Fred Lewis
1919 - 2011
1919 - 2011
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Fred Lewis rode a total of 27 winners but was one of many whose careers were interrupted and compromised by the outbreak of World War II.
National Hunt jockey Fred Lewis rode a total of 27 winners but was one of many whose careers were interrupted and compromised by the outbreak of World War II.
He had ridden his first winner on Prior Jack, trained by Jack Beary, in the Roehampton Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on February 17, 1939, scoring by a head in a tight finish with Tommy Elder’s mount Schubert. Later that year, war was declared and National Hunt Racing operated on a reduced scale before ceasing altogether during the height of hostilities.
He had ridden his first winner on Prior Jack, trained by Jack Beary, in the Roehampton Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on February 17, 1939, scoring by a head in a tight finish with Tommy Elder’s mount Schubert. Later that year, war was declared and National Hunt Racing operated on a reduced scale before ceasing altogether during the height of hostilities.
When peace had finally been declared, Fred attempted to resurrect his fledgling career. He had his first post-war success, his second in all, on March 20, 1947 in a Wincanton novice chase on the Jack Anthony-trained Level Flight, wearing the famous ‘pink, black and white striped sleeves’ colours of American owner, Jock Whitney.
When peace had finally been declared, Fred attempted to resurrect his fledgling career. He had his first post-war success, his second in all, on March 20, 1947 in a Wincanton novice chase on the Jack Anthony-trained Level Flight, wearing the famous ‘pink, black and white striped sleeves’ colours of American owner, Jock Whitney.
His breakthrough season came in 1947/48, when he rode as a freelance and had 13 winners for variety of different trainers. They included three on selling chaser Scotts Winn and an Easter Monday double at Towcester on Kerry and Rose Sterling.
His breakthrough season came in 1947/48, when he rode as a freelance and had 13 winners for variety of different trainers. They included three on selling chaser Scotts Winn and an Easter Monday double at Towcester on Kerry and Rose Sterling.
It was mid-December before Fred got off the mark for the 1948/49 season on George Todd’s hurdler Stipend at
It was mid-December before Fred got off the mark for the 1948/49 season on George Todd’s hurdler Stipend at
Birmingham. But he came good at Sandown on Saturday, January 22, 1949 when landing a double, initiated by Sandy Boy, owner-trained by Sidney Banks, and completed by Stipend. Stipend went on to give Fred the biggest day of his career when winning the Rendlesham Long-Distance Hurdle at Kempton on February 26, 1949.
Birmingham. But he came good at Sandown on Saturday, January 22, 1949 when landing a double, initiated by Sandy Boy, owner-trained by Sidney Banks, and completed by Stipend. Stipend went on to give Fred the biggest day of his career when winning the Rendlesham Long-Distance Hurdle at Kempton on February 26, 1949.
He was booked to ride Sidney Banks’s hunter chaser Lucky Purchase in the 1949 Grand National and, with eight winners on the board by the end of February, everything was going reasonably well. But disaster struck on March 11 when Fred was badly hurt in a fall from Sandy Boy in a selling chase at Windsor, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Alec Jack came in for the ride at Aintree on Lucky Purchase, who finished a respectable eighth behind shock winner Russian Hero.
He was booked to ride Sidney Banks’s hunter chaser Lucky Purchase in the 1949 Grand National and, with eight winners on the board by the end of February, everything was going reasonably well. But disaster struck on March 11 when Fred was badly hurt in a fall from Sandy Boy in a selling chase at Windsor, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Alec Jack came in for the ride at Aintree on Lucky Purchase, who finished a respectable eighth behind shock winner Russian Hero.
It was almost a year after the Windsor fall before Fred rode his next winner, Harmonist at Lingfield Park in February 1950. On March 4 he landed the third double of his career, this time at Worcester, aboard Eldoret in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle for Lambourn trainer Bill Payne, and Happy Rambler in division two of the Hallow Novices’ Hurdle for Letcombe Regis trainer Bruce Hobbs. However, they were to be the last two winners of his career.
It was almost a year after the Windsor fall before Fred rode his next winner, Harmonist at Lingfield Park in February 1950. On March 4 he landed the third double of his career, this time at Worcester, aboard Eldoret in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle for Lambourn trainer Bill Payne, and Happy Rambler in division two of the Hallow Novices’ Hurdle for Letcombe Regis trainer Bruce Hobbs. However, they were to be the last two winners of his career.
Fred Lewis’s winners were, in chronological order:
Fred Lewis’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Prior Jack, Hurst Park, February 17, 1939
1. Prior Jack, Hurst Park, February 17, 1939
2. Lord Flight, Wincanton, March 20, 1947
2. Lord Flight, Wincanton, March 20, 1947
3. Rapid Rise, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), April 7, 1947
3. Rapid Rise, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), April 7, 1947
4. Rapid Rise, Devon & Exeter, August 27, 1947
4. Rapid Rise, Devon & Exeter, August 27, 1947
5. Philborough, Worcester, December 6, 1947
5. Philborough, Worcester, December 6, 1947
6. Don Kerry, Birmingham, December 13, 1947
6. Don Kerry, Birmingham, December 13, 1947
7. Blakesley, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1947
7. Blakesley, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1947
8. Clarendon, Cheltenham, January 17, 1948
8. Clarendon, Cheltenham, January 17, 1948
9. Far Beyond, Birmingham, February 17, 1948
9. Far Beyond, Birmingham, February 17, 1948
10. Scotts Winn, Wolverhampton, March 8, 1948
10. Scotts Winn, Wolverhampton, March 8, 1948
11. Stipend, Windsor, March 10, 1948
11. Stipend, Windsor, March 10, 1948
12. Blue Ricky, Fontwell Park, March 18, 1948
12. Blue Ricky, Fontwell Park, March 18, 1948
13. Scotts Winn, Chepstow, March 27, 1948
13. Scotts Winn, Chepstow, March 27, 1948
14. Don Kerry, Towcester, March 29, 1948
14. Don Kerry, Towcester, March 29, 1948
15. Rose Sterling, Towcester, March 29, 1948
15. Rose Sterling, Towcester, March 29, 1948
16. Scotts Winn, Sandown Park, April 6, 1948
16. Scotts Winn, Sandown Park, April 6, 1948
17. Stipend, Birmingham, December 13, 1948
17. Stipend, Birmingham, December 13, 1948
18. Sandy Boy, Sandown Park, January 22, 1949
18. Sandy Boy, Sandown Park, January 22, 1949
19. Stipend, Sandown Park, January 22, 1949
19. Stipend, Sandown Park, January 22, 1949
20. Gin and Lime, Fontwell Park, February 10, 1949
20. Gin and Lime, Fontwell Park, February 10, 1949
21. Sen Toi, Taunton, February 12, 1949
21. Sen Toi, Taunton, February 12, 1949
22. Sandy Boy, Sandown Park, February 19, 1949
22. Sandy Boy, Sandown Park, February 19, 1949
23. Timbuctoo, Birmingham, February 21, 1949
23. Timbuctoo, Birmingham, February 21, 1949
24. Stipend, Kempton Park, February 26, 1949
24. Stipend, Kempton Park, February 26, 1949
25. Harmonist, Lingfield Park, February 9, 1950
25. Harmonist, Lingfield Park, February 9, 1950
26. Eldoret, Worcester, March 4, 1950
26. Eldoret, Worcester, March 4, 1950
27. Happy Rambler, Worcester, March 4, 1950
27. Happy Rambler, Worcester, March 4, 1950