James Lawson

James Lawson

Article by Alan Trout

Born in 1880, Northern-based National Hunt jockey James William Lawson rode 19 winners between 1907 and 1911, returning after the war to add one more.

He had his first ride on Iman, who finished third of eleven in the Colwick Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham on January 30, 1906. It was not until October 9, 1907 that he had his first success when Obtruder, racing under National Hunt rules for the first time, won the Black Hill Hurdle at Hexham by five lengths, beating two rivals. Although placed in three subsequent starts, the pair could not add to that success. 

That was certainly not the case in 1908, when half of James’s ten wins that year were gained on Obtruder. He also had three victories on Sally Wilkes and two on Marmontel, both of whom won again for him in 1909. 

That was also the year that he had at least one ride on the Flat when partnering Kazan, who finished unplaced in the Kingston-Upon-Hull Aged Selling Plate at Beverley on June 9. This was a most unusual race in that both jockeys who dead-heated for first place, Charles Ringstead and William Robertson, were replaced by others, Otto Madden and William Higgs, for the deciding run-off, that option being within the rules at the time.  

James’s last win before the war was at Haydock Park on December 8, 1911, when Braemar dead-heated for the Maiden Hurdle with Hamilar, ridden by Bob Chadwick. 

It was on a horse named Phil, also at Haydock, that he had his solitary success after the war. He had ridden the horse three times in 1919, the most recent occasion being an unplaced effort at Haydock on December 19. The following day he lined up for a match for the Juvenile Selling Hurdle, against Frank Cole on San Pol, winning by four lengths. 

James had his final rides at Manchester on February 2, 1921, finishing unplaced on Talbot in the County Hurdle and on Sword Lily in the February Handicap Hurdle.