Len Lefebve
1898 - 1981
1898 - 1981
Compiled by Will Lefebve (son of Len), a former journalist with Raceform and the Press Association, and now a Britbet and Bet With Ascot racecourse CSA.
Compiled by Will Lefebve (son of Len), a former journalist with Raceform and the Press Association, and now a Britbet and Bet With Ascot racecourse CSA.
Alfred Louis (but known throughout his life as Len) Lefebve was born in Tottenham, North London, on November 18, 1898.
Alfred Louis (but known throughout his life as Len) Lefebve was born in Tottenham, North London, on November 18, 1898.
He died, aged 82, on June 15, 1981, after a long career in horse racing, starting out as an apprentice National Hunt jockey in Lewes, then one of the major training centres in the south-east, in the 1920s, and was attached to the stables of Len Hammond, later to be joined in the yard by Towser Gosden, father of Newmarket-based champion trainer John.
He died, aged 82, on June 15, 1981, after a long career in horse racing, starting out as an apprentice National Hunt jockey in Lewes, then one of the major training centres in the south-east, in the 1920s, and was attached to the stables of Len Hammond, later to be joined in the yard by Towser Gosden, father of Newmarket-based champion trainer John.
Len’s first riding success was on Angus, remarkably in a walkover at Folkestone, in the Canterbury Selling Handicap Hurdle on January 20, 1920. The horse was owned by his father Louis, and trained at Lewes by Len Hammond. His only other winner that year came on the same horse in a match (a two-horse race) at Windsor the following month.
Len’s first riding success was on Angus, remarkably in a walkover at Folkestone, in the Canterbury Selling Handicap Hurdle on January 20, 1920. The horse was owned by his father Louis, and trained at Lewes by Len Hammond. His only other winner that year came on the same horse in a match (a two-horse race) at Windsor the following month.
Because his career in the saddle came two decades before I was born, I cannot be certain of the facts, but I believe he rode about 70 jumping winners in total and travelled abroad once for a spell riding in Calcutta, India (in the winter of 1926/27).
Because his career in the saddle came two decades before I was born, I cannot be certain of the facts, but I believe he rode about 70 jumping winners in total and travelled abroad once for a spell riding in Calcutta, India (in the winter of 1926/27).
Some of the more significant statistics in his time as a jockey concerned Aintree, Chelmsford (Galleywood Common), Fontwell Park, Taunton and the Isle of Wight.
Some of the more significant statistics in his time as a jockey concerned Aintree, Chelmsford (Galleywood Common), Fontwell Park, Taunton and the Isle of Wight.
On September 27, 1922, Len achieved the rare feat of winning two steeplechases inside an hour on the same horse, Daisy Cutter, at Ashey, the little-known Isle of Wight racecourse, which enjoyed a limited life as a sporting venue. That achievement would be out of the question nowadays owing to stringent welfare issues.
On September 27, 1922, Len achieved the rare feat of winning two steeplechases inside an hour on the same horse, Daisy Cutter, at Ashey, the little-known Isle of Wight racecourse, which enjoyed a limited life as a sporting venue. That achievement would be out of the question nowadays owing to stringent welfare issues.
Len enjoyed the only hat-trick (703-1) of his career, at the original Chelmsford, on March 26, 1924, aboard selling hurdler Emphatic, three-mile chaser See Too and selling chaser Moon. Towser Gosden was among the other riders in the selling chase, along with Bob Trudgill who, just two days later, would win the Grand National on 25-1 shot Master Robert.
Len enjoyed the only hat-trick (703-1) of his career, at the original Chelmsford, on March 26, 1924, aboard selling hurdler Emphatic, three-mile chaser See Too and selling chaser Moon. Towser Gosden was among the other riders in the selling chase, along with Bob Trudgill who, just two days later, would win the Grand National on 25-1 shot Master Robert.
Exactly 91 years later to the day, a race marking Len’s treble at Galleywood and held at the spanking new Betfred-backed all-weather Chelmsford City track, was appropriately won by the Godolphin-owned and John Gosden-trained filly Entertainment, to produce a fairytale outcome to a plan concocted by descendants of the boys from the 1920s.
Exactly 91 years later to the day, a race marking Len’s treble at Galleywood and held at the spanking new Betfred-backed all-weather Chelmsford City track, was appropriately won by the Godolphin-owned and John Gosden-trained filly Entertainment, to produce a fairytale outcome to a plan concocted by descendants of the boys from the 1920s.
Two months after that Essex three-timer, Len rode in the very first contest held at new track Fontwell Park, finishing second on Pride of Manister behind Gem in a four-runner steeplechase.
Two months after that Essex three-timer, Len rode in the very first contest held at new track Fontwell Park, finishing second on Pride of Manister behind Gem in a four-runner steeplechase.
He also took part in the curtain-raising selling hurdle at Taunton on September 21, 1927, when the Somerset track opened its doors for the first time, finishing unplaced on a weirdly-named horse called Concrete.
He also took part in the curtain-raising selling hurdle at Taunton on September 21, 1927, when the Somerset track opened its doors for the first time, finishing unplaced on a weirdly-named horse called Concrete.
Len’s only mount in the Grand National came in 1925 when he led over the first seven fearsome Aintree fences on 28-1 shot Ardeen before crashing out of contention at the Canal Turn and ending up on top of the fence.
Len’s only mount in the Grand National came in 1925 when he led over the first seven fearsome Aintree fences on 28-1 shot Ardeen before crashing out of contention at the Canal Turn and ending up on top of the fence.
His final success in the saddle came on Scarlet Stripes in a hurdle race at Southwell on April 19, 1930. Scarlet Stripes was also his last public racecourse mount a year later, finishing last of five at Manchester’s Castle Irwell course on Easter Monday, April 6, 1931.
His final success in the saddle came on Scarlet Stripes in a hurdle race at Southwell on April 19, 1930. Scarlet Stripes was also his last public racecourse mount a year later, finishing last of five at Manchester’s Castle Irwell course on Easter Monday, April 6, 1931.
Over the next two decades, Len trained at various yards in the Cheltenham area, having reasonable success both on the Flat and over jumps. He landed a major gamble “on the level” at Derby in May 1935 with Cornish Prince, ridden by (later to be knighted) Gordon Richards.
Over the next two decades, Len trained at various yards in the Cheltenham area, having reasonable success both on the Flat and over jumps. He landed a major gamble “on the level” at Derby in May 1935 with Cornish Prince, ridden by (later to be knighted) Gordon Richards.
Len posted his final training victory with Chalgrove Way at Chepstow in 1948, before becoming a race reader with Raceform, the official formbook, for which he covered the Midlands and West Country meetings until hanging up his binoculars in the 1970s.
Len posted his final training victory with Chalgrove Way at Chepstow in 1948, before becoming a race reader with Raceform, the official formbook, for which he covered the Midlands and West Country meetings until hanging up his binoculars in the 1970s.
One of his brothers-in-law was (Grantham-born in 1905) Tim Hamey, who became a household name with his wins on Koko (1926 Cheltenham Gold Cup) and Forbra (1932 Grand National) before he too turned to training.
One of his brothers-in-law was (Grantham-born in 1905) Tim Hamey, who became a household name with his wins on Koko (1926 Cheltenham Gold Cup) and Forbra (1932 Grand National) before he too turned to training.
Tim had 12 National rides altogether (consecutively from 1926 to 1937), and his son Rex competed in the famous Aintree contest on seven occasions.
Tim had 12 National rides altogether (consecutively from 1926 to 1937), and his son Rex competed in the famous Aintree contest on seven occasions.