Harvey Leader
Harvey Leader
Harvey Leader
1893-1972
1893-1972
Although much better known as one of the leading trainers of the first half of the 20th century, with wins in many of the big races including the St Leger, Harvey Cliff Leader did have some success as a jockey, both on the Flat and over jumps, riding 34 winners altogether.
Although much better known as one of the leading trainers of the first half of the 20th century, with wins in many of the big races including the St Leger, Harvey Cliff Leader did have some success as a jockey, both on the Flat and over jumps, riding 34 winners altogether.
Born on August 16, 1893, he was apprenticed to his father, Tom Leader, and had his first ride on the Flat, aged eleven, at Newmarket on April 12, 1905, when finishing unplaced on Man Of Means in the Apprentices’ Handicap. He had to wait nearly three years for his first winner, which came at Warwick on April 7, 1908, when the three-year-old Peter Burges won the Swan Meadow Welter Plate. Beaten three lengths into second place that day was an even more talented youngster, Frank Wootton, who was called before the stewards and “severely reprimanded for not keeping a straight course.”
Born on August 16, 1893, he was apprenticed to his father, Tom Leader, and had his first ride on the Flat, aged eleven, at Newmarket on April 12, 1905, when finishing unplaced on Man Of Means in the Apprentices’ Handicap. He had to wait nearly three years for his first winner, which came at Warwick on April 7, 1908, when the three-year-old Peter Burges won the Swan Meadow Welter Plate. Beaten three lengths into second place that day was an even more talented youngster, Frank Wootton, who was called before the stewards and “severely reprimanded for not keeping a straight course.”
Harvey managed another ten wins on the Flat over the next two years, but it was over jumps that the made most progress, riding 18 winners in 1912, starting on the first day of the year when Oxeye won the Harville Maiden Hurdle at Wye, beating Gallifet, the mount of Albert Parker, by four lengths. His wins during the year included doubles at Nottingham, Southwell and Hooton Park.
Harvey managed another ten wins on the Flat over the next two years, but it was over jumps that the made most progress, riding 18 winners in 1912, starting on the first day of the year when Oxeye won the Harville Maiden Hurdle at Wye, beating Gallifet, the mount of Albert Parker, by four lengths. His wins during the year included doubles at Nottingham, Southwell and Hooton Park.
The 1913 campaign was not so successful with just five wins. He appears to have ridden for the last time when finishing unplaced on Wild Ben in the Maiden Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Birmingham on January 12, 1914.
The 1913 campaign was not so successful with just five wins. He appears to have ridden for the last time when finishing unplaced on Wild Ben in the Maiden Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Birmingham on January 12, 1914.
He began training in 1918, based in Newmarket, and gained his first important success when Caligula won the St Leger two years later. That proved to be his only Classic winner. His fastest horse was probably Diomedes, who won six races as a two-year-old in 1924, and the following year landed the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, walked over for the July Cup, then won the King George Stakes at Goodwood, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Portland Handicap. As a four-year-old he won Royal Ascot’s Cork and Orrery Stakes and dead-heated for the July Cup.
He began training in 1918, based in Newmarket, and gained his first important success when Caligula won the St Leger two years later. That proved to be his only Classic winner. His fastest horse was probably Diomedes, who won six races as a two-year-old in 1924, and the following year landed the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, walked over for the July Cup, then won the King George Stakes at Goodwood, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Portland Handicap. As a four-year-old he won Royal Ascot’s Cork and Orrery Stakes and dead-heated for the July Cup.
Harvey retained his love of National Hunt racing and won the 1926 Grand National with Jack Horner, owned by American millionaire Charles Schwartz. He landed the 1929 Lincolnshire with 100-1 outsider Elton, and a few years later trained Shalfleet, a son of Diomedes, to win the Nunthorpe Stakes, plus back-to-back runnings of the Portland Handicap in 1935 and 1936. When he moved his string into Bedford Lodge Stables, he changed the yard’s name to Shalfleet.
Harvey retained his love of National Hunt racing and won the 1926 Grand National with Jack Horner, owned by American millionaire Charles Schwartz. He landed the 1929 Lincolnshire with 100-1 outsider Elton, and a few years later trained Shalfleet, a son of Diomedes, to win the Nunthorpe Stakes, plus back-to-back runnings of the Portland Handicap in 1935 and 1936. When he moved his string into Bedford Lodge Stables, he changed the yard’s name to Shalfleet.
Among the best horses he trained in the 1960s were Cambridgeshire winners Hidden Meaning (1962) and Dites (1966); Palatch, who won the Musidora Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks; Falmouth Stakes winner Resilience II; Exchange, who gave him a second Yorkshire Oaks success; and Park Hill Stakes winner Bringley.
Among the best horses he trained in the 1960s were Cambridgeshire winners Hidden Meaning (1962) and Dites (1966); Palatch, who won the Musidora Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks; Falmouth Stakes winner Resilience II; Exchange, who gave him a second Yorkshire Oaks success; and Park Hill Stakes winner Bringley.
Harvey Leader retired at the end of the 1971 season, handing Shalfleet Stables over to his assistant Gavin Pritchard-Gordon. Sadly, he did not survive his retirement for more than a few months, dying on January 30, 1972, aged 78.
Harvey Leader retired at the end of the 1971 season, handing Shalfleet Stables over to his assistant Gavin Pritchard-Gordon. Sadly, he did not survive his retirement for more than a few months, dying on January 30, 1972, aged 78.
Regarded as a kind, hospitable man with a wide circle of friends, he played a prominent part in the life of Newmarket. He was at one time Master of the Newmarket and Thurlow Foxhounds.
Regarded as a kind, hospitable man with a wide circle of friends, he played a prominent part in the life of Newmarket. He was at one time Master of the Newmarket and Thurlow Foxhounds.
Several successful jockeys served their apprenticeships with Harvey Leader, including Snowy Fawdon, Derrick ‘Mickey’ Greening, Brian Taylor, Peter Pickford and Jeremy Glover.
Several successful jockeys served their apprenticeships with Harvey Leader, including Snowy Fawdon, Derrick ‘Mickey’ Greening, Brian Taylor, Peter Pickford and Jeremy Glover.
His winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
His winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
1. Peter Burges, Warwick, April 7, 1908 Flat
1. Peter Burges, Warwick, April 7, 1908 Flat
2. Peter Burges, Stockton, April 11, 1908 Flat
2. Peter Burges, Stockton, April 11, 1908 Flat
3. Cape Verde, Worcester, October 29, 1908 Flat
3. Cape Verde, Worcester, October 29, 1908 Flat
4. Barm Brack, Folkestone, November 19, 1908 Flat
4. Barm Brack, Folkestone, November 19, 1908 Flat
5. Cape Verde, Manchester, November 26, 1908 Flat
5. Cape Verde, Manchester, November 26, 1908 Flat
6. Cape Verde, Manchester, November 28, 1908 Flat
6. Cape Verde, Manchester, November 28, 1908 Flat
7. Peter Burges, Leicester, April 8, 1909 Flat
7. Peter Burges, Leicester, April 8, 1909 Flat
8. Corinnus, Pontefract, July 8, 1909 Flat
8. Corinnus, Pontefract, July 8, 1909 Flat
9. Eudorus, Leicester, July 20, 1909 Flat
9. Eudorus, Leicester, July 20, 1909 Flat
10. Eudorus, Lingfield Park, October 16, 1909 Flat
10. Eudorus, Lingfield Park, October 16, 1909 Flat
11. Cape Verde, Thirsk, October 22, 1909 Flat
11. Cape Verde, Thirsk, October 22, 1909 Flat
12. Oxeye, Wye, January 1, 1912 NH
12. Oxeye, Wye, January 1, 1912 NH
13. Oxeye, Lingfield Park, February 10, 1912 NH
13. Oxeye, Lingfield Park, February 10, 1912 NH
14. Never Forget, Lingfield Park, March 11, 1912 NH
14. Never Forget, Lingfield Park, March 11, 1912 NH
15. Turbulent, Lingfield Park, March 12, 1912 NH
15. Turbulent, Lingfield Park, March 12, 1912 NH
16. Catch Penny, Nottingham, April 15, 1912 NH
16. Catch Penny, Nottingham, April 15, 1912 NH
17. Libel, Nottingham, April 15, 1912 NH
17. Libel, Nottingham, April 15, 1912 NH
18. Adorn, Southwell, May 6, 1912 NH
18. Adorn, Southwell, May 6, 1912 NH
19. Claret Lad, Southwell, May 6, 1912 NH
19. Claret Lad, Southwell, May 6, 1912 NH
20.Pertinent, Worcester, May 16, 1912 NH
20.Pertinent, Worcester, May 16, 1912 NH
21. Cosway, Hooton Park, May 27, 1912 NH
21. Cosway, Hooton Park, May 27, 1912 NH
22. Fortune Bay, Hooton Park, May 27, 1912 NH
22. Fortune Bay, Hooton Park, May 27, 1912 NH
23. Mac Dowry, Wye, September 30, 1912 NH
23. Mac Dowry, Wye, September 30, 1912 NH
24. Plume, Sandown Park, October 26, 1912 NH
24. Plume, Sandown Park, October 26, 1912 NH
25. Etrick, Nottingham, October 28, 1912 NH
25. Etrick, Nottingham, October 28, 1912 NH
26. Shikaree, Nottingham, October 29, 1912 NH
26. Shikaree, Nottingham, October 29, 1912 NH
27. Cosway, Hooton Park, November 2, 1912 NH
27. Cosway, Hooton Park, November 2, 1912 NH
28. Gleam, Colwall Park, November 4, 1912 NH
28. Gleam, Colwall Park, November 4, 1912 NH
29. Plume, Hawthorn Hill, November 9, 1912 NH
29. Plume, Hawthorn Hill, November 9, 1912 NH
30. Narrateur, Huntingdon, March 24, 1913 NH
30. Narrateur, Huntingdon, March 24, 1913 NH
31. Bowstead, Clifton Park, September 1, 1913 NH
31. Bowstead, Clifton Park, September 1, 1913 NH
32. Flitting Light, Southwell, October 2, 1913 NH
32. Flitting Light, Southwell, October 2, 1913 NH
33. General Picton, Newbury, November 27, 1913 NH
33. General Picton, Newbury, November 27, 1913 NH
34. General Picton, Derby, December 16, 1913 NH
34. General Picton, Derby, December 16, 1913 NH