John William Manser, known as Jack, was born in 1876 and was one of four brothers who rode on the Flat in the years before the first World War. He enjoyed success abroad but only managed one victory in England.
This took place at Leicester on July 19, 1893, when the three-year-old Dead Letter, carrying 6st 5lb, won the Experimental Handicap Plate by four lengths, having hit the front with half a mile left to run. The winner was trained by Jack’s father, William Henry Manser, and had finished second on his previous start when partnered by Jack’s brother George.
There was one more outing for Dead Letter that season, when finishing third, with Jack aboard, back at Leicester in November.
Jack had some rides in England in the following years, one of the last being at Ayr on July 15, 1912. After finishing unplaced on Simmer-lift in the Trial Selling Plate he lodged a complaint against Percy Gray, rider of the runner-up Pride Of Cuba, on grounds that he had not kept a straight course and had nearly brought down Simmer-lift. The stewards were of the opinion that Gray did not intentionally do wrong but did not keep a straight course and was therefore to blame. They suspended him for the rest of the meeting.
Jack Manser died in 1956.