Graham McComb
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Cecil Graham McComb, who rode as ‘C G McComb’ but was always known by his second Christian name, was born on September 7, 1938, the nine years’ younger brother of National Hunt jockey Sam McComb.
Cecil Graham McComb, who rode as ‘C G McComb’ but was always known by his second Christian name, was born on September 7, 1938, the nine years’ younger brother of National Hunt jockey Sam McComb.
Graham began as an apprentice (1953-58) in the Park Farm, Upper Lambourn stables of Harry Whiteman. He rode his first winner on
Graham began as an apprentice (1953-58) in the Park Farm, Upper Lambourn stables of Harry Whiteman. He rode his first winner on
Coronia at Wolverhampton on April 19, 1955, getting up in the last stride to land a one-mile apprentices’ race. Coronia was owned by a group of farmers and, after she’d won, they gave Harry 83 sheep and two rams as a present, on top of the usual 10% of the prize money. What sort of present they gave the winning jockey is not recorded!
Coronia at Wolverhampton on April 19, 1955, getting up in the last stride to land a one-mile apprentices’ race. Coronia was owned by a group of farmers and, after she’d won, they gave Harry 83 sheep and two rams as a present, on top of the usual 10% of the prize money. What sort of present they gave the winning jockey is not recorded!
That 1955 season proved to be easily Graham’s best with nine winners, three of which came on the best horse he rode, a three-year-old filly named Dancing Idol,
That 1955 season proved to be easily Graham’s best with nine winners, three of which came on the best horse he rode, a three-year-old filly named Dancing Idol,
trained by Arthur Thomas at Guy’s Cliff Stables, Warwick. He first won on her at Leicester on June 13 then at Warwick on July 1, and followed up at Warwick again on July 30 when she broke the course record for seven furlongs by more than a second, an achievement which Graham rated the highlight of his career.
trained by Arthur Thomas at Guy’s Cliff Stables, Warwick. He first won on her at Leicester on June 13 then at Warwick on July 1, and followed up at Warwick again on July 30 when she broke the course record for seven furlongs by more than a second, an achievement which Graham rated the highlight of his career.
Harry Whiteman moved north to Wintringham, Malton, in 1956 and trained there for six years before moving further north to Cree Lodge at Ayr, from where he sent out Gay Mairi to win the 1962 Nunthorpe Stakes.
Harry Whiteman moved north to Wintringham, Malton, in 1956 and trained there for six years before moving further north to Cree Lodge at Ayr, from where he sent out Gay Mairi to win the 1962 Nunthorpe Stakes.
By then Graham was living at Fair Lea Stables, Caynham in Ludlow. He rode as a freelance and had his last two winners in 1961, first on the Jack Yeomans-trained Village Beacon at Yarmouth on July 5 and then on Frenchie Nicholson’s five-year-old gelding Wellingborough in the Parkfield Selling Handicap at Worcester three days later, Saturday, July 8, 1961. He continued to ride until relinquishing his licence in October 1963.
By then Graham was living at Fair Lea Stables, Caynham in Ludlow. He rode as a freelance and had his last two winners in 1961, first on the Jack Yeomans-trained Village Beacon at Yarmouth on July 5 and then on Frenchie Nicholson’s five-year-old gelding Wellingborough in the Parkfield Selling Handicap at Worcester three days later, Saturday, July 8, 1961. He continued to ride until relinquishing his licence in October 1963.
In 1965 he emigrated to Canada, joining his brother Sam who had lived there since 1959 and had reinvented himself as a leading jockey on the Flat. Graham rode a few winners there before weight got the better of him. He retired and moved to live near Woodbine racecourse in Toronto, where he bred horses on a small scale and ran the occasional one at his local track.
In 1965 he emigrated to Canada, joining his brother Sam who had lived there since 1959 and had reinvented himself as a leading jockey on the Flat. Graham rode a few winners there before weight got the better of him. He retired and moved to live near Woodbine racecourse in Toronto, where he bred horses on a small scale and ran the occasional one at his local track.