Joseph Livesey

Joseph Livesey

c1901-1928

Joseph Livesey rode a dozen winners over jumps after failing to score on the Flat. Born around the turn of the 20th century, he was apprenticed to Captain Percy Whitaker and had his first ride when unplaced on an unnamed filly in the Tuesday Two-Year-Old Stakes (Division 1) at Newmarket on September 10, 1918. 

He had to wait until January 11, 1924 for his first success over jumps, when seven-year-old Hacklehampton, trained by northern amateur rider Adam Scott, won the Newchapel Selling Handicap Chase at Lingfield Park, scoring by 20 lengths. He had one more win that year and added a few more over the next four, among the highlights being dead-heating with leading jockey Billy Stott in the Reading Steeplechase at Newbury on December 30, 1926.

He had rides in two major races, although both ended in falls. He partnered Red Rouge in the 1924 Scottish Grand National at Bogside, and Ballystockart in the 1926 Grand Sefton Chase at Liverpool. 

Joseph’s brother, Sam Livesey, also served his apprenticeship with Captain Percy Whitaker, and had had his first mount two years earlier than his sibling, when unplaced on The Nab in the Apprentices’ Handicap at Newmarket on April 11, 1916. He, too, failed to ride a winner on the Flat, but did manage one over jumps, at Sedgefield on October 14, 1925, when Best Home landed the Hardwick Selling Handicap Hurdle. Unfortunately for Sam, Best Home was then sold to leading northern amateur rider George Elliott after the race, and Sam had no more chances to shine on him. 

That proved to be Sam’s only winner. He rode for the final time at Manchester on February 29, 1928, when falling on Thistledown in the City Selling Hurdle. It is possible that that fall may have forced his retirement, however that can only be speculation. 

As for Joseph, he rode for Captain Henry Mather-Jackson’s Kingston Warren stable, and his last win was also his most prestigious. It came at Hurst Park on February 19, 1928, when Annandale won the New Century Chase, beating Laurentum, the mount of Bilbie Rees, by six lengths. Joseph then finished third on him in Cheltenham’s Cotswold Chase on March 14, a race won by Ernie Piggott on Manito.

His final ride was on Blood Orange, unplaced in the Beginners’ Chase at Hereford on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928. 

Sadly, on Sunday, July 23, 1928, Joseph was killed while riding his motorbike near Swindon. He was in a collision with another motorcyclist and suffered a fractured skull. He was 27 and left a total of £111. 

Joseph Livesey’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Hacklehampton, Lingfield Park, January 11, 1924 

2. Dare All, Rothbury, April 23, 1924

3. Uncle James, Haydock Park, January 9, 1925

4. Mrs. Drummond, Wetherby, April 14, 1925

5. The Kaffir, Hexham, October 8, 1925

6. Transit, Newbury, December 30, 1926 (Dead-heat)

7. Leasingham Earl, Bungay, March 30, 1927

8. Front Line, Bungay, March 31, 1927

9. Mirabol, Market Rasen, April 18, 1927

10. Leasingham Earl, Market Rasen, September 26, 1927

11. Sir Shaun, Derby, January 16, 1928

12. Annandale, Hurst Park, February 18, 1928