Jack Leach
1901 - 1972
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John Edward Leach - always known as Jack - was born at Newmarket on November 19, 1901. The son of trainer Felix and elder brother of 'Chubb', he rode some 500 winners. Jack was a charming and companionable individual but sadly lacked self-discipline.
John Edward Leach - always known as Jack - was born at Newmarket on November 19, 1901. The son of trainer Felix and elder brother of 'Chubb', he rode some 500 winners. Jack was a charming and companionable individual but sadly lacked self-discipline.
Jack with friends at Derby in 1922, where, in 1914, he rode his first winner.
The Windsor Autumn Meeting 1920. Jack returns on Elvera, winner of the Flying Handicap
Windsor: Saturday August 13
Jack curling at St Moritz in January 1924, having ridden 26 winners from 243 mounts the previous season.
Jack (left) and George Archibald at Newmarket races, March 1925
Jack was often joined by other fellow-jockeys on the slopes of St Moritz.
(l to r) William McLachlan, William Lister, Vic Smyth. Jack Leach and George Hulme
Bustle & Jack return to the paddock, 1921
Bustle & Jack win the 1921 Highclere Nursery
Diomedes and Jack after a bloodless victory at Hurst Park, 1924.
They had a walkover in the July Cup of 1925, and, the following season,
dead-heated for first place in a field of three.
Diomedes -
Diomedes -
one of the fastest two-year-old ever.
Jack always rated Diomedes, on which he won the 1925 Portland Handicap, the best he rode. The three-year-old, carrying 9st 2lb, raced full into a headwind, yet still broke the track record.
Jack always rated Diomedes, on which he won the 1925 Portland Handicap, the best he rode. The three-year-old, carrying 9st 2lb, raced full into a headwind, yet still broke the track record.
Jack Leach and the American jockey Claude Ponce, who arrived in England from New York in August, 1925.
Number 30 in Ogden's Cigarettes - Jockeys (1930 series).
Jack was also a keen cricketer, seen here as part of a jockeys' team, waiting for the rain to clear at Hove.
(l to r) J. Taylor, J, King, B Carslake, Jack Leach, V. Sleigh, A. Smyth and William McLachlan Jnr.
Jack and Devachon, the Champion 2-y-o filly of 1925. A sister of the brilliant Diomedes, Devachon was bred in Ireland. Her key victory was the Knowsley Nursery at Liverpool in November 1925 – a valuable handicap for juveniles, highlighting her class and form late in the season.
Jack gives Adam's Apple after beating the favourite, Call Boy, by inches into second. Sickle was half a length away in third.
The winning 2,000 Guineas trio: Mr C. Whitburn, owner and breeder, Jack Leach and trainer Harry Cottrill. Jack wears the black & white hoops, black sleeves and flame cap colours of Mr Whitburn, who was a military figure (Lieutenant Colonel). Mr Whitburn also owned Jennie Deans, winner of the 1927 Fern Hill Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Jack wins the Curragh's 1926 National Produce Stakes aboard King Bird. Very much a one hit wonder, King Bird failed to win another good race, and can only be described as modest.
In order to accustom young horses to the proximity of bright colours at the starting gate, jockeys would don lively silks for practice starts at Newmarket.
(l to r) Chubb Leach, Fred Winter, Jack Leach, Henri Jellis and Felix Leach Jr., the trainer.
1928 Ayr Gold Cup: The 125th running of this ancient race saw Jack and Nothing Venture scrap home by a head.
Dazzle, in 1889, 1890 & 1891 is the only horse to have won the race three consecutives times.
The Ayr Gold Cup itself was inaugurated in 1804 at the old Belleisle course (also spelled Bellisle), initially as a weight-for-age sweepstakes restricted to horses bred and trained in Scotland. The inaugural winner was Chancellor, owned by Lord Cassillis.
1928: Jack & Guards Parade return to the paddock after winning the new Epsom race, the Nonsuch Stakes.
Trigo, winner of the 1929 Epsom Derby. Jack's flamboyant lifestyle was disapproved of by Trigo's owner, and cost Jack a winning ride.
During WW1, Jack served as a captain with the York & Lancaster Regiment.
Having been forced out of the saddle by increasing weight, he successfully took up training at Graham Place, Newmarket.
Having been forced out of the saddle by increasing weight, he successfully took up training at Graham Place, Newmarket.
Jack also owned the 1934 Stewards' Cup winner, Figaro.
Jack also owned the 1934 Stewards' Cup winner, Figaro.
In 1933, Figaro was due to run in the first race at a Windsor meeting. A team of Cambridge undergraduates and Sandhurst cadets went to Eton to play against the boys. One member of the side was a friend of Jack's and passed on a tip for Figaro to all the players.
In 1933, Figaro was due to run in the first race at a Windsor meeting. A team of Cambridge undergraduates and Sandhurst cadets went to Eton to play against the boys. One member of the side was a friend of Jack's and passed on a tip for Figaro to all the players.
En masse, they arrived at Windsor racecourse and punted heavily on the horse. In a desperate finish, yelled home by the boys, Figaro won by a head at 12/1. The young students left with their pockets stuffed with £5 notes.
En masse, they arrived at Windsor racecourse and punted heavily on the horse. In a desperate finish, yelled home by the boys, Figaro won by a head at 12/1. The young students left with their pockets stuffed with £5 notes.
After the war, Jack resumed training. He won the Prix Morny with Delerium, proving he had the skill to be a successful trainer. But he did not have the temperament and gave up in 1952.
After the war, Jack resumed training. He won the Prix Morny with Delerium, proving he had the skill to be a successful trainer. But he did not have the temperament and gave up in 1952.
Then he discovered a talent for writing.
Then he discovered a talent for writing.
He had a racing column in both the Observer and the Sporting Life and wrote a book in 1961 about his life entitled 'Sods I Cut On The Turf'.
He had a racing column in both the Observer and the Sporting Life and wrote a book in 1961 about his life entitled 'Sods I Cut On The Turf'.
His unreliability, however, was the despair of his editors and he began losing work.
His unreliability, however, was the despair of his editors and he began losing work.
First published December 1962, priced 21 shillings.
Aged 70, Jack died on Saturday January 29 1972 - just a few hours after the death of Harvey (Jack) Leader, for whom Jack had often ridden.
Aged 70, Jack died on Saturday January 29 1972 - just a few hours after the death of Harvey (Jack) Leader, for whom Jack had often ridden.
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