Robert Little

Robert Little

1923-1948

Based with Malton trainer Bill Dutton, James Robert Little, who rode under his second name, had four winners in the 1947/48 National Hunt season but died in a road accident shortly afterwards.

His first victory was gained on Paul Deer, who took Doncaster’s Bentley Selling Handicap Hurdle by four lengths on November 15, 1947. Owned and trained by Bill Dutton, the five-year-old was opening his account on his eleventh start, while Robert was riding him for the first time. 

Dutton also trained, but did not own, Robert’s three other winners, the first of which was back at Doncaster on February 25, 1948, when Flyoff landed the Brewers Four-Year-Old Handicap Hurdle, easily beating Fairfelt, partnered by Tommy Cusack. 

His next success came at Catterick on March 5, when Hargate beat Bucephalus, the mount of future champion jockey Tim Molony, by three-quarters of a length. 

Robert’s last win came at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, when Hargate scored again, taking the Novices’ Chase by six lengths. ‘Rory’ O’Connor on the runner-up, The Solid Man, objected to the winner on grounds of ‘bumping and boring between the last two fences’ but this was overruled. 

Sadly, Robert Little, who lived at Willington-on-Tyne, died at Malton Hospital on Saturday night, July 13, 1948, from injuries received in a motorbike accident near Swinton the previous day. He was riding the motorbike with another jockey, Mick Morrissey from the same stable, riding pillion. Robert collided with a pedestrian, Sergeant-Major Cyril Simpson, R.A.S.C., stationed at Amotherby. All three were taken to hospital. Robert, aged 25, died from a fracture of the skull. Simpson had a broken leg. Morrissey was only slightly injured.

Robert Little’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Paul Deer, Doncaster, November 15, 1947 

2. Flyoff, Doncaster, February 25, 1948

3. Hargate, Catterick Bridge, March 5, 1948

4. Hargate, Market Rasen, March 29, 1948