James McDonald
Born around 1887, Scottish National Hunt jockey James McDonald rode a total of 27 winners over jumps, never more than five in a single year, during a career interrupted by World War One. His name was often erroneously spelt ‘Macdonald’, whereas McDonald was the correct spelling.
Born around 1887, Scottish National Hunt jockey James McDonald rode a total of 27 winners over jumps, never more than five in a single year, during a career interrupted by World War One. His name was often erroneously spelt ‘Macdonald’, whereas McDonald was the correct spelling.
He rode his first winner aboard the 5-4 on favourite Black Ivory, who captured the Scone Maiden Hurdle at Perth by 12 lengths on 24 September 1908, his sole success of the year. He rode just one winner in 1909, on Beadnell over fences at Rothbury.
He rode his first winner aboard the 5-4 on favourite Black Ivory, who captured the Scone Maiden Hurdle at Perth by 12 lengths on 24 September 1908, his sole success of the year. He rode just one winner in 1909, on Beadnell over fences at Rothbury.
James had two wins in 1910, both of them coming on the same day at Bogside on 8 April, when he won the valuable West of Scotland Handicap Chase on Beadnell and the Montgomerie Chase on Usury.
James had two wins in 1910, both of them coming on the same day at Bogside on 8 April, when he won the valuable West of Scotland Handicap Chase on Beadnell and the Montgomerie Chase on Usury.
He then recorded five victories in each of the next three years. The main contributor during that time was a horse called St Mathurin, who won the St Annes Chase at Blackpool in 1911, followed by four races in 1912 including the Northumberland Handicap Chase at Hexham. James’s quintet of wins in 1913 included Strathspey in the Bowmont Maiden Hurdle at Kelso.
He then recorded five victories in each of the next three years. The main contributor during that time was a horse called St Mathurin, who won the St Annes Chase at Blackpool in 1911, followed by four races in 1912 including the Northumberland Handicap Chase at Hexham. James’s quintet of wins in 1913 included Strathspey in the Bowmont Maiden Hurdle at Kelso.
He was particularly effective at the annual Northumberland Hunt fixture at Rothbury, winning the Rothbury Chase twice, in 1909 on Beadnell and 1911 on James III; the Open Hurdle in consecutive years on St Mathurin in 1912 and Strathspey in 1913; and the Coquetdale Maiden Chase in 1914 on Wandering Nun.
He was particularly effective at the annual Northumberland Hunt fixture at Rothbury, winning the Rothbury Chase twice, in 1909 on Beadnell and 1911 on James III; the Open Hurdle in consecutive years on St Mathurin in 1912 and Strathspey in 1913; and the Coquetdale Maiden Chase in 1914 on Wandering Nun.
He notched four winners in 1914, highlighted by the Queen Margaret Handicap Chase at Hexham on 30 April aboard Wandering Nun, before war intervened later that year.
He notched four winners in 1914, highlighted by the Queen Margaret Handicap Chase at Hexham on 30 April aboard Wandering Nun, before war intervened later that year.
When hostilities ended, James rode one winner in 1919, none the next year, one in 1921 and, finally, one in 1922, that last success coming on 10-1 chance Harrismith who scored a head victory in the Ravenspark Handicap Hurdle at Bogside on 5 January 1922.
When hostilities ended, James rode one winner in 1919, none the next year, one in 1921 and, finally, one in 1922, that last success coming on 10-1 chance Harrismith who scored a head victory in the Ravenspark Handicap Hurdle at Bogside on 5 January 1922.
James' only two winners of 1910 came on the same day, April 10, at Bogside
James' only two winners of 1910 came on the same day, April 10, at Bogside