscha but Hills turned down the offer, hence Wildenstein opted for Penna instead.
Albert Klimscha Senior had become a successful trainer in France, training for the mercurial Daniel Wildenstein. He was the first trainer of the great Allez France, prior to Wildenstein deciding to replace him with Angel Penna. Wildenstein had initially approached Barry Hills about taking over from Albert Klimscha but Hills turned down the offer, hence Wildenstein opted for Penna instead.
The best horse Albert Klimscha Senior trained was the grey colt Caro, who, as a three-year-old in 1970, won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, then defeated older horses in the Prix d’Ispahan and finished third in the Prix du Jockey Club. The following year he won the Prix d’Harcourt, the Prix Dollar and the Prix Ganay and finished second to Mill Reef in the Eclipse Stakes.
The best horse Albert Klimscha Senior trained was the grey colt Caro, who, as a three-year-old in 1970, won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, then defeated older horses in the Prix d’Ispahan and finished third in the Prix du Jockey Club. The following year he won the Prix d’Harcourt, the Prix Dollar and the Prix Ganay and finished second to Mill Reef in the Eclipse Stakes.
Meanwhile, Albert Klimscha Jr. continued to ride successfully in Scandinavia, twice winning the Swedish Derby, on Rasputin in 1970 for trainer Vinzenz Vogel and on Cross Purpose in 1976 for Einar Jardby. His other big race victories included the 1972 Jockeyklubbens Avelslopning on Roussica.
Meanwhile, Albert Klimscha Jr. continued to ride successfully in Scandinavia, twice winning the Swedish Derby, on Rasputin in 1970 for trainer Vinzenz Vogel and on Cross Purpose in 1976 for Einar Jardby. His other big race victories included the 1972 Jockeyklubbens Avelslopning on Roussica.
He began training in the 1980s and again proved successful, his big winners including the 1985 Stockholm Cup International at Taby with Tryffoc. He became something of a globetrotter and also became a noted equine physiotherapist.
He began training in the 1980s and again proved successful, his big winners including the 1985 Stockholm Cup International at Taby with Tryffoc. He became something of a globetrotter and also became a noted equine physiotherapist.
Today, Albert Klimscha Jr trains in France, where he continues to enjoy a fair measure of success.
Today, Albert Klimscha Jr trains in France, where he continues to enjoy a fair measure of success.