John Lee-Barber
1853 - 1935
1853 - 1935
The eldest son of Mr John Lee-Barber of Norfolk, John Frederick Stracey Lee-Barber was born at Blofield, Norfolk on June 28, 1853. He was educated at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire.
The eldest son of Mr John Lee-Barber of Norfolk, John Frederick Stracey Lee-Barber was born at Blofield, Norfolk on June 28, 1853. He was educated at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire.
He was aged just 16 when kicking off a brilliant career in the saddle when winning on his first two mounts on the flat. A third victory - at Rackheath Park, near Norwich - seemed certain until his mount, well clear at the time, ran out at the final hurdle. There were no wings to the hurdles in those days.
He was aged just 16 when kicking off a brilliant career in the saddle when winning on his first two mounts on the flat. A third victory - at Rackheath Park, near Norwich - seemed certain until his mount, well clear at the time, ran out at the final hurdle. There were no wings to the hurdles in those days.
Popularly known as ‘The Shaver’, he was appointed to a commission in the 3rd Dragoon Guards in 1874. It was when his regiment went to Ireland in 1875 that he began riding in earnest. Along with Captain Joy of the 7th Hussars, he took over the Conyngham Lodge Stables at Curragh, Kildare, from where he trained and rode his own horses and those of his brother officers.
Popularly known as ‘The Shaver’, he was appointed to a commission in the 3rd Dragoon Guards in 1874. It was when his regiment went to Ireland in 1875 that he began riding in earnest. Along with Captain Joy of the 7th Hussars, he took over the Conyngham Lodge Stables at Curragh, Kildare, from where he trained and rode his own horses and those of his brother officers.
Such was his progress and prowess as a rider that, in 1879, he headed the list of winning jump jockeys in Ireland, both amateur and professional.
Such was his progress and prowess as a rider that, in 1879, he headed the list of winning jump jockeys in Ireland, both amateur and professional.
He had registered his first major success in the stewards’ room, being awarded the 1878 Galway Plate on Jupiter Tonans on the disqualification of The Inny, who had gone the wrong side of a post. He then rode Jupiter Tonans to win the 1879 Irish Grand National.
He had registered his first major success in the stewards’ room, being awarded the 1878 Galway Plate on Jupiter Tonans on the disqualification of The Inny, who had gone the wrong side of a post. He then rode Jupiter Tonans to win the 1879 Irish Grand National.
He won three Irish Grand Military Gold Cups, one of which was for his Colonel, another for the regiment's vet, and the third for himself on Jupiter Tonans.
He won three Irish Grand Military Gold Cups, one of which was for his Colonel, another for the regiment's vet, and the third for himself on Jupiter Tonans.
He also won the Conyngham Cup and the Wexford Handicap Steeplechase on Yellow Gown, the International Hurdle at the Curragh on Botanist, and the Military Hunters’ Chase at Punchestown on Midhut, a horse he had bought for just £36.
He also won the Conyngham Cup and the Wexford Handicap Steeplechase on Yellow Gown, the International Hurdle at the Curragh on Botanist, and the Military Hunters’ Chase at Punchestown on Midhut, a horse he had bought for just £36.
He rode Jupiter Tonans in the 1880 Aintree Grand National. Having hunted round on the first circuit, ‘The Shaver’ sent his mount to the front and had soon established a lead of around a furlong. Over Becher’s Brook, the Canal Turn and Valentine’s the cherry jacket and black cap of Mr Lee-Barber was way out in front of the field. However, Jupiter Tonans gradually began to come back to his field and was collared entering the straight, eventually finishing fourth behind Empress. They attained a measure of compensation when winning the Liverpool Hunt Chase over those same Aintree fences in 1882.
He rode Jupiter Tonans in the 1880 Aintree Grand National. Having hunted round on the first circuit, ‘The Shaver’ sent his mount to the front and had soon established a lead of around a furlong. Over Becher’s Brook, the Canal Turn and Valentine’s the cherry jacket and black cap of Mr Lee-Barber was way out in front of the field. However, Jupiter Tonans gradually began to come back to his field and was collared entering the straight, eventually finishing fourth behind Empress. They attained a measure of compensation when winning the Liverpool Hunt Chase over those same Aintree fences in 1882.
When his regiment moved to Scotland, Captain (as he was by then) Lee-Barber commenced a long connection with Mr J. Gardener-Muir for whom he rode Cornet to nine victories out of ten. Their only defeat came in the Grand National of 1886 won by Old Joe. Cornet was made the 3-1 favourite but finished sixth.
When his regiment moved to Scotland, Captain (as he was by then) Lee-Barber commenced a long connection with Mr J. Gardener-Muir for whom he rode Cornet to nine victories out of ten. Their only defeat came in the Grand National of 1886 won by Old Joe. Cornet was made the 3-1 favourite but finished sixth.
He became first jockey for trainer James Ryan at Green Lodge Stables and continued his successful riding career, winning many big races including the Scottish Grand National and the Grand Military Gold twice each.
He became first jockey for trainer James Ryan at Green Lodge Stables and continued his successful riding career, winning many big races including the Scottish Grand National and the Grand Military Gold twice each.
His greatest disappointment, apart from his two Grand National failures, was in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. Offered the ride on either Redpath or Prince Edward II, Captain Lee-Barber chose the latter and wasted hard to shed a stone to ride at 9st 7lb. His mount fell, and Redpath, whom he had ridden to victory in the Great Lancashire Chase at Manchester, went on to win the race.
His greatest disappointment, apart from his two Grand National failures, was in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. Offered the ride on either Redpath or Prince Edward II, Captain Lee-Barber chose the latter and wasted hard to shed a stone to ride at 9st 7lb. His mount fell, and Redpath, whom he had ridden to victory in the Great Lancashire Chase at Manchester, went on to win the race.
Captain Lee-Barber’s family were prosperous business people in East Anglia before moving to Brandon, in Suffolk, before the First World War. He died there in 1935, aged 82.
Captain Lee-Barber’s family were prosperous business people in East Anglia before moving to Brandon, in Suffolk, before the First World War. He died there in 1935, aged 82.
His big race successes included:
His big race successes included:
Galway Plate on Jupiter Tonans (1878)
Galway Plate on Jupiter Tonans (1878)
Irish Grand National on Jupiter Tonans (1879)
Irish Grand National on Jupiter Tonans (1879)
Scottish Grand National twice on The Peer (1864) and Ireland (1888)
Scottish Grand National twice on The Peer (1864) and Ireland (1888)
Grand Military Gold Cup twice on Lobelia (1881) and Beaufort (1883)
Grand Military Gold Cup twice on Lobelia (1881) and Beaufort (1883)
Great Metropolitan Chase on Jolly Sir John (1885)
Great Metropolitan Chase on Jolly Sir John (1885)
Great Lancashire Chase twice on Redpath (1885) and Unice (1886)
Great Lancashire Chase twice on Redpath (1885) and Unice (1886)
Liverpool Hunt Chase three times on Jupiter Tonans (1882), Azuline (1884) and Coronet (1888).
Liverpool Hunt Chase three times on Jupiter Tonans (1882), Azuline (1884) and Coronet (1888).