Alf Launchbury

1950 - 2016

Alphonse Thomas Launchbury was born in 1950 and served his apprenticeship with Glamorgan trainer Arthur Jones. He rode his first winner for him on Large As Life in a Bath maiden on July 8, 1972.

He rode four winners from 75 rides in 1973, all in sellers, two for Milton Bradley, one for Arthur Jones and one for Rosemary Lomax.

Alf’s apprenticeship finished at the end of that season and he started the 1974 campaign as a fully-fledged jockey. He was well supported by Jones, Bradley and Mrs Lomax and his number of rides increased to 112, but only three of them won. The first two were in sellers for Rosemary Lomax, the third being Maltese Whistler for Lambourn trainer Pat Taylor on August 7, 1974.

He did not hold a jockey’s licence between 1976 and 1979 and may have been riding abroad. He renewed his British licence in 1980 and in 1981 had 37 rides but without success. He continued to ride until the end of 1984 but without riding another winner.

Alf died peacefully at home on Sunday 28 February 2016.

Alf Launchbury’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Large As Life, Bath, July 8, 1972

2. Rock Bottom, Warwick, July 28, 1973

3. Jolt, Bath, September 5, 1973

4. King Of Swing, Hamilton Park, September 12, 1973

5. Offa’s Mead, Beverley, September 26, 1973

6. Speke, Windsor, July 1, 1974

7. King Of Swing, Hamilton Park, July 12, 1974

8. Maltese Whistler, Yarmouth, August 7, 1974