Harry Lewis

Harry Lewis

Born in 1869, the Canadian jockey Harry Lewis had his first ride in England on Thursday 24 April 1902 when finishing second in Sandown Park’s Tudor Plate on Lord Carnarvon’s Preen, beaten a head by Fowling Piece. 

He rode his first English winner on Preen in the Marlborough Stakes at Newbury on 17 May, followed three days later by his second win aboard another of Lord Carnarvon’s horses, Robert le Diable, in the Madeley Plate at Wolverhampton. 

Next time out, at Epsom on 4 June, Harry and Robert le Diable finished sixth in the Derby behind Ard Patrick, a race in which the evens favourite Sceptre was given an ill-judged ride and finished fourth.

Harry did not leave Epsom empty-handed, though. Later that afternoon, he rode Miss Unicorn to win the Ranmore Selling Plate, and two days later, on Oaks Day, he landed the Belmont Handicap on Carlekemp. 

He finished second on Preen in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, beaten half a length, but was back in the winner’s enclosure the next day when winning the Thames Handicap at Windsor on 9/2 favourite Torrent. 

At Sandown on Eclipse Stakes day, 18 July 1902, Harry won the most valuable race on the supporting card, the Great Kingston Two Years Old Plate, on 6/4 favourite Jennico. He also rode a winner on the second day of the meeting, Solicitor in the Coombe July Plate.   

Later that month, Tuesday 29 July, Harry achieved his biggest success with a stunning victory on the French-bred Mauvezin in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. The shock 66/1 1901 winner, O'Donovan Rossa, was this year sent off the 6/1 favourite. However, he was badly away and Harry and Mauvezin had little trouble beating him into second place by two lengths, winning (according to the form book result) in a “common canter”.

This was the fourth consecutive race in which O’Donovan Rossa had finished runner-up. The good apprentice Jack Watts was due to ride the much fancied Le Blizon, but Watts’ father died suddenly that morning. Watts was released from the ride but James Hare, who took his place, could not claim the five pound allowance and Le Blizon could only finish sixth. 

More winners followed during August for Harry, including one at York’s Ebor meeting and a double at Hamilton Park. He was reunited with Mauvezin in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster but finished unplaced. 

He held a full licence for the 1903 season but did not have any rides that year. He had a temporary licence for 1904 but only rode in one race, when finishing second on 40/1 chance Hazafi, beaten half a length, in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot.